Agile Programming Methodologies, Analysis Skills, Business Case, Business Support, Change Management, Claims Management, Coaching, Communication Skills, Community Support, Compensation and Benefits, Continuous Improvement, Cross-Functional, Customer Relations, Customer Support/Service, Data Analysis, Data Quality, Dental Insurance, Detail Oriented, Diversity, Documentation, Documentation Standards, Embedded Systems, Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Establish Priorities, Fitness, Flexible Spending Accounts, Follow Through, Healthcare, Improvement Metrics, Insurance Claims, Lead Generation, Leadership, Lean Six Sigma, Matching Gift Programs, Medical Conditions, Medical Genetics, Mentoring, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Military, Operational Improvement, Operational Strategy, Operational Support, Operations Management, Operations Processes, Options Analysis, Organizational Skills, Performance Analysis, Performance Metrics, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Problem Solving Skills, Process Improvement, Project Planning, Project/Program Management, Psychiatry and Mental Health, Reporting Dashboards, Reporting Skills, Requirements Management, Requirements Validation/Verification, Risk Management, Root Cause Analysis, Scorecarding, Service Delivery, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), Strategic Planning, Sustainability, Team Player, Time Management, Trade-Off Analysis, Training Program, Vision Plan, Waterfall Model of Software Development
Rolling Meadows, Illinois
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:
Gallagher Bassett is the premier provider of global claims services, dedicated to exceptional customer service and demonstrably superior outcomes. GB helps people, teams and businesses overcome adversity and loss through the guiding expertise of over 5,000 claims professionals, all committed to going beyond expectations in the continuous pursuit of a better way.
As the market leader in Claims and Risk Management services, Gallagher Bassett (“GB”) is committed to providing tailored solutions that help clients achieve demonstrably superior outcomes. Consistent with this mission, we are seeking an experienced leader to assist in the analysis, execution and value capture associated with the highest priority business needs for Gallagher Bassett North America both short and long-term in nature.
The Manager, Strategic Initiatives leads the planning, execution, and sustainment of enterprise and client-focused initiatives that improve operational efficiency, enhance service delivery, and drive measurable business outcomes across Gallagher Bassett.
This role is ideal for a mid-career professional with demonstrated experience managing complex initiatives, influencing cross-functional stakeholders, translating business needs into actionable plans, and delivering results in a dynamic operations environment. The Manager is expected to operate with independence, provide thought partnership to senior leaders, and guide workstreams that span Claims Operations, Client Services, IT, GCoE, and other functional areas.
Success as a Manager is demonstrated by:
- Delivering strategic initiatives on time, with clear ownership, strong stakeholder alignment, and measurable business impact
- Building credibility with senior leaders and cross-functional partners through sound judgment, preparedness, and follow-through
- Anticipating risks, resolving issues, and escalating decisions appropriately to maintain momentum
- Driving process improvements that are practical, scalable, measurable, and adopted by the business
- Demonstrating readiness to lead increasingly complex initiatives, mentor contributors, and contribute to the broader Strategic Initiatives portfolio
How you'll make an impact:
Initiative Execution & Project Support
- Lead assigned low- to medium-complexity strategic initiatives from discovery through implementation, adoption, and value realization
- Develop and maintain project plans, milestones, dependencies, risks, issues, and decision logs to ensure disciplined execution
- Prepare executive-ready status updates, business cases, meeting materials, and recommendations for senior stakeholders
- Facilitate working sessions, drive alignment, and hold project teams accountable for timely completion of deliverables
Process Improvement & Operational Support
- Evaluate current-state workflows, identify root causes of operational gaps, and recommend scalable process improvements
- Design and implement process documentation, SOPs, job aids, controls, and governance routines that support consistent execution
- Partner with business and technology teams to define requirements, validate solutions, support testing, and manage operational readiness
- Monitor operational performance, adoption, and sustainment metrics to ensure improvements deliver intended outcomes
Data Analysis & Reporting
- Use data to frame business problems, evaluate options, and inform recommendations for operational and client-facing initiatives
- Develop reports, dashboards, scorecards, and presentations that translate complex information into clear insights and actions
- Define, track, and communicate initiative performance metrics, including productivity, cycle time, quality, adoption, and value capture
- Ensure data integrity, alignment, and consistent interpretation across stakeholders and reporting forums
Stakeholder Coordination & Communication
- Serve as a primary point of coordination for cross-functional stakeholders across Claims, IT, GCoE, Client Services, and other business partners
- Facilitate decision-making by documenting key decisions, unresolved risks, dependencies, and escalation needs
- Develop and execute communication, training, and change adoption plans that support successful rollout and stakeholder engagement
- Build trusted relationships with business partners and influence outcomes without direct authority
Continuous Improvement & Learning
- Proactively identify opportunities to improve team practices, governance routines, and operational performance
- Share knowledge, coach project contributors, and reinforce consistent standards for documentation, execution, and stakeholder engagement
- Apply working knowledge of claims operations, systems, and GB services to anticipate impacts and shape practical solutions
- Model accountability, sound judgment, adaptability, and a continuous improvement mindset in ambiguous or evolving situations
About you:
Preferred Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree and 7 years related experience required.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience applying project management methodologies such as Agile, Waterfall, hybrid delivery, Lean, or Six Sigma
- Experience building operational dashboards, executive reporting, business cases, or performance scorecards
- Working knowledge of claims operations, insurance, risk management, client service models, or third-party administration
- Experience leading change management, operational readiness, process redesign, or system enhancement initiatives
- Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional initiatives, drive workstreams, and deliver results with limited supervision
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, organizational, and prioritization skills with attention to detail and business impact
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, and related collaboration or reporting tools
Core Competencies
- Strategic Execution: Ability to translate priorities into actionable plans, manage complexity, and deliver measurable outcomes
- Analytical Judgment: Ability to interpret data, assess tradeoffs, and develop recommendations that support business decisions
- Executive Communication: Clear, concise written and verbal communication tailored to project teams, business partners, and senior leaders
- Influence & Collaboration: Ability to build trust, align stakeholders, and influence outcomes across functions without direct authority
- Change Leadership: Comfortable leading through ambiguity, managing competing priorities, and supporting adoption of new ways of working
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.