Head of Labor Relations

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 Head of Labor Relations is a strategic and operational leader responsible for shaping, executing, and evolving the company’s labor relations strategy in a dynamic, global, matrixed environment. This role serves as senior advisor to leadership on all labor-related matters – driving proactive engagement, ensuring compliance, and fostering constructive relationships with employees, labor organizations, and regulators. The ideal candidate combines deep labor law expertise, collective bargaining mastery, and business acumen with the agility to navigate evolving regulatory, political, and stakeholder landscapes. And the candidate must foster a workplace culture that lives our values of integrity, compassion, inclusion, relationships, innovation, and performance.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute the enterprise labor relations strategy aligned with business priorities and evolving legal, market, and social expectations.
• Advise senior leadership on labor trends, risks, and opportunities, providing actionable insights.
• Anticipate and prepare for emerging legislative, regulatory, and organizing developments across all operating jurisdictions.
• Guide integration planning for acquired unionized populations and advise on M&A involving unionized targets or labor-sensitive divestitures.

Operational Excellence

• Lead proactive employee relations efforts, identifying and addressing areas of concern early.
• Direct the company’s response to union petitions, from initial filing through election, including manager training and employee education.
• Serve as bargaining chair for collective bargaining agreements; set strategy, develop legal-approved template CBA language, and manage negotiations to ensure business continuity.
• Oversee grievances, ULP responses, labor arbitrations, and other dispute resolution processes.
• Provide tactical guidance to the labor relations team on communications with unions and business leaders.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Build trust-based relationships with labor organizations, employee representatives, and regulators.
• Partner cross-functionally with stakeholders, including the People Team (Business Partners, Employee Relations, Compensation, Benefits), Legal, Government Affairs, Communications, Corporate Security, and Corporate Development to ensure consistency and compliance.
• Equip leaders and managers with the knowledge and tools to sustain solid, direct relationships with employees.
• Integrate employee feedback into policy and operational decision-making.

Risk & Compliance Management

Ensure compliance with all labor laws, CBAs, and regulations in multiple jurisdictions.
Monitor labor relations metrics, employee sentiment, and operational impacts; report trends to senior leadership and the board.

Team Leadership

Lead and develop a high-performing labor relations team of approximately 15 professionals.
Drive operational cadence, process improvements, and team capability building.

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:

• 15+ years of progressive labor relations leadership in large, complex, multi-site organizations (logistics, manufacturing, technology, or retail preferred).
• Demonstrated success managing both unionized and non-unionized environments.
• Deep knowledge of U.S. and global labor laws, including NLRA and FLSA.
• Exceptional negotiation, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Proven track record in high-stakes union campaigns, organizing drives, and collective bargaining.
• Experience operating in high-visibility, highly regulated environments.

Preferred Qualifications:

• JD in labor relations, industrial relations, HR, or related field.

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 $196,600 to $337,100 annually based on full-time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable.

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.