Sr Mgr Comm Hlth Strategy & Prgms-26111

Location: Chicago, Illinois

About the Role

The Senior Manager, Community Health Strategy & Programs serves as a strategic and operational leader responsible for advancing a high-impact portfolio of community health equity initiatives across the Rush system. This role translates organizational strategy into coordinated program execution, ensuring alignment across community health programs, workforce initiatives, clinical-community integration, and community affairs efforts. The Senior Manager partners closely with the VP to support portfolio management, performance improvement, system-level alignment, and external engagement, while also leading execution of select high-priority initiatives that advance Rush’s health equity and community impact goals.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Initiatives Portfolio Management and Implementation
  • Leads and/or supports the strategic planning, implementation, evaluation, and funding of community health programs at Rush University Medical Center, Rush Oak Park, and Rush Copley.
  • Leads development and execution of select, high-priority strategic initiatives and pilot projects.
  • Develops project plans, timelines, and implementation structures for strategic initiatives and plans.
  • Engages internal stakeholders to align community needs and business imperatives, identify and deploy organizational resources that support community health improvement.
  • Gathers and reviews data to inform program development, grants, and measurements.
  • Collaborates with stakeholders on program development and implementation, policy, events, community engagement, and other initiatives.
  • Develops and maintains strategic partnerships with community, government, and other stakeholders to address health inequities in communities; including virtual and in-person outreach, education to community members, and other community-based organizations.
  • Responsible for analysis, evaluation, and reporting of program data for quality improvement and to inform leadership and funders.
  • Collaborates with community health and community benefit teams to develop, implement, and evaluate innovative approaches to community health through the Community Health Needs Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plan.
  • Partners with team leads to support program implementation, goal setting, data collection, and community benefit reporting for Rush University Medical Center, Rush Oak Park Hospital, and Rush Copley in accordance with state and federal requirements.
• Management and Development
  • Leads cross-functional coordination among internal departments to align stakeholders, remove barriers, facilitate key decisions, and advance strategic priorities efficiently.
  • Collaborates with system-wide Rush leaders, external partners, operations, and service line leaders to support the design and implementation of innovative care models and anchor mission efforts.
  • Engages local and system leadership and other key internal stakeholders to support execution of community health equity strategies.
  • Represents Rush on coalitions, working groups, advisory boards, committees, panels, planning groups, etc.; provides assistance to these groups on topics relevant to health care, policy and systems change strategies, and health disparities.
  • Identifies resources to support community health initiatives.
  • Contributes to grant proposal development, data collection, reporting, and budget management.
• Community Partnership and Stakeholder Communication
  • Co-leads community affairs strategy to strengthen Rush’s presence, trust, and long-term engagement across patient service areas, anchor mission, and priority geographies.
  • Develops and manages strategic partnerships with community-based organizations, civic leaders, government agencies, and cross-sector partners.
  • Serves as a key representative of Rush in coalitions, convenings, and external forums focused on health equity and community development.
  • Supports engagement strategies connected to Sankofa Village Wellness Center and other place-based initiatives, ensuring community voice and lived experience are centered.
  • Identifies opportunities to align community priorities with organizational strategy and investment decisions.
  • Partners internally to ensure community engagement efforts are coordinated, consistent, and impactful.
  • Prepares executive briefings, reports, and presentations for senior leadership, boards, and external stakeholders.
  • Supports the VP in communicating program impact, strategic priorities, and risks.
  • Ensures communications are culturally responsive and aligned with community needs.

Requirements

• Master's degree in public health, public policy, social work, business administration, non-profit management, or related area required.
• 7-10 years of progressive program management experience.
• Prior supervisory or management experience.
• Must be able to travel to all Rush hospital sites including community partners across the greater Chicago region. Approximately 20-25%.
• Must be self-motivated, accountable, and responsive to internal and external clients.
• Prior experience managing teams and driving results through others.
• Excellent interpersonal skills and ability to communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing, with a wide variety of individuals and groups.
• Strong knowledge of health equity, social drivers of health, and community-based program models; understands and has the ability to inform leadership on equity issues in healthcare, social services, policy, or other related areas.
• Demonstrated success developing and evaluating program models, selecting, and successfully operationalizing innovative programs.
• Ability to build internal and external partnerships.
• Organizational awareness/savvy.
• Must keep up to date with all national, regional, and local trends in community health and benefit and serve as a content expert for Rush.
• Strong project management, problem-solving, and organizational skills with attention to detail.
• Ability to provide team leadership, analyze data, and develop staff in community health and benefit.
• Experience working with a diverse staff and communities of color.

Preferred Qualifications

• Grant-writing and fund development experience.
• Demonstrated success building and sustaining cross-sector partnerships.

Skills

• Strategic thinking and execution.
• Community engagement and partnership.
• Performance management and data-driven decision making.
• Executive communication.
• Ability to direct multiple projects and tasks, prioritize effectively, and meet deadlines.
• Ability to maintain professionalism at all times.

Pay

Pay Range: $45.59 - $66.16 per hour. Rush salaries are determined by many factors including, but not limited to, education, job-related experience and skills, as well as internal equity and industry-specific market data. The pay range for each role reflects Rush’s anticipated wage or salary reasonably expected to be offered for the position. Offers may vary depending on the circumstances of each case. This role has a corresponding incentive plan based on multiple factors.

Schedule

Full Time, 8-hour workdays (9:00 AM - 5:00 PM).

Benefits

Rush offers exceptional rewards and benefits. Learn more at the Rush benefits page.