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Blue Cross Blue Shield Association · 15 hours ago

Chief Strategy Officer

Chicago, IL

Full-time

Onsite

Director/Executive

15+ years exp

Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is seeking a Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) who will be responsible for shaping and advancing the Association’s long-term strategic agenda. The CSO will partner closely with the CEO and Executive Leadership Team to define enterprise priorities, anticipate industry disruption, and translate strategic vision into measurable impact.

CommunitiesInsurance

Responsibilities

Lead the development, articulation, and evolution of BCBSA’s multi-year enterprise strategy, ensuring alignment with the Association’s mission, brand promise, and the strategic priorities of member Plans

Translate long-term vision into actionable strategic roadmaps, enterprise initiatives, and clear success metrics

Continuously assess the external healthcare landscape—including payer competition, provider dynamics, technology innovation, policy shifts, and consumer expectations—to inform strategic direction

Partner with the CEO to engage the Board of Directors and Plan leadership on strategic priorities, trade-offs, and opportunities for Systemwide value creation and competitive positioning

Facilitate alignment across independent Plans by identifying areas where collective action, shared capabilities, or national coordination can accelerate impact

Build and lead the enterprise-wide strategic planning process, ensuring broad stakeholder engagement and alignment with organizational mission and goals

Drive the development of multi-year strategic plans, translating vision into actionable objectives, initiatives, and measurable outcomes

Establish and manage governance structures, timelines, and performance metrics to ensure disciplined execution and accountability throughout the planning cycle

Foster a culture of collaboration, transparency, and continuous improvement within the strategic planning function, empowering teams to adapt to emerging trends and challenges

Proactively source and analyze long-term trends, disruptions, and innovations from external healthcare markets, including payors, providers, and competitors

Continuously monitor industry developments, regulatory changes, and emerging business models to anticipate shifts that could impact the Association and its member Plans

Synthesize external market intelligence, competitor strategies, and provider dynamics into forward-looking recommendations for leadership and the Board

Ensure the Association leverages external insights to identify strategic opportunities and risks, supporting long-term affordability, access, and competitiveness

Identify and evaluate strategic partnerships, alliances, and growth opportunities that strengthen the BCBS System’s position

Support innovation efforts that enhance the value proposition for Plans, employers, providers, and members

Provide strategic oversight for select enterprise investments or initiatives, as applicable

Build and lead a high-performing strategy organization with strong analytical rigor, executive presence, and collaborative orientation

Foster a culture of disciplined thinking, constructive challenge, and enterprise-wide perspective

Represent BCBSA externally, as appropriate, with industry leaders, partners, and stakeholders

Qualification

Corporate strategyHealthcare ecosystem knowledgeExecutive leadershipAnalytical problem-solvingStakeholder engagementInfluencing skillsCommunication skillsCollaborationStrategic thinking

Required

15+ years of progressive leadership experience in corporate strategy, healthcare, management consulting, corporate development, or related executive roles

Demonstrated success operating in complex, matrixed, or federated environments with multiple stakeholders and shared governance

Proven ability to influence at the Board and C-suite level, with exceptional communication, synthesis, and executive presence

Strong analytical and strategic problem-solving capabilities, paired with the ability to drive execution

Bachelor's degree required

Preferred

Deep understanding of the U.S. healthcare ecosystem; experience with health plans, provider systems, healthcare services, or health policy strongly preferred

MBA or other advanced degree preferred