Project Manager

Project Manager Position

Avalon's Project Managers play a key role within Avalon's Strategic Programs and Implementation Services Department, part of the broader Avalon Operations organization. Reporting into the Enterprise PMO under the leadership of the PMO Manager, the Project Manager role involves leading and managing multiple complex, cross-functional projects from initiation through delivery, ensuring alignment with both Avalon's strategic goals and client needs, primarily through implementation of our Laboratory Benefit Management (LBM) solutions with health plan clients. The role requires strong communication and stakeholder management skills to influence a matrixed organization. It also includes risk and issue management, contributing to process improvement initiatives, and acting as a subject matter expert on Avalon's Lab Benefit Management program. This highly visible, client-facing role requires a project manager who excels in strategic thinking, leader and client centric attitude, bringing healthcare industry experience, particularly with managed care, health plan, or benefit management companies. This role is remote with up to 20% travel required for client meetings and internal organization meetings.

This position is eligible for remote work, but quarterly travel will be required to Avalon's corporate office located in Tampa, Florida.

Project Manager – Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• Simultaneously manage multiple complex projects with significant technical and operational demands.
• Lead end-to-end implementation efforts, directing cross-functional internal and external teams to ensure high-quality, on-time delivery aligned with both Avalon's strategic goals and client expectations.
• Foster strong working relationships across a matrixed organization, influencing without direct authority.
• Develop and tailor comprehensive project plans, applying appropriate project management frameworks to meet the unique requirements of each client and initiative.
• Apply strategic, end-to-end thinking to drive execution across all phases of the project lifecycle.
• Create and maintain critical project documentation, including Charters, RAID Logs, Project Plans, Milestone Charts, Work Breakdown Structures (WBS), Status Reports, Meeting Agendas/Notes, and Communication Plans.
• Deliver clear and impactful project reporting (e.g., Status Reports, Steering Committee decks), ensuring all stakeholders remain informed, aligned, and engaged throughout the project lifecycle.
• Coordinate and oversee multiple interdependent workstreams—such as Data Integration, Clinical Policy, Testing, Provider/Workforce Training, Prior Authorization, and Utilization Management—to maintain alignment and drive project momentum.
• Communicate with clarity and precision in both verbal and written formats, ensuring alignment across project teams, leadership, and clients.
• Lead issue and risk management processes: proactively identify risks, implement mitigation strategies, and manage timely issue resolution and escalation pathways.
• Facilitate collaborative, cross-functional problem-solving discussions to identify innovative and effective solutions.
• Ensure all project activities adhere to internal policies, procedures, and governance standards.
• Serve as a subject matter expert (SME) on Avalon's programs, supporting requirements gathering and internal solution design in collaboration with other SMEs.
• Lead or contribute to internal process improvement initiatives, leveraging formal methodologies to enhance efficiency and maintain thorough documentation, including workflows, SOPs, and job aids.
• Participate in and lead internal projects and cross-organizational initiatives to drive operational excellence and strategic alignment.

Project Manager – Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of three (3) years of project management business/operations
• Minimum of one (1) year of experience in health plan, managed care, or benefits management industry
• Bachelor's degree or at least 10 years of directly applicable work experience in lieu of a degree
• Comfortable in a high-visibility, individual contributor role with the ability to work cross-functionally and with all levels of the organization
• Strong meeting facilitation, presentation and note taking skills
• Innovative, organized, and detailed oriented
• Demonstrated ability to lead a team through problem solving and creative solutioning
• Comfortable in ambiguity and leading to clarity
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Demonstrated ability to negotiate solutions between stakeholders
• Effective leader without direct authority
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications (PPT, XLS, OneNote)
• Process improvement and documentation experience

Project Manager – Preferred Qualifications:

• PMP or CAPM Certification
• Technical (IT) project management experience
• Six Sigma certification or other process improvement methodology experience
• Account Management/Client Services experience
• Smartsheet application experience (build workspaces: sheets, forms, reports, dashboards)