Director Strategic Initiatives

Elevance Health, Inc.; Atlanta (GA); Hybrid; USD 150,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Elevance Health is seeking a Director Strategic Initiatives to partner with senior leadership within the Health Benefits Operations organization. The role drives enterprise planning, executive communications, performance management, and operational coordination across a broad portfolio, delivering clear narratives to senior audiences.

You will identify opportunities and shape partnering strategies for a Strategic Business Unit while guiding cross-functional teams through planning cycles and

Qualifications

• BA/BS required with 10+ years overall, including 5+ years in project management and health policy exposure.
• Strong executive presence and ability to communicate with senior leaders.
• Hybrid work with in-office three days per week; some locations may be considered within commuting distance.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate annual business planning and capital readiness activities.
• Conduct in-depth strategic research and executive-level planning.
• Coordinate Office of the COO partnerships, governance routines and communications.
• Collaborate with culture, communications, and talent strategy for cohesive execution.
• Manage special projects and ensure alignment with corporate strategies.
• Hire, train, coach and evaluate direct reports.

Skills

Executive leadership

Strategic planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Data synthesis

Project management

Communication with senior leadership

Education

BA/BS degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Director Strategic Initiatives

Location: This role requires associates to be in-office 3 days per week, fostering collaboration and connectivity, while providing flexibility to support productivity and work-life balance. This approach combines structured office engagement with the autonomy of virtual work, promoting a dynamic and adaptable workplace. Alternate locations may be considered if candidates reside within a commuting distance from an office. Please note that per our policy on hybrid/virtual work, candidates not within a reasonable commuting distance from the posting location(s) will not be considered for employment, unless accommodation is granted as required by law.

The Director Strategic Initiatives will serve as a strategic partner to senior leadership within the Health Benefits Operations organization. This role will help drive enterprise-level planning, executive communications, performance management, and operational coordination across a broad and highly visible portfolio. Will bring strong executive presence, sound business judgment, and the ability to synthesize data, operational priorities, and strategic messaging into clear, polished deliverables for senior audiences. Will also be responsible for identifying internal and external opportunities and partnering strategies for a Strategic Business Unit.

How you will make an impact:

• Annual Business Planning: Lead and coordinate planning cycles, including capital readiness activities, business planning deliverables, and cross-functional inputs needed to support senior leadership decision-making.
• Conduct in-depth strategic research.
• Operational Coordination: Support executive-level planning and coordination, including leadership engagements, travel agendas, operating rhythms, meeting preparation, and follow-up actions.
• Office of the COO Partnership: Serve as a central partner to the Office of the COO, ensuring alignment across leadership priorities, governance routines, communications, and operational execution.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Work closely with a companion director role focused on culture, communications, and talent strategy to ensure cohesive execution across strategy, people, planning, and engagement priorities.
• Participates in optimizing strategic initiatives and planning through challenges to cost/benefit investments that involve significant monetary investments and that support key strategic direction to the SBU.
• Analyzes, researches and develops complex materials and documents relating to health issues.
• Prepares white papers on select healthcare topics including presentation support materials such as graphic presentations and talk points for executive officers.
• Serves as project manager for special projects as directed by executive management.
• Works with Corporate Strategic Planning to ensure that the SBU is appropriately coordinated with the corporate strategies.
• Hires, trains, coaches, counsels, and evaluate performance of direct reports.

Minimum Requirements:

Requires a BA/BS degree and a minimum of 10 years of experience including 5 years of project management experience and 5 years of related experience as a health analyst or health staffer in the legislative community; or any combination of education and experience, which would provide an equivalent background.

Preferred Skills, Capabilities and Experiences:

• Demonstrated experience supporting senior executives or operating in a highly visible strategy, business planning, operations, or Chief of Staff-style capacity is strongly preferred.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate effectively with senior leaders and influence across functions without direct authority is preferred.
• Proven ability to synthesize complex data, operational performance insights, and strategic priorities into clear, compelling narratives and deliverables is preferred.
• Experience managing business planning cycles, performance routines, governance forums is preferred.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to coordinate multiple priorities, stakeholders, and timelines is preferred.
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, matrixed environment with ambiguity, visibility, and evolving leadership priorities is preferred.
• Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution and attention to detail is preferred.
• Master’s degree preferred.

Who We Are

Elevance Health is a health company dedicated to improving lives and communities – and making healthcare simpler. We are a Fortune 25 company with a longstanding history in the healthcare industry, looking for leaders at all levels of the organization who are passionate about making an impact on our members and the communities we serve.

How We Work

Elevance Health operates in a Hybrid Workforce Strategy. Unless specified as primarily virtual by the hiring manager, associates are required to work at an Elevance Health location at least once per week, and potentially several times per week. Specific requirements and expectations for time onsite will be discussed as part of the hiring process.

Elevance Health offers a range of market-competitive total rewards that include merit increases, paid holidays, Paid Time Off, and incentive bonus programs (unless covered by a collective bargaining agreement), medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability benefits, 401(k) +match, stock purchase plan, life insurance, wellness programs and financial education resources, to name a few.

The health of our associates and communities is a top priority for Elevance Health. We require all new candidates in certain patient/member-facing roles to become vaccinated against COVID-19 and Influenza. If you are not vaccinated, your offer will be rescinded unless you provide an acceptable explanation. Elevance Health will also follow all relevant federal, state and local laws.

Elevance Health is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, ethnicity, genetic information, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, veteran status or any other status or condition protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws. Applicants who require accommodation to participate in the job application process should submit the Accessibility Accommodation Request Form and a member of the team will be in contact.

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state, and local laws, including, but not limited to, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act.

Prospective employees required to be screened under Florida law should review the education and awareness resources at HB531 | Florida Agency for Health Care Administration.