Principal Data Analyst Visa Sponsorship Jobs in Minnesota

INTRODUCTION

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.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES

We are seeking a highly skilled and strategic Reporting Intelligence Principal Data Analyst to lead advanced analytics initiatives across our healthcare operations. This role is responsible for designing and delivering data-driven insights that inform business decisions, improve operational efficiency, and enhance client outcomes. The ideal candidate will be a subject matter expert in healthcare claims data, with deep experience in business intelligence tools, statistical analysis, and stakeholder engagement.

As a Reporting Intelligence Principal Data Analyst, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to define data requirements, develop analytical models, and present actionable insights to senior leadership. You will also mentor junior analysts and contribute to the development of best practices in data governance, visualization, and reporting.

You'll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges. For all hires in the Minneapolis or Washington, D.C. area, you will be required to work in the office a minimum of four days per week.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead development of enterprise reporting, dashboards, scorecards, and performance intelligence
• Translate business needs into data requirements, KPIs, metrics, and scalable reporting solutions
• Establish consistent metric definitions, reporting methodologies, and data standards to ensure accuracy and alignment
• Analyze and reconcile multiple data sources to identify trends, variances, risks, opportunities, and performance drivers
• Deliver executive-level insights and recommendations that connect operational activity to measurable business outcomes
• Lead end-to-end reporting and analytics initiatives using SQL, SAS, Excel, Tableau, Power BI, and other BI tools
• Identify opportunities to automate, streamline, and scale reporting while reducing manual processes
• Serve as a Reporting Intelligence SME, partnering across Internal Analytics, Operations, Finance, and technology to influence decisions and advance strategic priorities

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.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

• 7+ years of experience in healthcare claims lifecycle (submission, processing, adjudication, payment)
• 5+ years of experience auditing, billing, and/or coding claims
• 5+ years of experience in the healthcare industry (Medicare, Medicaid, Commercial) with deep exposure to Payment Integrity
• 3+ years of experience in consultative roles with cross-functional collaboration
• 3+ years of experience interpreting data sets and presenting proposals to stakeholders
• 3+ years of project management experience
• Deep understanding of the US Healthcare System, including claims data, CPT/ICD codes, and healthcare fraud/anomaly patterns
• Anomaly Detection Techniques: Statistical methods, clustering, outlier detection, and machine learning approaches
• Feature Engineering: Creating meaningful features from raw healthcare data
• SQL: Advanced querying, data manipulation, and performance optimization
• Python: Data analysis, anomaly detection algorithms, pandas, NumPy, scikit-learn, and visualization libraries (Altair, Matplotlib, Seaborn)
• Cloud Platforms: Experience with AWS, Azure, or GCP for data storage, compute, and deployment
• Data Visualization: Proficiency in Tableau, Power BI for building dashboards and visual analytics
• Advanced proficiency in Excel (pivot tables, formulas, charts)
• Working knowledge of CMS rules, billing codes, and related services
• Solid analytical mindset, critical thinking, and communication skills
• Proven ability to lead without authority in high-paced environments

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Coding certification (AAPC or AHIMA)
• 3+ years of experience in claims adjudication or revenue cycle management
• 2+ years of experience in matrixed, adaptive environments with tight deadlines
• Proficiency in SQL, SAS, and other statistical programs
• Solid project management and problem-solving skills
• Exceptional presentation, communication, and negotiation abilities
• Proficiency in Visio, Tableau, PowerPoint
• Familiarity with Spark, Databricks, or Snowflake (preferred)
• Version Control: Git/GitHub for collaboration and code management
• Workflow Automation: Experience with Airflow or similar tools for scheduling and orchestration

All employees working remotely will be required to adhere to UnitedHealth Group's Telecommuter Policy.

COMPENSATION

• Salary Range: $112,700 - $193,200 annually based on full-time employment

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.

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 help make the health system work better for everyone. Together, we are shaping the future of healthcare by harnessing technology and innovation to make care simpler to navigate, more affordable and more connected for the people we serve. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcomed, valued, heard and respected, empowering people to bring their authentic selves to work and strengthening our collective impact through diverse talents, backgrounds, experiences and perspectives.

UnitedHealth Group and its affiliated brands are 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 and its affiliated brands are a drug-free workplace. Candidates are required to pass a drug test before beginning employment.