Sr. Dir of Strategy Execution & Transf. (G19)

UNITE HERE HEALTH•Oak Brook, IL

4h•Onsite

About The Position

UNITE HERE HEALTH serves 200,000+ workers and their families in the hospitality and gaming industry nationwide. Our desire to be innovative and progressive drives us to develop impactful programs and benefits designed to engage our participants in managing their own health and healthcare. Our vision is exciting and challenging. Please read on to learn more about this great opportunity! PURPOSE Aurora is seeking a dynamic and highly strategic Senior Director of Strategy Execution & Transformation to lead Aurora Plan strategic and operational planning, drive cross-functional execution, and oversee our Enterprise Program Management Office (PMO). Reporting directly to the President, this executive will architect and optimize the operating mechanisms that ensure disciplined execution of Aurora’s strategic priorities. The Senior Director will play a central role in translating strategy into action, orchestrating major transformation efforts, and ensuring organizational alignment, accountability, and measurable results. This is a highly visible, enterprise-impacting role ideal for a leader who thrives in complex environments and excels at integrating strategy, operations, and change management leadership. The Senior Director of Strategy Execution & Transformation is a critical enterprise leader responsible for shaping and driving the operating structure that enables disciplined execution of Aurora’s most important strategic initiatives. Reporting directly to the President, this executive leads enterprise strategy execution, transformation, and performance management—ensuring strong alignment, accountability, and cross-functional coordination across the organization. They will also build annual goals, KPIs and drive monthly and quarterly reviews to monitor overall plan performance. This leader will also oversee the Aurora Program Management Office (APMO), ensuring a unified, high-performing project and program governance approach that supports consistent delivery of strategic, operational, and transformation outcomes. The Senior Director works closely with senior leaders to translate strategy into actionable roadmaps, guide execution, and remove barriers that impede progress.

Requirements

12+ years of experience in strategy execution, project management, large-scale transformation, operations, health plan program execution and related fields.
5 ~ 7 years of functional management experience required.
Proven success leading business operations, complex operating models, and large-scale projects in large, complex, or matrixed organizations.
Strong executive presence and ability to influence senior leaders across diverse functions.
Deep expertise in program management, health plan operations, KPI and measurement monitoring, operating model design, and organizational alignment.
Excellent communication, facilitation, and change leadership capabilities.
Demonstrated ability to drive clarity, structure, and alignment in ambiguous or rapidly evolving environments.
Excellent leadership skills with demonstrated ability to effectively lead in a fast-changing environment.
Able to communicate effectively internally and externally with all levels of Trustees, executives, management, employees, members, physicians, providers, governmental and agency representatives, and other key stakeholders and contacts.
Relevant experience with a Taft-Hartley Fund, insurance carrier or other third-party benefits payor as well as familiarity with the operations of welfare fund employee benefit plans.
Strong understanding of health care trends and statistical measures of healthcare performance.
In-depth understanding of utilization review, disease and demand management, provider contracting, physician profiling, pharmacy and therapeutic programs, outcomes measurement, and performance improvement.
Strong understanding of current benefits legislation, e.g., ERISA, DOL, IRS, COBRA, HIPAA, etc.
Bachelor’s Degree in Healthcare Administration, Population Health, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or related field is required.
Demonstrated expertise in strategic planning, organizing, prioritizing, delegating, and supervising to ensure effective operational and team performance.
Strong capability in exercising initiative, applying sound judgment, and leading complex problem-solving and decision-making in dynamic environments.
Proven ability to identify root causes, implement solutions, and drive continuous operational and clinical improvements.
Skilled in building, sustaining, and leveraging collaborative relationships with staff, administrative teams, external partners, and executive leadership.
Proficient in developing clear, comprehensive, and actionable reports for executive, operational, and regulatory audiences.
Advanced ability to analyze, interpret, and synthesize complex data to inform decision-making, performance improvements, and strategic initiatives.
Experienced in designing, implementing, and maintaining quality improvement programs aligned with regulatory and organizational standards.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to convey complex information to diverse audiences.
Ability to drive innovation, manage organizational and operational risk, and ensure continuity of services for participants and beneficiaries.
Adept at operating effectively in high-ambiguity environments, influencing and aligning diverse stakeholders without direct authority.
Strategic thinker with the ability to translate organizational or fund-level priorities into measurable operational outcomes, including vendor performance and service delivery.
Experienced in managing large-scale programs, leading process improvements, and delivering transformation initiatives in complex, regulated environments.

Nice To Haves

Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration, Population Health, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

Lead the design and continuous improvement of Aurora’s enterprise operating model, establishing clarity in structure, decision-making, and cross-functional processes.
Translate Aurora Plan strategy into actionable and measurable execution plans working closely with the leadership across Aurora functions and business units.
Build and sustain the enterprise forums, routines, and reporting mechanisms that reinforce alignment and drive disciplined execution.
Lead and evolve the Enterprise Program Management Office, ensuring best-in-class program governance, prioritization frameworks, and execution standards.
Oversee portfolio management for strategic initiatives, including intake, prioritization, resourcing, risk management, and progress tracking.
Provide executive-level oversight to major programs and transformation efforts, ensuring they are delivered on time, on budget, and with measurable impact.
Develop PMO capabilities, tools, and methodologies that elevate execution discipline across the enterprise.
Direct the enterprise strategic and operational planning cycles, including multi-year strategic roadmaps and annual operating plans.
Build and oversee transformation programs that advance organizational performance, operational efficiency, and long-term growth.
Ensure cross-functional alignment around key transformation priorities and enterprise-level KPIs.
Oversee the quarterly and monthly business review processes, including KPI development, performance dashboards, and enterprise reporting.
Use data-driven insights to identify trends, escalate issues, and guide executive decision-making.
Ensure clear accountability mechanisms that track results against strategic goals.
Foster strong alignment across business units, ensuring clarity of priorities and consistency of execution.
Build and lead high-performing strategy execution and PMO teams that partner effectively with operational, functional, and business leaders.
Drive enterprise-wide change management, ensuring that strategic initiatives are well-communicated, understood, and adopted across the organization.
Identify organizational impediments to execution and proactively intervene to sustain momentum and alignment.
Provide strategic leadership to teams ensuring alignment with organizational goals and long-term growth strategies.
Build, lead, and develop high-performing teams by setting clear expectations, fostering accountability, and cultivating a culture of excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
Coach and mentor team members and people leaders, providing guidance, performance feedback, and professional development opportunities that strengthen individual capabilities and organizational bench strength.
Promote a learning-oriented environment that encourages innovation, cross-functional problem-solving, and adoption of best practices and emerging technologies.
Model effective leadership behaviors, including transparency, integrity, strong communication, decisive action, and inclusive engagement across diverse teams.
Drive talent development and succession planning, identifying high-potential employees and preparing future leaders for key roles within the network strategy and vendor management functions.
Foster strong cross-functional relationships with operations, IT, finance, procurement, compliance, and executive leadership to ensure cohesive strategy execution and shared accountability.
Champion organizational change, helping teams navigate transformation, new operating models, and evolving priorities with clarity and resilience.
Plans, analyzes, and evaluates programs and services, operational needs, and fiscal constraints.
Supervises, leads, and delegates work and coaches, mentors, develops employees.
Analyzes problems, identifies, and develops alternative solutions, projects consequences of proposed actions, and implements recommendation/solutions.
Recommends hires and promotions, directs, and evaluates employment decisions for all assigned positions.
Assists with developing and coordinating policies and procedures.
Responsible for the oversight of continued employee training requirements, safety, and quality initiatives.
Exemplifies the Fund’s BETTER Values and professional effectiveness dimensions in leading and fostering a respectful, trusting, and engaged culture of diversity and inclusion.
Performs other duties as assigned within the scope of responsibilities and requirements of the job.
Performs Essential Job Functions and Duties with or without reasonable accommodation.