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 Lead Director of Strategic Planning will facilitate the development and execution of operational and business unit strategic plans. As a leader, you will instill best in class policies, procedures, and plans for your designated priority areas. You will act independently to address issues, guide direction, and provide strategic analysis for the Aetna organization.

This is a highly visible and collaborative position responsible for managing strategic programs and projects and delivering on key initiatives for the Aetna COO and senior leadership team. This role works in close partnership with colleagues from across all lines of business, operational areas, and the shared services teams.

This position offers broad exposure to all aspects of the company’s business, as well as significant interaction with all the business leaders, requiring the candidate to be highly effective in a matrixed environment and possess the ability to navigate the organization and quickly build understanding of different businesses.

Key Responsibilities

Contributes to the development of complex strategies that encompass the organization's goals and position by utilizing project management tools, data analyses, and stakeholder feedback.

Responsible for managing, directing, and planning multiple complex programs and projects at the same time.

Partners with cross-functional teams to ensure successful execution of foundational and transformative strategic initiatives.

Applies advanced knowledge in the development of workplan deliverables, tasks and needed decision making by lending subject matter expertise, institutional knowledge, and program and project management skills.

Proactively evaluates program and project activities, builds contingency plans, executes corrective action, and monitors issue resolution to mitigate risks such as scope, resource, and/or budget variances.

Audits processes and procedures for consistency, efficiency, and cost effectiveness, and guides junior colleagues through consultation and mentoring and provides functional but matrixed supervision for day-to-day activities.

Required Qualifications

A minimum of 10 years’ work experience in health care, insurance or related field.

A minimum of 7 years’ experience in strategic program/project management.

Over 3 years of experience leading teams through direct and matrixed management structures to achieve high‑performance outcomes.

Proven ability to develop executive‑ready PowerPoint decks that distill complex information into clear, compelling, and visually engaging presentations.

Preferred Qualifications

Expertise in operational excellence, senior leadership engagement, relationship management, and process optimization to drive clarity, accountability, and sustainable results.

Education

Bachelor’s degree preferred or a combination of work experience and education

Pay Range

The typical pay range for this role is:

$100,000.00 - $231,540.00

This 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 award program. 
 

Our people fuel our future. Our teams reflect the customers, patients, members and communities we serve and we are committed to fostering a workplace where every colleague feels valued and that they belong.

Great benefits for great people

We take pride in our comprehensive and competitive mix of pay and benefits – investing in the physical, emotional and financial wellness of our colleagues and their families to help them be the healthiest they can be. In addition to our competitive wages, our great benefits include:

Affordable medical plan options, a 401(k) plan (including matching company contributions), and an employee stock purchase plan.

No-cost programs for all colleagues including wellness screenings, tobacco cessation and weight management programs, confidential counseling and financial coaching.

Benefit solutions that address the different needs and preferences of our colleagues including paid time off, flexible work schedules, family leave, dependent care resources, colleague assistance programs, tuition assistance, retiree medical access and many other benefits depending on eligibility.

For more information, visit https://jobs.cvshealth.com/us/en/benefits

We anticipate the application window for this opening will close on: 02/18/2026

Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all federal, state and local laws.