Strategy Development Consultant

Highmark Health•Pittsburgh, PA

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

JOB SUMMARY The Strategy Development Consultant plays a critical role in shaping and advancing the organization’s longer‑term direction by driving enterprise goals planning, strategic pacing, and execution readiness. This role focuses on orchestrating the “how and when” of achieving organizational goals, ensuring the enterprise remains aligned, sequenced, and on track to deliver intended outcomes. This individual serves as a driver of organizational planning cadence, translating organizational goals into a clear planning rhythm, integrated timelines, and decision checkpoints that enable leaders to make timely, informed tradeoff decisions. The role partners closely with executive leadership and cross‑functional stakeholders to connect long‑range strategy, annual goals, and execution planning—maintaining momentum while balancing ambition with feasibility. With significant autonomy and influence, the Strategy Development Consultant proactively identifies risks, dependencies, and pacing challenges, and surfaces course‑correction options early. Success in this role requires strong strategic judgment, the ability to synthesize complex inputs into clear direction, and the confidence to drive alignment across diverse leaders and forums. This is a hybrid based role in Pittsburgh, PA - Onsite 3 days a week. T, W, Th

Requirements

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
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

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

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
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
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
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
Other duties as assigned or requested.