Creative Director

UnitedHealth Group is a health care and well‑being company that's dedicated to improving the health outcomes of millions around the world. We are comprised of two distinct and complementary businesses, UnitedHealthcare and Optum, working to build a better health system for all. Here, your contributions matter as they will help transform health care for years to come. Make an impact with a team that shares your passion for helping others. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing together. The Vice President of Storytelling & Creative Content is a senior leader responsible for shaping the company's narrative and elevating its voice through compelling, multi‑channel, multimedia storytelling. This leader oversees enterprise content strategy, creative development and production of high‑quality assets that support corporate reputation, policy communications, financial communications, business‑specific and external affairs campaigns. Operating within a publicly traded, highly regulated health care environment, the VP ensures stories are authentic, compliant, strategic and aligned with the needs of diverse stakeholders including members/patients, providers, regulators, policymakers, employees, investors and the public. The ideal candidate combines creative vision with disciplined execution, translating complex health care topics into human‑centered narratives that reflect the company's mission and impact. Hybrid in MN/DC: This position follows a hybrid schedule with four in‑office days per week. Primary Responsibilities Develop and lead a comprehensive storytelling strategy that supports corporate priorities, enhances reputation, and strengthens trust with key audiences. Define and evolve the company's overarching narrative frameworks that articulate mission, values, innovation and impact. Identify signature themes and storylines that differentiate the company within the health care ecosystem. Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leaders on narrative development and storytelling opportunities. Creative Content Leadership Oversee end‑to‑end creative content development—including concepting, writing, design, video, animation, photography, podcasts and long‑form editorial content. Lead a team of writers, content strategists, designers, videographers, producers and creative leads. Set standards for quality, creativity, compliance, and brand alignment across all content formats. Ensure creative assets effectively support campaigns across earned, owned, social, digital, paid, executive communications, policy communications and internal communications. Multimedia Production & Asset Delivery Build and manage a dynamic multimedia production capability to produce high‑quality videos, graphics, digital content, and storytelling packages. Oversee production calendars, workflows, vendor relationships, and content libraries. Partner with Legal, Compliance, Privacy, and Regulatory Affairs to ensure all multimedia assets adhere to requirements for health care communications, including HIPAA, CMS guidelines, advertising standards, and public company disclosure rules. Campaign & Cross‑Functional Support Collaborate closely with Corporate Communications, Public Affairs, Marketing, Policy Communications, Investor Relations, Talent Brand and Business Units to support enterprise campaigns. Provide strategic storytelling direction for major corporate announcements, policy initiatives, leadership visibility efforts, product narratives and purpose‑driven campaigns. Ensure seamless integration of creative content across paid, earned, owned and social channels. Narrative Development for Sensitive or High‑Stakes Issues Frame and develop stories related to major regulatory developments, corporate initiatives, clinical advancements, innovation programs and industry transformation. Support issues management and crisis response with rapid‑turn creative assets, clear narrative framing and informational content. Partner with Legal and Corporate Affairs to ensure accuracy and risk‑aware messaging. Data‑Driven Content Optimization Oversee content analytics, performance insights, audience research and competitive storytelling benchmarking. Use data to refine content strategies, improve relevance and inform creative development. Drive continuous improvement of storytelling formats, distribution strategies and engagement approaches. Brand Stewardship Ensure all storytelling reflects the company's brand identity, values, tone and commitments—particularly in areas tied to patient/member experience, equity, social responsibility and health outcomes. Maintain editorial and visual standards that meet expectations for a Fortune 50‑level public company. Team Leadership & Organizational Development Build, lead, mentor and inspire a high‑performing creative and content organization. Foster a culture that values creative excellence, accountability, innovation, and operational discipline. Manage budgets, production resources, external agencies and technology platforms. 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 experience in communications, storytelling, brand content, creative leadership or multimedia production. 10+ years of journalistic or multi‑media experience. Proven success developing enterprise‑wide content strategies and creative assets for a publicly traded company or highly regulated industry (health care preferred). 10+ years of expertise in multimedia storytelling, including video, digital content, editorial writing and visual communications. Experience working with Legal, Compliance and Regulatory teams on sensitive or regulated content. Solid leadership skills with the ability to inspire creative teams and collaborate across complex organizations. Exceptional writing, narrative development and editorial judgment. Demonstrated ability to translate complex policy, health care and business topics into accessible, human‑centered stories. Preferred Qualifications Experience in health insurance, health systems, life sciences or integrated health services. Knowledge of CMS guidelines, HIPAA considerations, FTC/DOJ advertising and disclosure requirements and SEC communication regulations. Background in leading agency partnerships or internal creative studios. Leadership Competencies Creative Vision & Innovation – Sets the direction for breakthrough storytelling that elevates the brand. Strategic Narrative Expertise – Connects storytelling to business, policy and reputational priorities. Operational Discipline – Skilled at managing complex production pipelines and content ecosystems. Judgment & Integrity – Navigates compliance and regulatory constraints with care. Cross‑Functional Influence – Partners effectively across communications, policy, marketing and legal. Data‑Driven Decision‑Making – Uses insights to refine content and measure impact. Inspiring Leadership – Builds a culture of creativity, excellence and purpose. 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 401(k) contribution (all benefits are subject to eligibility requirements). The salary for this role will range from $200,400 to $343,500 annually based on full‑time employment. We comply with all minimum wage laws as applicable. 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. #J-18808-Ljbffr