Strategic HR Program Lead

Highmark Health; Jackson (MS); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Highmark Health, based in Jackson, MS, seeks a Senior Project Manager to lead complex HR initiatives within the HR PMO. You will partner with HR, HR Technology, Operations, Finance, IT, vendors, and business stakeholders to drive strategy and delivery.

The role serves as a functional leader of cross-functional teams and requires balancing priorities, guiding execution, and navigating organizational change. Strong communication, risk management, and governance are essential to achieve measurable

Qualifications

• 4 years of experience in a project manager role.
• PMP certification or equivalent project management training preferred.
• Experience managing enterprise-wide HR, operations, technology, or transformation initiatives.
• Strong communication and executive-facing presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead 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

Customer relationship management

Presentation skills

Negotiation skills

Conflict resolution

Risk mitigation planning

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Highmark Health, based in Jackson, MS, seeks a Senior Project Manager to lead complex HR initiatives within the HR PMO. You will partner with HR, HR Technology, Operations, Finance, IT, vendors, and business stakeholders to drive strategy and delivery.

The role serves as a functional leader of cross-functional teams and requires balancing priorities, guiding execution, and navigating organizational change. Strong communication, risk management, and governance are essential to achieve measurable