Manager, Strategic Initiatives

Job Summary

Leads the development and advancement of high-priority health system initiatives. This role draws on business intelligence, strategic planning, and project management to turn organizational priorities into actionable plans and measurable results. Working with clinical and administrative leaders across the organization, the Manager uses data, financial analysis, market insights, and stakeholder input to evaluate opportunities, develop business cases, and guide initiatives from concept through implementation in partnership with leaders accountable for delivery. Leads and develops a team of strategy professionals, supports effective decision-making, and partners with responsible leaders to assess whether initiatives deliver their intended value.

Job Specific Duties

• Lead and coordinate strategy professionals and cross-functional contributors on assigned initiatives; provide coaching and feedback, and align work with initiative priorities, capacity, and individual expertise in coordination with their supervisors.
• Partner with senior leaders to define strategic priorities, assess opportunities, and translate goals into actionable initiatives.
• Lead cross-functional strategic projects from initial assessment and business case development through evaluation and planning, while partnering with responsible leaders during implementation, transition, and outcome monitoring.
• Establish project scope, objectives, timelines, deliverables, decision points, and measures of success in collaboration with project sponsors and stakeholders.
• Use business intelligence, operational data, financial analysis, and market research to identify opportunities, evaluate options, and support evidence-based decisions.
• Develop and oversee business plans, forecasts, dashboards, and performance measures for new business opportunities and major initiatives.
• Track project progress, budgets, risks, dependencies, and results; escalate barriers and recommend corrective actions when needed.
• Guide clinical and non-clinical leaders in turning ideas into viable business plans and implementation approaches.
• Monitor industry trends, the competitive landscape, regulations, and other external factors; incorporate relevant findings into strategic recommendations.
• Identify organizational strengths to build upon and performance gaps that require action.
• Facilitate alignment among stakeholders, support change management, and help teams adopt new processes or approaches.
• Present analyses, recommendations, project status, and outcomes to staff, senior leadership, the Board, and external groups, as appropriate.
• Support responsible vice presidents in developing and maintaining relationships with business partners.
• Ensure strategic initiatives support the health system's mission and the delivery of high-quality care to patients and families.
• Maintains working knowledge and practical proficiency in the Strategy Department's core functions-including strategic planning, market and business intelligence, partnership evaluation, business-case development, and project management-through cross-training and participation in shared work.
• Provides interim support for other Strategy roles when needed, within delegated authority, to maintain continuity of priority analyses, stakeholder coordination, leadership materials, and initiative tracking.

Minimum Job Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in business, healthcare administration, public health, or a related field.
• 4-7 years of experience in strategic planning, business intelligence or analytics, business planning, project management, or a related area.
• Experience leading complex, cross-functional projects from planning through implementation.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• MBA, MHA, MPH, or related graduate degree.
• Experience in a pediatric hospital, health system, or other healthcare setting.
• Experience managing and developing staff.
• Project management certification, such as Project Management Professional (PMP), or comparable project management training.
• Training or certification in Lean, Lean Six Sigma, or a comparable process-improvement methodology.
• Experience with business intelligence and data visualization tools.
• Strong business acumen and ability to connect organizational strategy to operational plans and measurable outcomes.
• Ability to analyze complex data, identify trends, develop forecasts, and translate findings into clear recommendations.
• Strong financial skills, including budgeting, financial statement analysis, and business case development.
• Knowledge of strategic planning, market research, performance measurement, and project management methods.
• Ability to develop project plans, establish milestones, manage dependencies and risks, and track progress against goals.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present complex information to clinical, administrative, and senior leadership audiences.
• Effective stakeholder engagement, group facilitation, change management, negotiation, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to navigate ambiguity, manage competing priorities, and maintain composure under pressure.
• Ability to interpret relevant healthcare research, policy, regulatory, financial, and market information and apply it to business decisions.
• Sound judgment and discretion when handling proprietary, confidential, or otherwise sensitive information.
• Commitment to the patients and families the health system serves.