Health Services Leadership Development Program Associate

The Cigna Group; St. Louis (MO); Hybrid; USD 101,000 - 168,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus

Relocation assistance

Annual incentive bonus

Merit increases

Comprehensive benefits

Job summary

The Cigna Group offers a rotating leadership development program designed for high-potential MBAs, MPHs, or MHAs. Associates will work across Cigna Healthcare, Evernorth, and enterprise functions to build strategic, operational, financial, and people leadership capabilities.

The program emphasizes collaboration, real business impact, and senior leadership exposure. You will engage in real priorities, receive tailored rotations over 18–24 months, and develop enterprise leadership depth across the

Qualifications

• MBA preferred; MPH or MHA also valued.
• Minimum 3 years of full-time professional experience with demonstrated leadership.
• Strong management experience with increasing responsibility and measurable impact.
• Interest in healthcare and improving health outcomes.
• Experience using AI tools, data analytics, or tech-enabled solutions to improve decisions.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives across growth, product, operations, and digital transformation.
• Build business cases and executive-ready recommendations to improve affordability and access.
• Use advanced problem solving to analyze data and influence decisions across stakeholders.
• Lead cross-functional project teams and drive accountability from strategy to execution.
• Apply AI-enabled tools and digital solutions to improve decision making and outcomes.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategy development

Cross-functional collaboration

Data analytics

AI tool experience

Education

MBA preferred

MPH or MHA valued

Job description

Bring your strategic mindset to work that matters. The Cigna Group's HSLDP is designed for high-potential leaders who want to make healthcare simpler, more affordable, and more meaningful for the people we serve. As an Associate, you will rotate across Cigna Healthcare, Evernorth Health Services, and enterprise functions, building the strategic, operational, financial, and people leadership capabilities needed to lead in a complex, rapidly evolving health services environment.

For top MBA talent, HSLDP offers the scale of a Fortune 20 health services company, the breadth of an enterprise leadership program, and the support of a collaborative community that values ambition, compassion, curiosity, and measurable impact. You will work on real business priorities, gain access to senior leaders, and grow through customized 18-24 month rotations shaped by your aspirations and business need.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic initiatives in areas such as growth strategy, product innovation, healthcare operations, digital transformation, service excellence, pharmacy and care delivery, provider/network strategy, or enterprise transformation.
• Build business cases, operating plans, and executive-ready recommendations that improve affordability, access, customer experience, operational performance, or enterprise growth.
• Use advanced problem solving to frame ambiguous challenges, analyze complex data, evaluate tradeoffs, and influence decisions across matrixed stakeholder groups.
• Lead cross-functional project teams, manage milestones, and drive accountability from strategy through execution.
• Apply AI-enabled tools, analytics, and digital solutions to improve decision-making, productivity, customer insight, and business outcomes.
• Develop enterprise leadership depth and breadth through rotations across the full organization; experiences are not limited to a small set of businesses or functions.

Required Qualifications

• MBA preferred; MPH, MHA also valued.
• Minimum 3 years of full-time professional experience, including demonstrated leadership of people, projects, workstreams, or cross-functional initiatives.
• Strong management experience with evidence of increasing responsibility, stakeholder influence, and measurable business impact.
• Demonstrated interest in healthcare, health services, customer experience, or improving health outcomes.
• Experience using AI tools, data analytics, automation, or technology-enabled solutions to improve decision-making, productivity, or business results.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in consulting, healthcare, strategy, operations, product management, finance, analytics, change management, or general management.
• Track record of leading teams through ambiguity, presenting to senior leaders, and translating insight into action.
• Growth mindset, enterprise orientation, and desire to become a compassionate, ambitious healthcare leader.

Additional Information

Location: This hybrid program requires associates to work three days per week in the office and two days remotely from one of our hub locations: Bloomfield, CT; Philadelphia, PA; St. Louis, MO; or Franklin, TN. Associates select a primary location at the start of the program and may remain in that location throughout their HSLDP experience. Relocation between rotations is not expected or required.

Compensation: We invest in our associates with a competitive compensation package that recognizes performance and supports long-term success, including a competitive base salary, annual incentive bonus opportunity, annual merit increases, a sign-on bonus, and exceptional relocation assistance to help make your transition as seamless as possible.

Work Authorization: Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States on a permanent basis and must not require employment sponsorship now or in the future.

If you will be working at home occasionally or permanently, the internet connection must be obtained through a cable broadband or fiber optic internet service provider with speeds of at least 10Mbps download/5Mbps upload.

For this position, we anticipate offering an annual salary of 100,500 - 167,500 USD / yearly, depending on relevant factors, including experience and geographic location.

This role is also anticipated to be eligible to participate in an annual bonus plan.

At The Cigna Group, you’ll enjoy a comprehensive range of benefits, with a focus on supporting your whole health. Starting on day one of your employment, you’ll be offered several health-related benefits including medical, vision, dental and well-being and behavioral health programs. We also offer 401(k), company paid life insurance, tuition reimbursement, a minimum of 18 days of paid time off per year, paid holidays, and leaves of absence. For more details on our employee benefits programs.

About The Cigna Group

Doing something meaningful starts with a simple decision, a commitment to changing lives. At The Cigna Group, we’re dedicated to improving the health and vitality of those we serve. Through our divisions Cigna Healthcare and Evernorth Health Services, we are committed to enhancing the lives of our clients, customers and patients. Join us in driving growth and improving lives.

Qualified applicants will be considered without regard to race, color, age, disability, sex, childbirth (including pregnancy) or related medical conditions including but not limited to lactation, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, religion, national origin, ancestry, marital or familial status, genetic information, status with regard to public assistance, citizenship status or any other characteristic protected by applicable equal employment opportunity laws.

If you need a reasonable accommodation to complete the online application process, please email [e-mail] for assistance. Please note that this email inbox is dedicated to accommodation requests only and cannot provide application updates or accept resumes.

The Cigna Group has a tobacco-free policy and reserves the right not to hire tobacco/nicotine users in states where that is legally permissible. Candidates in such states who use tobacco/nicotine will not be considered for employment unless they enter a qualifying smoking cessation program prior to the start of their employment. These states include: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Vermont, and Washington State.

Qualified applicants with criminal histories will be considered for employment in a manner consistent with all federal, state and local ordinances.