Director, Strategic Initiatives

Gallagher

Rolling Meadows, Illinois

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Analysis Skills, Budget Management, Budgeting, Business Administration, Business Case, Claims Management, Communication Skills, Community Support, Compensation and Benefits, Consulting, Corrective Action, Cost Control, Cross-Selling, Customer Support/Service, Dental Insurance, Diversity, Economics, Embedded Systems, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Executive Assistant Skills , Finance, Financial Modeling, Fitness, Flexible Spending Accounts, Forecasting, Healthcare, Leadership, Matching Gift Programs, Medical Conditions, Medical Genetics, Mentoring, Military, Problem Solving Skills, Process Improvement, Project Tracking, Psychiatry and Mental Health, Revenue Growth, Risk, Risk Analysis, Strategic Planning, Sustainability, Team Building, Team Player, Training Program, Vision Plan, Willing to Travel
LOCATION
Rolling Meadows, Illinois
POSTED
2 days ago
Introduction:
At Gallagher Bassett, we're there when it matters most because helping people through challenging moments is more than just our job, it’s our purpose. Every day, we help clients navigate complexity, support recovery, and deliver outcomes that make a real difference in people’s lives. It takes empathy, precision, and a strong sense of partnership—and that’s exactly what you’ll find here. We’re a team of fast-paced fixers, empathetic experts, and outcomes drivers — people who care deeply about doing the right thing and doing it well. Whether you're managing claims, supporting clients, or improving processes, you’ll play a vital role in helping businesses and individuals move forward with confidence. Here, you’ll be supported by a culture that values teamwork, encourages curiosity, and celebrates the impact of your work. Because when you’re here, you’re part of something bigger. You’re part of a team that shows up, stands together, and leads with purpose.
Overview:

We are seeking a Director, Strategic Initiatives to support the VP, Strategic Planning & Initiatives in driving GB North America’s highest‑priority efforts. This leader will partner closely with senior operational and functional executives to scope, design, and execute initiatives that strengthen our operating model, elevate customer and claimant experiences, enhance efficiency, and accelerate value creation.

 

This role strengthens GB’s Strategic Initiatives team by leading work that solves real operational problems and accelerates business outcomes.

 

Example Areas of Focus

Projects may span the full GB North America footprint, including:

  • Improving claimant and customer engagement and experience
  • Advancing operational excellence across the claim lifecycle
  • Finding process improvements across teams that improve efficiency and reduce operating costs
  • Supporting targeted cross‑sell and growth initiatives
  • Establishing operating controls to reduce waste and revenue leakage
  • Clarifying roles, responsibilities, and service expectations across functions
  • Demonstrated experience building data-driven business cases using advanced Excel skills (financial modeling, forecasting) 
How you'll make an impact:

In partnership with the VP, Strategic Planning & Initiatives, you will:

 

Strategic Alignment & Leadership

  • Establish trust and credibility with operational leaders and other key stakeholders
  • Ensure clarity and alignment on initiative's purpose, goals, and expected outcomes
  • Support the development of GB North America’s strategic roadmap, annual planning, and budgeting

Initiative Planning & Execution

  • Translate strategic priorities into actionable plans with clear timelines, milestones, and deliverables
  • Manage initiative scope, resources, interdependencies, and stakeholder expectations
  • Track progress, surface issues, and drive corrective actions in collaboration with operational leaders
  • Maintain flexibility and adjust plans based on emerging feedback and business needs

Risk, Change & Value Delivery

  • Proactively identify risks to success and develop mitigation strategies
  • Anticipate potential resistance points and partner with leaders to address them
  • Ensure initiatives deliver measurable value aligned with both the initiative’s objectives and GB’s broader enterprise goals
  • Support Finance and executive leaders in shaping budget and forecast assumptions tied to key initiatives

Team Development

  • Model structured problem‑solving, data‑driven decision‑making, and crisp communication
  • Mentor junior team members and contribute to building a high‑caliber “leadership lab” pipeline for the business
About you:

Required 

  • Requires a University Degree or equivalent experience
  • Minimum 8 years prior relevant experience.

Preferred

  • Degree in Business, Economics, or related field; MBA preferred
  • 8–10+ years of relevant experience
  • Demonstrated experience leading complex initiatives with cross‑functional stakeholders
  • Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and communication skills
  • Ability to influence without authority in a matrixed environment
  • Experience in consulting strongly preferred
  • Proven ability to structure ambiguous problems and deliver results quickly
  • Willingness to travel up to 15%

Behaviors

  • Results‑oriented with a strong sense of ownership and urgency
  • Pragmatic problem solver focused on value and speed to impact
  • Data‑driven decision‑maker who knows when to move from analysis to action
  • Confident communicator able to influence, collaborate, and build trusted partnerships
  • Operates with integrity, sound judgment, and commitment to GB’s mission and clients

 

#LI-HL1

Compensation and benefits:

We offer a competitive and comprehensive compensation package. The base salary range represents the anticipated low end and high end of the range for this position. The actual compensation will be influenced by a wide range of factors including, but not limited to previous experience, education, pay market/geography, complexity or scope, specialized skill set, lines of business/practice area, supply/demand, and scheduled hours. On top of a competitive salary, great teams and exciting career opportunities, we also offer a wide range of benefits. 

Below are the minimum core benefits you’ll get, depending on your job level these benefits may improve:

  • Medical/dental/vision plans, which start from day one!
  • Life and accident insurance
  • 401(K) and Roth options
  • Tax-advantaged accounts (HSA, FSA)
  • Educational expense reimbursement
  • Paid parental leave

Other benefits include:

  • Digital mental health services (Talkspace)
  • Flexible work hours (availability varies by office and job function)
  • Training programs
  • Gallagher Thrive program – elevating your health through challenges, workshops and digital fitness programs for your overall wellbeing
  • Charitable matching gift program
  • And more...

**The benefits summary above applies to fulltime positions. If you are not applying for a fulltime position, details about benefits will be provided during the selection process.

 

We value inclusion and diversity

Click Hereto review our U.S. Eligibility Requirements

Inclusion and diversity (I&D) is a core part of our business, and it’s embedded into the fabric of our organization. For more than 95 years, Gallagher has led with a commitment to sustainability and to support the communities where we live and work.

Gallagher embraces our employees’ diverse identities, experiences and talents, allowing us to better serve our clients and communities. We see inclusion as a conscious commitment and diversity as a vital strength. By embracing diversity in all its forms, we live out The Gallagher Way to its fullest.

Gallagher believes that all persons are entitled to equal employment opportunity and prohibits any form of discrimination by its managers, employees, vendors or customers based on race, color, religion, creed, gender (including pregnancy status), sexual orientation, gender identity (which includes transgender and other gender non-conforming individuals), gender expression, hair expression, marital status, parental status, age, national origin, ancestry, disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran or military status, citizenship status, or any other characteristic protected (herein referred to as “protected characteristics”) by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Equal employment opportunity will be extended in all aspects of the employer-employee relationship, including, but not limited to, recruitment, hiring, training, promotion, transfer, demotion, compensation, benefits, layoff, and termination. In addition, Gallagher will make reasonable accommodations to known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified person with a disability, unless the accommodation would impose an undue hardship on the operation of our business.

About the Company

G

Gallagher

Gallagher, a global insurance brokerage and risk management services firm, helps clients address risk, protect assets and recover from losses. The products and services we provide keep businesses and institutions running, and enable individuals and families to rebuild their lives. Gallagher is the only insurance broker recognized by the Ethisphere Institute as a World's Most Ethical Company.

Gallagher provides retail and wholesale property and casualty brokerage, alternative risk transfer services, employee benefit consulting, and actuarial services. Gallagher also offers claims and information management, risk control consulting and appraisal services, human resource consulting, and retirement services.

COMPANY SIZE
10,000 employees or more
INDUSTRY
Insurance
FOUNDED
1927
WEBSITE
https://www.ajg.com/