Communications Intern - Interns Elevated Program - Minnetonka, MN

Internships at UnitedHealth Group

If you want an intern experience that will dramatically shape your career, consider a company that's dramatically shaping our entire health care system. UnitedHealth Group internship opportunities will provide a hands-on view of a rapidly evolving, incredibly challenging marketplace of ideas, products, and services. You'll work side by side with some of the smartest people in the business on assignments that matter. So here we are. You have a lot to learn. We have a lot to do. It's the perfect storm. Join us to start Caring. Connecting. Growing Together.

UnitedHealth Group ("UHG") is a Fortune 5 diversified health care company that generates over $300 billion in revenue and employs ~400,000 diverse team members. UHG is comprised of two distinct, but strategically aligned businesses: UnitedHealthcare ("UHC") and Optum. UnitedHealthcare is the largest U.S. health insurer, serving over 50 million members and enables better health outcomes for its members. Optum is UHG's health services platform and provides health care administrative support and employs more physicians than any other medical group in the country. Optum serves nearly 130 million Americans.

UnitedHealth Group is seeking a communications intern to join our Interns Elevated program, reporting into the Enterprise Communications team.

On the Enterprise Communications team, we enhance the company reputation with key audiences including investors, policymakers, consumers, patients, and employees. You will learn to develop dynamic content and bring stories to life across a variety of channels while navigating the complexities of being a part of a Fortune 5 company. In addition, you will help to advance our mission and drive growth for the company.

Our Interns Elevated program will give current sophomores, who will be rising juniors summer 2026, the opportunity to participate in an 8-month rotational program with the potential to extend the internship into a second year. This program will rotate through each of our businesses (UnitedHealth Group, UnitedHealthcare, and Optum). Interns will work full-time in the spring/summer and part-time during the school year. This position follows a hybrid schedule with four in-office days per week.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Internal Communications & Employee Engagement Rotation:
• Writing and creation of content across multiple channels on a variety of topics including growth, employee benefits & programs, mission, and culture.
• Content creation for intranet news stories, intranet/web content, emails, social posts, digital signs, etc.
• Assist with creation of campaign assets and logistics and project management (videos, photography, infographics).
• Proof and edit key documents and deliverables for internal and external use.
• Support key employee/company campaigns by collecting, packaging, and gathering approvals on campaign assets.
• Research, analyze, and share best-in-class practices across the competitive landscape.
• Social Strategy and Social Media Rotation:
• Support the Social Media team to create strategic targeted social media campaigns in support of the owned channels.
• Regularly assist with ad hoc projects spanning across the digital channels we support.
• Comfortable supporting multiple projects while effectively managing timelines and expectations, communicating progress, and delivering results in a fast-paced environment.
• Keep up to date with the latest digital marketing trends to provide innovative experience design ideas to challenge the status quo and push the creative envelope.
• Support social media team with writing posts, consulting on graphics, managing approvals, and publishing.
• Regularly assist with ad hoc projects spanning across the digital channels we support.
• Comfortable supporting multiple projects while effectively managing timelines and expectations, communicating progress, and delivering results in a fast-paced environment.
• Sit in on communications kick-off calls and provide strategic considerations, optimization opportunities, and help project manage initiatives alongside our content studio & social media team.
• Executive Communications Rotation:
• Support the planning and execution of executive events.
• Executive visibility research and monitoring, including media, social media, and events.
• Research both internal and external speaking opportunities for leadership team consideration.
• Track and summarize key health conferences and events.
• Draft employee communications through creative mediums to engage enterprise on key messages.
• Corporate Reputation and External Communications Rotation:
• Support teams on campaign activations including content creation for multiple channels and post activation reporting.
• Develop, support, and execute on editorial calendars and content strategy for key executives.
• Help shape thought leadership content and strategy for key executives to support our executive visibility program.
• Support public affairs teams on campaign, stakeholder, and advocacy group activations.
• Assist with developing op-eds/articles targeting the strategic priorities for placement by subject matter experts and executive leaders.
• Support media relations team with media pitching, earnings day analysis, reporting, etc.
• Collaborate with marketing partners on ideas and content, including assisting with identifying news stories for newsletters, proofing white papers, and leveraging marketing deliverables across various platforms.
• Keep up to date with the latest health care news, social media trends, and brand storytelling trends to provide innovative ideas to challenge the status quo and push the creative envelope.

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:

• Currently pursuing a bachelor's degree from an accredited college / university. Must be actively enrolled in an accredited college / university throughout the duration of the internship.
• Pursuing a degree in communications, strategic communications, communication studies, public relations, media, or related field.
• Must be a rising junior in the summer of 2026 (anticipated graduation date of May 2028).
• Must be able to commit to the full 8-month rotation schedule. Late start or end dates cannot be accommodated.
• 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:

• Minimum 3.25 cumulative GPA
• 1+ years of experience in writing, social media, content strategy, digital strategy, digital marketing
• Experience with Adobe Creative Suite
• Experience writing, researching, and editing
• Experience with digital or social media
• Experience in organizing or planning events and meetings
• Experience working, volunteering, or interning in a health care, policy, research, or public relations setting
• Solid familiarity with social media platforms in a professional perspective (Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter)
• Familiarity with social listening and analysis to inform social media strategy and/or content creation
• Proficiency in Microsoft office suite including Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint
• Proven solid writing skills, and ability to draft short-form content for social platforms (including copy for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc.)
• Proven ability to be proactive and independent thinker; willing to collaborate with a multi-disciplined team to achieve goals
• Proven outstanding communication and critical thinking skills as well as the ability to make clear and concise presentations

Soft Skills:

• Solid verbal/written communication, including an ability to effectively communicate with both business and technical teams
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, collaborative environment with tight deadlines
• Ability to think analytically and problem solve when needed
• Ability to work effectively both independently and as a member of a cross-functional team
• Curious, collaborative team player with a well-developed sense of humor
• Solid personal project management skills and ability to prioritize, make progress on multiple concurrent projects, and share progress with your team
• Excellent communication and team skills - verbal and written</li