Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey empowers our members to achieve their best health. For over 90 years, we have been New Jersey’s health solutions leader driving innovations that improve health care quality, affordability, and member experience. Our members are our neighbors, our friends, and our families. It is this understanding that drives us to better serve and care for the 3.5 million people who place their trust in us. We pride ourselves on our best-in-class employees and strive to maintain an innovative and inclusive environment that allows them to thrive. When our employees bring their best and succeed, the Company succeeds.

About the Role

The Manager, Strategic Initiatives II plays a key role in driving high-impact strategy projects in support of the Horizon BCBSNJ leadership team. In this role, you’ll act as a strategic thought partner to senior leaders, leading consulting-style initiatives that shape business direction and inform critical decisions.

You’ll combine structured problem solving, analytics, and executive storytelling to deliver actionable insights while leading cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, highly visible environment.

What You'll Do

Strategic Leadership & Advisory

Lead multiple complex strategy projects simultaneously
Serve as a trusted advisor to VP- and SVP-level stakeholders
Facilitate executive discussions and guide strategic decision-making
Define project scope, develop charters, and establish clear deliverables

Analytics & Insight Development

Design and execute research and complex analytical frameworks
Build business cases to support strategic investments and priorities
Translate data into clear, actionable insights and recommendations
Ensure solutions align with internal goals and external market dynamics

Project Management & Execution

Develop structured workplans and drive projects to completion
Manage cross-functional teams, including matrixed resources
Oversee 2–3 analysts and/or team members across the organization
Ensure timely delivery of high-quality, impactful outcomes

Team Leadership & Development

Provide day-to-day guidance, coaching, and direction to team members
Mentor, evaluate, and support the development of junior staff
Foster a collaborative, high-performance team environment

Executive Communication & Deliverables

Create polished, client-ready presentations and documents
Communicate findings and recommendations to senior stakeholders
Drive alignment and executive buy-in on key initiatives
Ensure deliverables reflect strong understanding of internal and external context

What You Bring

Required Qualifications & Knowledge

Bachelor’s degree in business, health policy, or a related field or relevant experience in lieu of degree
3–4 years of experience at a top-tier strategy consulting firm
OR 5+ years of equivalent industry experience
At least 1.5 years in a lead role (e.g., Senior Associate, Engagement Lead), including: leading projects; managing junior team members, and interfacing directly with clients/stakeholders
Strong understanding of the healthcare industry, especially payors
Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

Preferred Qualifications & Knowledge

Master’s degree (MBA or equivalent) from a top-tier program
Experience within healthcare strategy, payer organizations, or transformation initiatives
Demonstrated experience working with senior executives on strategic initiatives

Why Horizon?

At Horizon, you’ll do meaningful work that directly improves lives—while being supported by a mission‑driven organization that values expertise, collaboration, and growth. We believe that when our people thrive, our communities do too. If you are passionate about making an impact, we’d love to hear from you!

Salary Range:

$138,000 - $188,370

This compensation range is specific to the job level and takes into account the wide range of factors that are considered in making compensation decisions, including but not limited to: education, experience, licensure, certifications, geographic location, and internal equity. This range has been created in good faith based on information known to Horizon at the time of posting. Compensation decisions are dependent on the circumstances of each case. Horizon also provides a comprehensive compensation and benefits package which includes:

Comprehensive health benefits (Medical/Dental/Vision)
Retirement Plans
Generous PTO
Incentive Plans
Wellness Programs
Paid Volunteer Time Off
Tuition Reimbursement

Disclaimer:

Horizon BCBSNJ employees must live in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut or Delaware. This job summary has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by colleagues within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of colleagues assigned to this job.

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, protected veteran status or status as an individual with a disability and any other protected class as required by federal, state or local law. Horizon will consider reasonable accommodation requests as part of the recruiting and hiring process.

Mgr, Strategic Initiatives II

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey

Job Description