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Optum is a global organization that delivers care, aided by technology to help millions of people live healthier lives. The work you do with our team will directly improve health outcomes by connecting people with the care, pharmacy benefits, data and resources they need to feel their best. Here, you will find a culture guided by inclusion, talented peers, comprehensive benefits and career development opportunities. Come make an impact on the communities we serve as you help us advance health optimization on a global scale. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together.
The Associate Director, Union Relations serves as a strategic advisor to senior business leaders, the People Team, Legal, and operational stakeholders on labor relations, workforce strategy, and represented employee matters across assigned business segments. This role leads the development and execution of labor strategies that align workforce priorities with business objectives, mitigate operational risk and support long-term organizational effectiveness.
This position is responsible for anticipating emerging labor relations needs, diagnosing complex challenges, and developing innovative, practical solutions that balance contractual obligations, business priorities, employee experience, and legal requirements. The role partners closely with leadership and the People Team to influence decisions related to represented workforce strategies, collective bargaining, labor risk, organizational change, and implementation of workforce initiatives affecting unionized populations.
The Associate Director acts as a trusted advisor on highly complex and sensitive labor matters, translating our workforce strategy into labor initiatives that support operational continuity, compliance, leader effectiveness, and sustainable workforce outcomes. This role leads large, cross-functional initiatives and enables leaders to navigate labor and grievance issues with consistency, sound judgement, and strategic focus.
You'll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.
Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead labor relations strategy across assigned business units, bargaining units, or represented populations, ensuring alignment with enterprise people strategy and business objectives
• Lead collective bargaining activities including negotiations, shaping strategy, proposal preparation, costing support, bargaining logistics, tracking deliverables, and maintaining negotiation records
• Guide the interpretation and application of collective bargaining agreements (CBAs), providing consultation on grievance trends, contract administration, information requests, arbitration preparation, and dispute resolution
• Serve as strategic advisor to senior business leaders, HR, operations, and Legal on complex labor relations, employee relations, and workforce matters to ensure consistent application of labor strategy, policies, and contractual obligations
• Support proactive union engagement efforts and relationship management with union representatives and business stakeholders
• Coordinate responses to union requests and ensure timely follow-up on action items and commitments
• Lead resolution in partnership with operational leaders on complex represented workforce matters, including attendance, scheduling, staffing impacts, investigations, disciplinary matters, and policy interpretation as applicable under collective bargaining agreements
• Use workforce analytics, labor trends, business performance data and employee relations insights to inform strategy, identify risks, and recommend actions with broad business impact
• Partner with senior leaders to integrate labor, employee relations, and workforce considerations into business planning, operational decision making and change initiatives
• Represent the enterprise team in labor-management meetings, bargaining sessions, cross-functional leadership discussions and site visits as the subject matter expert
• Maintain accurate labor relations records, trackers, databases, and standard operating procedures
• Develop scalable tools, frameworks, leader resources, communication materials, and process improvements that strengthen labor relations operations, standardize practices and improve consistent application across markets or business segments
• Lead cross-functional workforce transition activities, including effective bargaining coordination, notice obligations, and labor integration efforts
• Ensure all activities are conducted in compliance with the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), collective bargaining agreements, company policies, and applicable labor and employment laws
• Ability to travel up to 50%

You'll be rewarded and recognized for your performance in an environment that will challenge you and give you clear direction on what it takes to succeed in your role as well as provide development for other roles you may be interested in.
Required Qualifications:

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and evolving environment
• Proven solid written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively across all organizational levels
• Proven solid organizational skills and attention to detail
• Proven ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise sound professional judgment
• Ability to travel up to 50%

Preferred Qualifications:

• 8+ years of HR, employee relations, labor relations, union operations, or related experience
• Working knowledge of collective bargaining agreements, labor relations practices, and basic NLRA principles
• Proven exposure to collective bargaining, grievance administration, contract interpretation, or represented workforce environments

*All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy
Pay is based on several factors including but not limited to local labor markets, education, work experience, certifications, etc. In addition to your salary, we offer benefits such as, a comprehensive benefits package, incentive and recognition programs, equity stock purchase and 401k contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). No matter where or when you begin a career with us, you'll find a far-reaching choice of benefits and incentives. The salary for this role will range from $112,700 - $193,200 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.
Application Deadline: This will be posted for a minimum of 2 business days or until a sufficient candidate pool has been collected. Job posting may come down early due to volume of applicants.
At UnitedHealth Group, our mission is to help people live healthier lives and make the health system work better for everyone. We believe everyone-of every race, gender, sexuality, age, location and income-deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life. Today, however, there are still far too many barriers to good health which are disproportionately experienced by people of color, historically marginalized groups and those with lower incomes. We are committed to mitigating our impact on the environment and enabling and delivering equitable care that addresses health disparities and improves health outcomes - an enterprise priority reflected in our mission.
UnitedHealth Group is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer under applicable law and qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, religion, age, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by local, state, or federal laws, rules, or regulations.
UnitedHealth Group is a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.