Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives

HealthPartners; BLOOMINGTON (MN); Hybrid; USD 52,000 - 77,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work arrangement

Job summary

HealthPartners is seeking a Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives, to join the Strategic Projects and Improvement Office. You will lead medium-sized initiatives across Care Group and Shared Services, guiding projects from planning through implementation and supporting change management to promote adoption.

You will coordinate full project lifecycles, engage stakeholders, and align efforts with strategic priorities while strengthening capabilities in planning, process improvement, systems

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in healthcare, business, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of healthcare industry experience, focus on Care Delivery/Shared Services.
• Five (5) years of experience leading or managing projects.
• Experience leading full lifecycle projects from planning to completion.
• Experience leading process improvement in Care Delivery/Shared Services.
• Ability to balance multiple departments and priorities.
• Strong data analysis, presentation, problem-solving, and time management.
• Strong interpersonal skills to engage audiences from frontline to executives.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 apps (Outlook, Word, Excel, Visio, PowerPoint, Teams).

Responsibilities

• Develop comprehensive project plans with timelines, resources, risks, milestones, and communications.
• Design and facilitate improvement events to support goals.
• Ensure projects align with strategy and goals.
• Provide recommendations to create value, increase productivity, and improve performance.
• Identify and mitigate risks to keep projects on track.
• Maintain PM standards and processes and apply structured problem-solving.
• Motivate teams and ensure access to tools and training.
• Build stakeholder relationships to ensure optimal outcomes.
• Provide regular status updates and executive presentations.
• Support change management initiatives related to implementation.

Skills

Project management

Change management

Stakeholder engagement

Data analysis

Communication

Cross-functional collaboration

Problem solving

Time management

Leadership

MS 365 proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in healthcare, business, or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Project management certification (CAPM/PMP)

Process improvement certification (Lean/Six Sigma/IHI)

Prosci Change Management Certification

Tools

Outlook

Word

Excel

Visio

PowerPoint

Teams

Job description

HealthPartners is hiring a Project Manager, Strategic Initiatives, to join our Strategic Projects and Improvement Office. Reporting to the Director of the Strategic Projects and Improvement Office, this role joins a collaborative team of five project managers and a program manager focused on advancing strategic initiatives across the organization. In addition to leading projects from planning through implementation, this role will support the change management aspects of initiatives, helping engage stakeholders, navigate change impacts, and promote successful adoption.

In this role, you will lead medium-sized projects and improvement initiatives supporting both Care Group and Shared Services. Projects may span process, technology, and organizational change, with examples including, pharmacy initiatives, patient arrival and entry experience, extended downtime processes, Epic optimization, and integration efforts.

You will guide projects through the full lifecycle, from intake, assessment, and planning through implementation and closure, while partnering with stakeholders across the organization to keep initiatives aligned with strategic priorities, timelines, and desired outcomes. You will also help teams navigate change and strengthen capabilities in project planning, process improvement, systems thinking, and change management.

This is a highly collaborative and visible role that regularly partners with leaders at the medical director, vice president, and executive levels. Success in this position requires someone who is proactive, comfortable speaking up, able to build strong relationships, and confident serving as a thought partner to leaders and teams navigating complex change.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in healthcare, business, or a related field.
• Five (5) years of healthcare industry experience, with a focus on Care Delivery and/or Shared Services (e.g., human resources, finance, supply chain).
• Five (5) years of experience leading or managing projects, whether in a dedicated project management role or as part of a broader position.
• Experience leading projects through the full project lifecycle, from planning and execution through completion.
• Experience leading process improvement initiatives within Care Delivery and/or healthcare Shared Services (e.g., human resources, finance, supply chain).
• Ability to manage projects strategically while balancing the needs and priorities of multiple departments and business units.
• Strong data analysis, data presentation, problem-solving, organizational, and time management skills.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills, with the ability to facilitate groups and effectively engage audiences ranging from frontline teams to executive leaders.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and customer needs in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate effectively across all levels of an organization to influence and support change.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, drive clarity, and act with an appropriate sense of urgency.
• Strong written, verbal, and presentation skills.
• Ability to research complex topics, including gathering, assessing, analyzing, and presenting information and recommendations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, Visio, PowerPoint, and Teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in healthcare, business, or a related field is strongly preferred.
• Project management certification or equivalent credential (e.g., CAPM, CPPM, PMP).
• Process improvement certification, such as Lean, Six Sigma, Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI), or a comparable credential.
• Prosci Change Management Certification or equivalent change management credential.

Hours/Location:

• M-F; core business hours
• This position offers a hybrid work arrangement, with onsite work typically occurring Tuesday through Thursday and greater remote flexibility on Mondays and Fridays. Additional onsite presence may occasionally be required outside of the typical Tuesday through Thursday schedule to support meetings, work sessions, or other business needs.

Compensation Range:

• $37.46 - $56.20 hourly
  • Compensation is based on the level and requirements of the role. Pay within our ranges may also be determined by education, experience, knowledge, skills, location, and abilities as well as internal equity. Hired candidates may be eligible to receive additional compensation based on role (e.g., shift differential, bonus, sales incentive, productivity pay, etc.).

Responsibilities:

Project Management & Process Improvement

• Develop comprehensive project plans, including business case/best practice, timelines, resources, risk mitigation, milestones, and communication strategies.
• Design and facilitate Improvement events to support team goals & objectives.
• Ensure all projects and Improvement activities align with the project strategy and goals.
• Provide objective recommendations and knowledge with the aim of creating value, increasing productivity, reducing costs, maximizing growth, and improving business performance.
• Identify, address, or scope? Wait.
• Continuously monitor and adjust plans to mitigate risks and keep projects on track.
• Maintain project management standards and processes and apply structured problem-solving methodology.

Resource Management

• Motivate the team. Ensure teams have the necessary improvement and change tools, skills, and training to be successful.
• Maintain strong internal and external stakeholder relationships to ensure optimum outcomes are achieved.
• Build and sustain senior leader-level relationships to establish a trusted advisor role, enabling open communication and influence on key project decisions.

Stakeholder Communication

• Foster effective communication between project teams, stakeholders, and senior management.
• Provide regular project status updates and reports and executive presentations.

Change Management

• Support change management initiatives related to project implementation.
• Ensure smooth transitions and minimize disruptions as part of project closure.
• Facilitate lessons learned to ensure reuse of project learnings and knowledge by establishing ongoing communication and repositories for future reference.