Research Analyst

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.  

OptumServe Consulting (OSC)/The Lewin Group (Lewin), a premier national healthcare and human services consulting and policy analysis firm, brings 55 years of experience finding answers and solving problems for leading organizations in the public, non-profit, and private sectors. OSC/Lewin’s strategic and analytical services aim to help clients:

• Improve policy and expand knowledge of healthcare and human service systems
• Enact, run, and evaluate programs to enhance the delivery and financing of healthcare and family services
• Deal with shifts in healthcare practice, technology, and regulation
• Optimize performance, quality, coverage, and health outcomes
• Create strategies for institutions, communities, associations, foundations, governments, and people to make healthcare and human services systems more effective
   

In the wide-ranging field of health and human services consulting, OSC/Lewin provides both depth and breadth of expertise. Currently, OSC/Lewin has more than 200 consultants drawn from industry, government and academia. They all share a solid commitment to Lewin’s core values of objectivity, integrity, analytical innovation, vision and dedication to client satisfaction. 
 

As a Research Analyst, you will perform a variety of research and analysis tasks to support consulting projects for federal and state governments, health plans, associations and foundations, and health systems. This is an excellent opportunity to work with intelligent people on important policy issues in a positive team environment.
 

OSC/Lewin is seeking recent graduates to fill consultant roles to assist state and federal administrations such as the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services in evaluating and optimizing healthcare program operations through a combination of analytic and policy-driven research, modeling, 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.

*Relocation assistance will not be available for this position*

*UnitedHealth Group is not able to offer visa sponsorship now or in the future for this position*

Primary Responsibilities:

• Perform healthcare or human services implementation and/or policy-focused quantitative and qualitative research and analysis 
• Support project management including drafting contract management reports, tracking activities, and deliverables 
• Conduct literature reviews and synthesize research findings 
• Implement quality control protocols 
• Support primary data collection, including the development of interview guides and the conduct of site visits, focused groups, and key informant interviews 
• Independently prepare information for clients, contribute to reports, and assist with project scheduling and coordination tasks

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:

• Bachelors degree or higher from an accredited college/university within 24 months post-graduation
• Experience gained through coursework, internships, assistantships, or employment in basic quantitative analysis, data management, and preparing presentations and reports
• Experience with designing or contributing to research projects, such as developing research questions, assisting with methodology, or supporting data analysis for class projects, theses, or applied research
• Demonstrated familiarity in one or more analytic programming languages: SAS, SQL, Python, R, or Stata
• Ability to submit a research sample (max 10 pages)-such as a thesis excerpt, capstone project, or published peer‑reviewed article-that demonstrates ability in literature review, research questions, methodology, analysis, and/or data visualization. Attach to your application. 
• Must be eligible to work in the U.S. without company sponsorship, now or in the future, for employment-based work authorization (F-1 students with practical training and candidates requiring H-1Bs, TNs, etc. will not be considered)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, psychology, sociology, communication, business, economics, political science, data science, statistics, or a related social science or health‑related field with demonstrated research experience
• Proven coursework in research methods, statistics, econometrics, or data analysis
• Experience contributing to quantitative or qualitative research through coursework, capstone projects, research labs, or internships
• Demonstrated familiarity with Medicare or Medicaid policy concepts
• Experience working with large datasets or supporting program evaluation
• Experience assisting with qualitative analysis (e.g., interviews, coding, thematic review)

*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 hourly pay for this role will range from $28.94 to $51.63 per hour 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.