Director Strategic Engagement

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas is looking to add to leadership team and has a new opportunity for a Director Strategic Engagement. This position is a dynamic relationship builder, conveyor of resources, and storyteller—playing a vital role in galvanizing the enterprise mission, vision, and strategy. Serving as an advisor to the Chief of Staff, this role is directly responsible for developing and implementing strategic engagement activities across the enterprise. This person must be an expert communicator who develops and utilizes multi-modal communication devices and forms of engagement to drive and influence the strategy and culture of the organization. The Director Strategic Engagement is a forward-thinking, collaborative, and adaptive leader who has a strong aptitude for creating thinking, innovative ideas, and bringing clarity to ambiguity.

“This position is eligible to work hybrid (9 or more days a month onsite) in accordance with our Telecommuting Policy. Applicants must reside in Kansas or Missouri or be willing to relocate as a condition of employment.”

Why Join Us?

·        Family Comes First: Total rewards package that promotes the idea of family first for all employees; including paid time off and family first leave.

·        Professional Growth Opportunities: Advance your career with ongoing training and development programs both through our internal Blue University and external opportunities.

·        Dynamic Work Environment: Collaborate with a team of passionate and driven individuals.

·        Trust: Work for one of the most trusted companies in Kansas.

·        Inclusive Work Environment: We pride ourselves on fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where everyone is valued and respected.

·        Lead and Inspire: Guide and mentor your team to achieve their full potential and success.

What you’ll do

·        Serve as a strategic engagement expert and partner to the CoS, CEO Office teams, and organizational partners.

·        Lead and execute the organization's strategic engagement planning and development, utilizing best-practice engagement and change management techniques. 

·        Build, organize, and maintain the Office of CEO's strategic engagement processes, content repository, and programs.

·        Utilize decision-making models for framing and communicating strategic decisions, trade-offs, and analysis of key business decisions, problems, and opportunities.

·        Partner with Office of CEO and SME teams to plan and organize content, engagement strategies, and communication of executive and senior leadership meetings such as: Strategy Council, Steering Committee, Board of Directors, Senior Leadership, Executive Leadership Team, Big Room Planning, etc.

·        Leads a team of individuals responsible for creating resources and relationships to support employees' personal, social, and structural ability to successfully carry out the strategic plan.

·        Collaboratively partners with communication functions and experts to plan and execute BCBSKS' enterprise events and activities.

·        Communicates effectively to a wide variety of audience-types at all organization levels, creating venues for constructive dialogue and encourages candor and openness when discussing major organizational strategic initiatives and projects.

·        Develops, implements, and maintains engagement and organizational readiness metrics to quantify and track business unit engagement with the strategic plan using measures that are specific to proactively identifying risks to the strategic plan.

What you need

·        Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Strategic Communications, Marketing, Public Relations, or related field.

·        Minimum of 7 years progressive experience in roles related to strategic communications, public relations, business strategy, or related roles.

·        Minimum of 2 years of professional working experience with a focus on structuring, leading, and managing cross-functional teams and complex projects. 

·        Influential leadership and a proven track record of creating and managing change and the delivery of impactful and relevant strategy and transformation campaigns.

·        Experience in a senior leadership setting with an outstanding record of facilitating and influencing diverse stakeholders around a common purpose and agenda.

·        Strong ability to think critically and strategically, with a focus on achieving business objectives; proven ability to synthesize data into actionable strategies.

·        Expert communicator who builds long-lasting relationships to deliver timely and strategically aligned communication campaigns. Organizes communications, activities, and events to support and increase organizational engagement among various audiences through targeted campaigns (e.g., Strategic Initiatives and programs).

·        Build and manage internal strategies to assist in identifying, cultivating, and executing Office of CEO deliverables.

·        Must possess strong leadership qualities of attracting, developing, and mentoring top talent and teams. 

·        Demonstrated ability of partnering with subject matter experts (SMEs) to translate research and data to produce key insights that create value and improve business processes, decisions, and performance.

·        Experience in utilizing decision-making frameworks and strategic frameworks (i.e., PrOACT, VRIO, PESTLE, etc.) to aid in evaluating trade-offs and consequences for decision-making and forming recommendations for executive and senior leaders.

·        A proven track record of working in a dynamic environment, providing oversight, and directly influencing change.

·        Exceptional presentation design, communication, and delivery to an array of audiences (i.e., Steering Committee, Strategy Council, Executive Leadership, Senior Leadership, etc.).

·        Effective at prioritizing competing initiatives and translating strategic priorities into individual/team initiatives and manage expectations.

·        Able to lift 20 pounds (such items include: art-easel, large pads of paper, meeting supplies for 60 attendees, etc.)

Bonus if you have

·        Master's degree in Strategic Communications, Communication Management, Strategic Marketing Communication, or related field is preferred.

·        Change management certification preferred.

·        Healthcare experience is beneficial.

Benefits & Perks

·        Base pay is only one component of your competitive Total Rewards package:

o   Incentive pay program (EPIP)

o   Health/Vision/Dental insurance

o   6 weeks paid parental leave for new mothers and fathers

o   Fertility/Adoption assistance

o   2 weeks paid caregiver leave

o   5% 401(k) plan matching

o   Tuition reimbursement

o   Health & fitness benefits, discounts and resources