Senior Manager, Strategic Planning - Group Medicare

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.Position SummaryAetna's Group Medicare organization helps employers deliver high-quality, affordable healthcare coverage to retirees nationwide. As a Senior Manager of Strategic Planning, you'll help shape our growth and competitive strategy in a dynamic, rapidly evolving market.This role is a key contributor to the Group Medicare Strategy team, responsible for supporting and executing the end-to-end strategic planning process — from coordination and development through implementation and ongoing monitoring — ensuring alignment with business priorities and enterprise objectives. You will partner closely with leaders across sales, underwriting, finance, and operations, and will own the development of competitive insights, executive materials, and strategic communications that enable informed decision-making and strong execution.Success in this role requires the ability to operate independently, manage ambiguity, and influence stakeholders to move work forward with clarity and accountability. This position directly supports sustained growth by strengthening strategic rigor, enhancing performance visibility, and deepening understanding of the competitive landscape.Key responsibilities include:Cross-functional partnership: Collaborating with leaders across sales, underwriting, finance, and operations to drive alignment, manage timelines, and proactively identify risks and dependencies.Competitive intelligence: Owning the development and continuous refinement of market insights, including competitor positioning and translating market dynamics into actionable strategy.Executive storytelling: Synthesizing complex data into clear, concise insights and recommendations that support executive decision-making. Leading the development of business reviews, strategic updates, and executive-level materials.Strategic communications: Ensuring enterprise and business partner strategies are clearly translated and effectively shared across the organization to enable strong execution.Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic Planning & ExecutionLead the development, coordination, and execution of annual and multi-year strategic planning processesEstablish and maintain structures that support planning, execution, accountability, and alignment to prioritiesManage timelines, dependencies, risks, and issue resolution across strategic initiativesDevelop performance monitoring frameworks and track progress, identifying risks, gaps, and opportunitiesEnsure performance data informs ongoing strategy refinementAdvise on growth opportunities, performance improvement, and market positioningCompetitive Insights & Market IntelligenceMonitor competitor activity, market dynamics, and industry trends impacting our positioningAnalyze win/loss drivers, pricing dynamics, and market shifts to inform strategic prioritiesTranslate competitive intelligence into actionable recommendations for leadershipDevelop and maintain regular outputs (e.g., insights briefs, executive summaries, competitor POVs)Anticipate emerging risks and opportunities, proactively surfacing recommendationsCommunications & Project ManagementCreate high-quality executive-level presentations and strategic materialsLead cross-functional workgroups to drive alignment and executionSupport organizational communications that reinforce priorities and improve consistencyCoordinate strategic forums and events (e.g., business reviews, offsites, leadership meetings), including content development, logistics, and follow-throughIdentify and implement process improvements to streamline workflowsInfluence stakeholders at all levels to drive progress and maintain momentumRequired Qualifications7+ years' experience in strategy, project / program management and delivery; preferably within the healthcare or insurance industryExperience in managing large-scale projects from inception to completion, ensuring deadlines and objectives are metStrong data analysis and problem-solving skills to identify trends, assess risks and inform decision makingAbility to build and maintain strong relationships across diverse teams and functionsExceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and engage with senior executives and stakeholdersExperience presenting to audiences at all levels in an open and transparent way that quickly builds trust and respectAbility to manage multiple priorities, operate in ambiguity, and deliver under tight timelinesHighly motivated self-starter with a growth mindsetConfidence and courage to work independently, execute priorities, identify and initiate improvements without requiring step-by-step directionExperience with competitive intelligence, market analysis, and translating insights into strategyPreferred QualificationsMedicare backgroundStrategy/Chief of Staff experienceProject management certificationStrong analytical mindset with ability to connect market dynamics to business implicationsEducationBachelor's Degree requiredAdvanced Degree preferredPay RangeThe typical pay range for this role is:$75,400.00 - $199,144.00This pay range represents the base hourly rate or base annual full-time salary for all positions in the job grade within which this position falls.  The actual base salary offer will depend on a variety of factors including experience, education, geography and other relevant factors.  This position is eligible for a CVS Health bonus, commission or short-term incentive program in addition to the base pay range listed above.  This position also includes an award target in the company’s equity a