Strategic HR Program Lead

Highmark Health; Frankfort (KY); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Highmark Health is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead complex HR programs within the HR PMO. The role partners with HR, HR Technology, Operations, Finance, IT, vendors, and leaders to drive initiatives with measurable business outcomes.

The incumbent serves as the functional leader of cross-functional teams, balancing priorities and mitigating risks to ensure timely delivery of strategic HR transformations, mergers/acquisitions, and enterprise-wide changes.

Qualifications

• 4 years of experience in a project manager role.
• PMP certification or equivalent project management training.
• Experience managing enterprise-wide HR, operations, technology, or transformation initiatives.
• Experience supporting executive leadership priorities and strategic organizational initiatives.
• Experience with mergers, acquisitions, integrations, divestitures, or workforce transitions.
• Understanding of project management methodologies including Agile, Waterfall, and Hybrid delivery approaches.
• Experience managing vendor relationships and third-party implementation partners.
• Strong business acumen with demonstrated ability to connect project execution to organizational strategy and business outcomes.
• Experience leading matrixed teams without direct supervisory authority.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to communicate effectively with leaders at all levels of the organization.
• Ability to identify risks, manage ambiguity, and make sound recommendations in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience developing and presenting executive-level project updates, business cases, and risk assessments.
• Strong facilitation, negotiation, conflict resolution, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously while maintaining focus on strategic outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end delivery of complex, strategic HR programs and projects from initiation through implementation and stabilization.
• Partner with executive sponsors, HR leaders, HR Technology, Operations, Finance, Legal, Compliance, and external vendors to achieve project objectives.
• Build, maintain, and execute comprehensive project plans, including scope, schedule, budget, risks, dependencies, milestones, and resource plans.
• Facilitate alignment and decision-making across multiple stakeholder groups with competing priorities and interests.
• Proactively identify risks, issues, roadblocks, and interdependencies, developing mitigation strategies and driving timely resolution.
• Determine when escalation is required and present recommendations, impacts, and decision options to leadership.
• Drive accountability across matrixed teams and influence outcomes without direct reporting authority.
• Establish and monitor project success metrics, ensuring initiatives deliver intended business value and organizational outcomes.
• Lead project governance, status reporting, executive communications, and steering committee updates.
• Support organizational change management and adoption activities to maximize project success.
• Mentor project managers and contribute to continuous improvement of PMO standards, tools, methodologies, and best practices.

Skills

Executive presence

Presentation skills

Negotiation skills

Risk Mitigation Planning

Stakeholder management

Conflict resolution

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Highmark Health is seeking a Senior Project Manager to lead complex HR programs within the HR PMO. The role partners with HR, HR Technology, Operations, Finance, IT, vendors, and leaders to drive initiatives with measurable business outcomes.

The incumbent serves as the functional leader of cross-functional teams, balancing priorities and mitigating risks to ensure timely delivery of strategic HR transformations, mergers/acquisitions, and enterprise-wide changes.