Director Strategic Initiatives

Elevance Health; Atlanta (GA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Elevance Health is seeking a Director of Strategic Initiatives to partner with senior leadership within the Health Benefits Operations organization. The role focuses on enterprise-level planning, executive communications, performance management, and cross-functional coordination across a broad portfolio.

Strong executive presence and data-driven storytelling are essential. The position involves identifying opportunities, guiding strategy with a governance framework, and leading special projects

Qualifications

• BA/BS degree and 10+ years in related roles.
• 5+ years of project management experience and 5+ years as health analyst or health staffer in the legislative community.
• Experience supporting senior executives in strategy, planning, operations, or Chief of Staff capacity preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate annual business planning and capital readiness activities.
• Conduct in-depth strategic research and analyses for executive audiences.
• Coordinate executive planning, communications, and operating rhythms with the Office of the COO.
• Partner with culture, communications, and talent strategy teams for cohesive execution.
• Manage strategic initiatives projects and align with corporate strategy; supervise direct reports.

Skills

Executive presence

Strategic planning

Project management

Stakeholder management

Healthcare knowledge

Education

BA/BS degree

Master’s degree preferred

Job description

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.