Strategist

Responsible to identify, prioritize and develop strategies to support Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s (BCBSM) competitive position, achieve positive business results, and improve the health and wellbeing of our members.  Responsible to make recommendations on consequential matters with long-term implications for the organization, including: setting enterprise aspirations and targets, developing enterprise-level strategies, assessing strategic investments and partnerships, and evaluating the enterprise’s overall portfolio of assets.

• Oversee or perform analyses including, but not limited to, financial modeling, claims analyses and complex statistical analyses.
   
• Manage activities that are directly related to the corporate strategies, goals and objectives.  
   
• Utilize primary and secondary research to assist in identifying best practices and opportunities for the corporation.
   
• Create executive level PowerPoint presentations and correspondence to communicate recommendations to executive leadership and the Board of Directors
   
• The Strategist will play a key role in supporting high-priority strategy functions for Emerging Markets (Medicare Advantage, Individual Business, Medicaid), including developing and evaluating highly visible business strategies and priorities. 

• May be assigned one or more areas of specialization:
   

Enterprise Strategy
 

• Provide solutions to complex business problems and make recommendations to senior management to improve strategic initiatives and technical processes.
   
• Convene colleagues and subject matter experts to foster a collaborative environment to stay informed on changes in the healthcare payer and broader healthcare industries that may impact enterprise strategies.

Strategic Planning
 

• Support the annual strategic planning process with the organization, including partnering with one or more areas of the business to develop division-specific plans.
   
• Assist with the development of the overall enterprise plan, including identifying links between the enterprise strategy and division business plans, driving consistency across business plans, and identifying potential white spaces for further analysis.

Strategic Intelligence 
 

• Analyze the implications of market trends and report the findings via weekly updates, deep-dives on selected topics, and white papers.
   
• Assess the impact of specific market events, such as a change in the competitor or provider landscape, relative to BCBSM’s strategies and business plans.
   
• Identify potential threats and opportunities for further consideration by BCBSM leadership.

Enterprise Performance
 

• Develop annual and long-term corporate goals, including defining goal frameworks, metrics and performance thresholds, and gaining approval from BCBSM’s senior management team and Board of Directors.  
   
• Monitor and track performance against annual and long-term goals and additional core business objectives. Conduct root cause analysis and determine key drivers of performance including forecasting of future performance.
   
• Develop and maintain systems to monitor, measure, and report performance and achievement of programs, long-term goals and strategic initiatives with enterprise and/or divisional impact.
   
• Maintain close working relationships with key business stakeholders to develop, problem solve, and review performance insights.

   

Preferred experience:

• Government Markets businesses (Medicare Advantage, Individual Business, Medicaid).
   

"Qualifications"

• Bachelor's Degree in Strategy, Health Policy, Business or related field required. Master’s Degree in related field preferred.
   
• Five (5) years of experience in corporate strategy, consulting, investment banking or related experience is required.
   
• Previous experience leading projects and/or teams is preferred.  
   
• Previous experience working in the healthcare industry is preferred.  
   
• Advanced quantitative and financial analysis/modeling capabilities, leveraging Microsoft Office (Excel, Access, and PowerPoint), with an affinity to detail.
   
• Intermediate oral communication and presentation skills.
   
• Strong strategic orientation with ability to develop plans and deliver expected results.
   
• Ability to manage multiple priority initiatives concurrently. 
   
• Expert analytical and problem-solving skills.
   
• Advanced written communication skills, including story telling.
   
• Ability to work independently and lead others’ work within a team environment with multiple priorities.
   
• Ability to effective interface with management at all levels and external contacts.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to, among other grounds, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, gender identity, protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability.