Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives Lead - Healthcare

We’re building a world of health around every individual — shaping a more connected, convenient and compassionate health experience. At CVS Health®, you’ll be surrounded by passionate colleagues who care deeply, innovate with purpose, hold ourselves accountable and prioritize safety and quality in everything we do. Join us and be part of something bigger – helping to simplify health care one person, one family and one community at a time.

The Strategic Initiatives Lead advances the Medicare Technology strategy and operating model by working horizontally across technology teams, technology solutions, and coordinating with other Lines of Business within Aetna. As this technology team grows, the role will improve efficiency, consistency, and transparency while strengthening Vendor Management, AI Enablement Operations, and Operating & Capital Expense Management.

This leader connects priorities, establishes common processes and management routines and drives initiatives that improve execution and enable Medicare Technology to scale. Success requires strong cross-functional leadership and partnership with Product, Engineering, Procurement, Security, Finance, Legal, Compliance, and business stakeholders.

• →Continuously work to improve the Medicare Technology operating model by establishing common processes, governance, decision rights, operating rhythms, and performance measures that enable teams to work efficiently as the organization grows and scales.
• →Own Medicare Technology vendor operations, including vendor inventory, evaluation, onboarding, performance, renewals, risk, and value realization; partner with Product teams to ensure clear ownership, knowledge transfer, and operational handoff after onboarding.
• →Partner with AI Enablement to administer the AI portfolio management capability and manage use-case intake, qualification, prioritization, status tracking, governance workflows, and progression from idea through production.
• →Oversee operating and capital expense planning and management for assigned portfolios, including forecasting, budget tracking, variance analysis, and coordination with Finance and initiative owners.
• →Lead horizontal initiatives across Medicare Technology, such as defining virtual private cloud strategy and operating models, connecting priorities, managing interdependencies, resolving blockers, and improving end-to-end delivery across organizational boundaries.
• →Partner with Ventures and other stakeholders to establish consistent vendor evaluation and decision models, and align with Procurement to simplify processes and accelerate onboarding of new vendors.
• →Serve as a strategic advisor to Medicare Technology leadership by assessing trends, synthesizing insights, and presenting clear recommendations, tradeoffs, and progress updates.

• 7+ years of experience in healthcare IT, strategic planning, or digital transformation.
• Strong understanding of healthcare systems, technology platforms and regulatory frameworks (e.g., HIPAA, HITECH).
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage complex initiatives.
• Excellent communication, analytical, and leadership skills

• A project management background
• Product oriented thinking
• Experience working in a large company environment
• Strategy experience in healthcare

• Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Information Technology, Business, or related field (Master’s preferred).

The typical pay range for this role is: