Director Business Lending - Remote

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 Director Business Lending will lead the end-to-end strategy, development, and management of our digital-first small business lending platform. This role is responsible for building scalable, technology-driven lending solutions that enable rapid decisioning, seamless customer experiences, and sustainable portfolio growth. The Director will oversee product innovation, use of automated credit risk models in underwriting, operational execution, and compliance - ensuring the company becomes a market leader in automated small business lending.

This is a highly cross-functional leadership role, requiring collaboration with product, technology, data science, compliance, and business development teams. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in small business lending, automation, and fintech ecosystems, with proven experience scaling lending products through innovation and disciplined credit management

You'll enjoy the flexibility to work remotely * from anywhere within the U.S. as you take on some tough challenges.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership
  • Develop and execute the company's business lending strategy, including growth targets, product roadmap, and long-term vision.
  • Build a lending platform that balances speed, customer experience, and credit performance.
  • Provide executive-level insights and recommendations on market opportunities, portfolio health, and innovation trends.
• Automation & Technology Innovation
  • Drive the development and implementation of AI/ML-powered underwriting models and automated decisioning engines along with the Director of data Science
  • Partner with engineering and product teams to design seamless end-to-end digital workflows - from loan application to servicing and collections
  • Oversee API and embedded finance integrations with external platforms, enabling distribution through partners and ecosystems
  • Continuously enhance automation to reduce manual intervention, improve cost efficiency, and scale lending volume
• Credit & Portfolio Management
  • Establish robust credit policies, risk based pricing, risk frameworks, and governance processes for automated lending
  • Monitor portfolio performance in real time, identifying emerging risks and adjusting strategies proactively
  • Balance portfolio growth with disciplined risk management and regulatory compliance
  • Leverage alternative data sources (e.g., payments data, cash flow analytics, e-commerce metrics) to expand credit access for underserved businesses
• Business Development & Partnerships
  • Build strategic partnerships with fintech platforms, payment processors, marketplaces, and digital service providers to expand customer reach
  • Collaborate with marketing and distribution teams to design customer acquisition strategies tailored to SMBs
  • Represent the company in industry forums, positioning the organization as a leader in automated small business lending.
• Team Leadership
  • Recruit, develop, and lead a high-performing team across lending operations, risk, product, and partnerships
  • Foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and collaboration
  • Provide coaching and professional development opportunities to build expertise in automated lending and fintech ecosystems
• Compliance & Governance
  • Ensure compliance with all federal, state, and local small business lending regulations, as well as fair lending and data privacy requirements
  • Partner with compliance, risk, and legal teams to ensure AI-driven decisioning is transparent, explainable, and auditable
  • Maintain rigorous controls and reporting structures to support internal audits and regulatory reviews.

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:

• 10+ years of experience in small business or commercial lending, with at least 5 years in a leadership role in fintech, digital lending, or financial services
• Expertise in credit risk modeling, automated underwriting, and use of alternative data in lending decisions
• Solid track record of launching and scaling automated or digital lending products
• Deep understanding of fintech ecosystems, embedded finance, and API-based integrations
• Knowledge of lending compliance frameworks, including fair lending and responsible AI governance
• Proven exceptional leadership, analytical, and communication skills, with the ability to influence cross-functional teams and external stakeholders

*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 $132,200 to $226,600 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.