Strategy Development Consultant

Highmark Health; Pittsburgh (Allegheny County); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Highmark Health seeks a Strategy Development Consultant to advance enterprise and business unit strategies across Home & Community Care. You will partner with executives to develop plans, analyze markets, and create actionable recommendations to improve organizational performance and patient outcomes.

The role requires collaboration with senior leaders, experience in strategic planning, and the ability to present complex analyses in executive-ready formats.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Healthcare, or related field.
• 7 years of experience in strategic planning, corporate development, project management, or management consulting.
• Master’s degree in Business, Healthcare, or related field is preferred (10 years of payer industry experience}).

Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise planning and align enterprise objectives with business units.
• Manage tools and frameworks for enterprise planning activities.
• Communicate strategy to executive leadership and the board.
• Support governance discussions and monitor implementation of strategic initiatives.
• Collaborate with executives across departments to ensure performance and alignment.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Healthcare or related field

Master's degree (preferred)

Job description

Company : Highmark Health Job Description : JOB SUMMARY The Strategy Development Consultant serves as a strategic partner and trusted advisor responsible for advancing enterprise and business unit strategies across Home & Community Care (H&CC). This role supports the organization's strategic planning process through environmental scanning, market analysis, business case development, performance assessment, and strategic recommendation development. The consultant works closely with operational, clinical, financial, and executive leaders to ensure business unit strategies are aligned with enterprise objectives and long-term organizational goals. The Strategy Development Consultant leverages data, analytics, industry insights, and stakeholder engagement to identify emerging opportunities, assess business risks, evaluate strategic alternatives, and develop actionable solutions that improve organizational performance, enhance customer and patient outcomes, and create enterprise value. This role plays a key part in translating complex information into executive-ready presentations, board-level materials, business cases, and strategic recommendations that support informed decision-making by senior leadership. Working with considerable independence, the Strategy Development Consultant develops relationships with internal executives, operational leaders, clinical stakeholders, and external organizations to monitor industry trends, identify emerging market opportunities, explore innovative solutions, and address evolving business challenges. The consultant helps communicate strategic priorities throughout the organization, supports governance and leadership discussions, and monitors the execution and performance of strategic initiatives to ensure alignment with enterprise objectives

This is a hybrid based role in Pittsburgh, PA. 3 days a week onsite - T, W, TH.

ESSENTIAL RESPONSIBILITIES

1. 1. Enterprise Planning Manage all components of Highmark’s enterprise strategic planning process Identify industry trends and issues that may impact Highmark strategies and public policy Provide a structured approach to the refining enterprise strategic objectives and supporting capabilities Manage external consultants hired to supplement the enterprise planning process. Prepare all materials in support of enterprise planning meetings Presentation to or facilitation of executive meetings to review options and make decisions surrounding strategic issues and public policy options Work closely with corporate support areas critical to the strategic planning process including Government Affairs, Finance and Administrative Services, and Market Research Formation and management of cross functional teams to execute action plans in response to strategic issues and events Assist in the identification and implementation of continual process improvements to the corporate planning process
2. 2. Alignment of Operational Planning Activities Manage enterprise framework by which all operating units conduct strategic planning efforts in alignment with enterprise objectives Provide guidance to operating unit strategists on the structure and timing of key enterprise planning milestones Participate in operational unit planning activities and provide input and guidance when appropriate Develop and manage the tools and frameworks necessary for the collection of operational unit planning Conduct structured reviews of operational planning activities with CEO and executive strategy group Work with the senior executives of subsidiary businesses to develop strategic planning toolsets tailored to their businesses Drive all strategic planning activities for Corporate Marketing & Planning and the Corporate Strategy & Development division
3. 3. Performance Monitoring and Communication of Strategy Manage performance monitoring activities relating to strategic advancement and strategy execution Facilitate the development of corporate performance metrics Conduct quarterly meetings with senior executives to review strategic performance and support adjustment of strategy Communicate key components of enterprise strategy to Highmark BOD and employees Develop communications for periodic BOD meetings and the Annual Board Strategy Retreat
4. 4. Lead enterprise strategy projects Support executive leadership with a range of strategy project activities essential to Highmark's overall strategic success Serve as subject matter expert to business management and stakeholders on membership, growth, operational strategy, acquisition/divestiture and competitor issues Provide strategic, analytic and leadership support to Highmark senior management and project teams enabling: Design and execution of analytics for addressing business issues including market research, scenario planning, and forecasting Development of technical content including competitive intelligence and market trend analysis Presentation of formal recommendations to senior leadership Manage and lead major corporate strategy and/or business development projects and teams comprised of internal or external strategy consulting resources Prioritize issues and brief executive management on potential impacts and actions Develop processes to build competitive strategies, plans, and tools and determine the most appropriate responses to competitive threats and opportunities
5. 5. Other duties as assigned or requested.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum Bachelor's Degree in Business, Healthcare or related field, or relevant experience and/or education as determined by the company in lieu of bachelor's degree.
• 7 years of experience in strategic planning, corporate development, project management, or management consulting
• Preferred Master’s Degree in Business, Healthcare or related field 10 years of healthcare payer industry experience Significant project management experience Experience in working with and presenting findings to management senior management

SKILLS

• Ability to assimilate a wide variety of information of strategic importance then use the information to build a coherent message and strategic options for presentation to Highmark executive management. Proven track record of successful problem solving Exceptional written and oral communication skills Ability to interact and communicate with Highmark Executives and must do so in an effective, efficient and confident manner. Solid research, analytical, critical thinking and creative problem solving skills Broad range of general business knowledge and experience Ability to work independently and develop analytical assessments of strategic issues of importance to the company and its future direction

SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY

Does this role supervise/manage other employees? No

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Is Travel Required? Yes

Disclaimer:

The job description has been designed to indicate the general nature and essential duties and responsibilities of work performed by employees within this job title. It may not contain a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees to do this job.

Compliance Requirement:

This position adheres to the ethical and legal standards and behavioral expectations as set forth in the code of business conduct and company policies As a component of job responsibilities, employees may have access to covered information, cardholder data, or other confidential customer information that must be protected at all times. In connection with this, all employees must comply with both the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) as described in the Notice of Privacy Practices and Privacy Policies and Procedures as well as all data security guidelines established within the Company’s Handbook of Privacy Policies and Practices and Information Security Policy. Furthermore, it is every employee’s responsibility to comply with the company’s Code of Business Conduct. This includes but is not limited to adherence to applicable federal and state laws, rules, and regulations as well as company policies and training requirements.

Highmark Health and its affiliates prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on any category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. California Consumer Privacy Act Employees, Contractors, and Applicants Notice Highmark Health is a national, blended health organization that includes one of America’s largest Blue Cross Blue Shield insurers and a growing regional hospital and physician network. Based in Pittsburgh, Pa., Highmark Health’s 35,000 employees serve millions of customers nationwide through the nonprofit organization’s affiliated businesses, which include Highmark Inc., Allegheny Health Network, HM Insurance Group, United Concordia Dental, HM Health Solutions and HM Home & Community Services. Highmark Health’s businesses proudly serve a broad spectrum of health-related needs including health insurance, health care delivery, population health management, dental solutions, reinsurance solutions, and innovative, technology solutions.