HR STRATEGIC PROJECT MGR

Covenant Health; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Covenant Health in Knoxville, TN, seeks an experienced Human Resources Strategic Project Manager to partner with the HR executive team. You will translate executive priorities into actionable workstreams, coordinating cross-functional HR initiatives with clear timelines and deliverables.

This role emphasizes project governance, change management, and data-driven decision making, leveraging HRIS knowledge to drive operational excellence and ensure initiatives align with Covenant Health’s

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human resources or a related field is required.
• Master's degree preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive HR experience and proven ability to lead complex initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Provide project management support to HR leadership and align initiatives with organizational priorities.
• Coordinate timelines, milestones, and follow-up actions across HR workstreams with dashboards.
• Collaborate with HR and stakeholders to drive outcomes across strategic initiatives.
• Define and document project scope, timelines, risks, and resources.
• Manage a portfolio of cross-functional HR projects for HR executives.
• Lead change management activities including communication.
• Develop and execute communications plans to support engagement.
• Possess extensive knowledge of IT applications and HRIS.
• Data-driven decision making with measurable ROI and KPI development.
• Follow policies, safety standards; complete required education; participate in quality initiatives.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Skills

Project management

Change management

Stakeholder engagement

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Human Resources or related field

Master's degree in HR or related field

Tools

HRIS

Job description

Overview

Human Resources Strategic Project Manager

Full Time, 80 Hours Per Pay Period, Day Shift

Covenant Health Overview:

Covenant Health is the region's top-performing healthcare network with 10hospitals,outpatient and specialtyservices,andCovenant Medical Group, our area's fastest-growing physician practice division. Headquartered in Knoxville, Covenant Health is a community-owned integrated healthcare delivery system and the area's largest employer. Our more than 11,000 employees, volunteers, and 1,500 affiliated physicians are dedicated to improving the quality of life for the more than two million patients and families we serve every year. Covenant Health is the only healthcare system in East Tennessee to be named a Forbes "Best Employer" seven times.

Position Summary:

Reporting to the Senior Vice President - Human Resources, the HR Strategic Project Manager serves as a dedicated project management partner to the HR executive team, supporting the planning, coordination, execution, and delivery of enterprise Human Resources strategies and key initiatives. This role provides structure, discipline, and follow-through for cross-functional HR project plans, helping translate executive priorities into actionable workstreams with clear timelines, deliverables, accountability, and measurable outcomes. The position combines strategic planning, program leadership, project management expertise, and execution discipline to drive operational excellence by supporting project governance, tracking progress, identifying risks, and enabling successful implementation of HR strategies, programs, and activities. This role ensures effective coordination of project activities, resources, communications, and stakeholder engagement across HR functions. Partners closely with executive leaders, human resources, finance, and operational leaders to ensure Human Resources strategies, programs, and projects are implemented effectively and aligned with organizational priorities.

Responsibilities

• Provide project management support to the Senior Vice President - Human Resources and senior HR leadership team by helping organize, prioritize, and advance executive HR strategies, projects, and initiatives in alignment with organizational priorities.
• Coordinate project timelines, deliverables, milestones, and follow-up actions across multiple HR workstreams; maintain project plans, executive status updates, dashboards, and related documentation.
• Collaborate within HR and partner with stakeholders at all levels to drive sustained outcomes across strategic initiatives; serve as a liaison between the HR executive office, HR teams, cross-functional partners, and project stakeholders.
• Define and document project scope, timelines, success metrics, risks, dependencies, and resources required to implement HR strategies and initiatives.
• Manage a portfolio of cross-functional HR projects on behalf of the HR executive leader, ensuring alignment, prioritization, accountability, and execution discipline.
• Lead change management activities to support adoption of new programs, processes and systems including communication.
• Develop and execute communication plans that support engagement, clarity and alignment.
• Possesses extensive knowledge of information technology applications and use of HRIS as a tool.
• Data driven decision making expertise with the ability to articulate ROI. Establish success metrics and KPI's for strategies initiatives.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in human resources or related field required, master's degree preferred.

Minimum Experience:

5 years of progressive HR experience. Proven track record to lead complex initiatives

Licensure Requirement:

None