Sandra Lyons
Avoca
Summary
Dynamic leader with a proven track record at UnitedHealth Group, driving enterprise automation strategies and fostering cross-functional collaboration. Expert in Agile delivery and stakeholder engagement, I have successfully transformed clinical program portfolios, enhancing operational excellence and achieving significant efficiency gains. Passionate about innovation and continuous improvement, I deliver impactful solutions aligned with strategic goals.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Automation
UnitedHealth Group / Optum Ireland
Dublin
08.2022 - Current
- Spearheaded enterprise automation strategy, delivering scalable, high-impact solutions aligned with business priorities across global operations.
- Built and led cross-functional teams, fostering a culture of innovation, inclusion, and continuous improvement.
- Championed employee experience initiatives, embedding engagement and collaboration into delivery frameworks.
- Partnered with senior leadership to align automation roadmaps with strategic goals, accelerating time-to-value.
- Established robust governance and quality assurance frameworks to ensure delivery excellence and compliance.
Associate Director of Automation
UnitedHealth Group / Optum Ireland
Dublin
05.2020 - 08.2022
- Led cross-functional governance and delivery of a multi-million euro Clinical Program Portfolio, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, regulatory compliance, and patient-centric outcomes.
- Oversaw end-to-end lifecycle management of Clinical initiatives, from feasibility and planning through execution and closure, driving efficiency, risk mitigation, and stakeholder engagement.
- Collaborated with Clinical leaders and stakeholders to prioritize projects, allocate resources, and resolve escalations, ensuring timely delivery of high-impact clinical programs
- Drove a transformation program to shift delivery from a Waterfall to Agile framework, enhancing responsiveness, cross-functional collaboration, and delivery cadence.
Business Analyst Manager
UnitedHealth Group / Optum Ireland
Dublin
08.2018 - 05.2020
- Led a team of BAs delivering requirements and process improvements across clinical and non-clinical portfolios.
- Partnered with stakeholders to define business needs and translate them into clear, actionable deliverables.
- Standardized BA practices across initiatives, ensuring quality, consistency, and timely delivery.
- Supported digital transformation by driving adoption of tools and optimizing workflows.
IT Business Analyst Team Lead
KBC Bank Ireland
Dublin
07.2015 - 08.2018
- Managed a team of BAs supporting 40+ concurrent projects within the PMO framework.
- Standardized BA practices and documentation, improving quality and consistency across the change portfolio.
- Led workshops and stakeholder engagements to define business requirements and drive solution alignment.
- Oversaw backlog management, sprint planning, and issue resolution for core banking systems (Temenos 24).
- Delivered real-time MI dashboards using JIRA and TCSP for executive reporting.
Senior Business Analyst
Permanent TSB
Dublin
01.2015 - 04.2015
- Conducted end-to-end reviews of Credit Risk Governance procedures, identifying improvement opportunities.
Senior Business Analyst
Ulster Bank
09.2011 - 12.2014
- Delivered business process reengineering and operating model design across Retail and Corporate divisions.
- Developed training and communication materials to support change adoption and operational readiness.
- Supported PMO governance through RAID management, milestone tracking, and stakeholder reporting.
Retail Ireland Telephony Manager
Anglo Irish Bank
01.2008 - 09.2011
- Led contact center operations, driving improvements in customer experience, SLA performance, and BCP readiness.
- Managed vendor relationships, capacity planning, and system upgrades to support business continuity.
Team Leader
Anglo Irish Bank
11.2006 - 01.2008
- Led daily team operations to meet service targets and KPIs.
- Coached staff to improve performance and customer service.
- Resolved escalated issues to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Monitored compliance and call quality standards.
Education
B.Mus. - Bachelor of Music
University College Dublin
Professional Diploma - Change Management
UCD Professional Academy
Skills
- Enterprise Automation Strategy
- Agile & Scaled Delivery Leadership
- Change Management & Organizational Design
- Stakeholder Engagement & Governance
- Operational Excellence & Continuous Improvement
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Cross-Functional Team Leadership
- Data-Driven Decision Making
- Business Performance & Process Optimization
Certification
- Professional Scrum Master (PSM), DCM Learning
- Foundation Certificate in Business Analysis, BCS
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Director of Automation
UnitedHealth Group / Optum Ireland
08.2022 - Current
Associate Director of Automation
UnitedHealth Group / Optum Ireland
05.2020 - 08.2022
Business Analyst Manager
UnitedHealth Group / Optum Ireland
08.2018 - 05.2020
IT Business Analyst Team Lead
KBC Bank Ireland
07.2015 - 08.2018
Senior Business Analyst
Permanent TSB
01.2015 - 04.2015
Senior Business Analyst
Ulster Bank
09.2011 - 12.2014
Retail Ireland Telephony Manager
Anglo Irish Bank
01.2008 - 09.2011
Team Leader
Anglo Irish Bank
11.2006 - 01.2008
B.Mus. - Bachelor of Music
University College Dublin
Professional Diploma - Change Management
UCD Professional Academy
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