Director, Strategic Initiatives, Planning & Executive Communications

The Director, Strategic Initiatives, Planning & Executive Communications leads strategic initiatives planning, executive communications, and organizational priorities for the Lending Strategy organization. This role partners closely with senior leadership to develop roadmaps, executive materials, and strategic narratives that support decision‑making, alignment, and execution.

Responsibilities

• Fosters a culture aligned to BMO purpose, values and strategy and role models BMO values and behaviours in all that they do.
• Ensures alignment between values and behaviour that fosters diversity and inclusion.
• Regularly connects work to BMO’s purpose, sets inspirational goals, defines clear expected outcomes, and ensures clear accountability for follow through.
• Builds interdependent teams that collaborate across functional and operating groups to create the highest value for all stakeholders.
• Attracts, retains, and enables the career development of top talent.
• Improves team performance, recognizes and rewards performance, coaches employees, supports their development, and manages poor performance.
• Acts as a trusted advisor to senior leaders for making business decisions and implementing strategic initiatives.
• Develops an expert understanding of business/group challenges.
• Networks with industry contacts to gather competitive insights and best practices.
• Recommends measures to improve organizational effectiveness.
• May consult to or serve on various committees and task forces.
• Manages resources and leads the execution of strategic initiatives to deliver on business and financial goals.
• Interacts with various BMO groups to ensure strategy and initiatives meet enterprise governance requirements.
• Leads implementation of strategic initiatives within group and across BMO by partnering with various internal & external stakeholders as required; complexity of initiatives may vary and usually involve multiple stakeholders across the enterprise.
• Defines business requirements for analytics & reporting to ensure data insights inform business decision making.
• Provides coaching on complex strategic & business issues and facilitates processes to reach effective resolution.
• Assesses and adapts existing operational programs; develops new capabilities to ensure ongoing success.
• Leads the execution of operational programs; assesses and adapts as needed to ensure quality of execution.
• Leads change management activities, ensuring cross business/group coordination and logistical support for the implementation of change.
• Acts as a relationship manager on assigned projects/programs and ensures alignment to overall enterprise and group goals.
• Develops solutions and makes recommendations based on an understanding of the business strategy and stakeholder needs.
• Participates in project/program design and provides advice & subject matter expertise to achieve required business results.
• Conducts analysis required to inform strategic recommendations and considers the big picture when assessing whether or not a course of action is advisable in terms of the group and enterprise goals.
• Collaborates with internal & external stakeholders to provide business context in the design, develop and implementation of programs & solutions.
• May network with industry contacts to gather and identify competitive insights and best practices.
• Breaks down strategic problems, and analyses data and information to provide insights and recommendations.
• Monitors and tracks performance, and addresses any issues.
• Builds change management plans of varying scope and type; leads or participates in a variety of change management activities including readiness assessments, planning, stakeholder management, execution, evaluation and sustainment of initiatives.
• Identifies enablers and key issues prior to and during implementation, raises issues with stakeholders and offers solutions to resolve issues or risks that jeopardize delivery.
• Operates at a group/enterprise-wide level and serves as a senior specialist resource across BMO.
• Influences how teams/groups work together.
• Applies expertise and thinks creatively to address unique or ambiguous situations and to find solutions to multiple, interdependent, complex problems.
• Communicates abstract concepts in simple terms.
• Fosters strong internal and external networks and works with and across multiple teams to achieve business objectives.
• Anticipates trends and responds by implementing appropriate changes.
• Broader work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed.
• Take measured risks while protecting the bank by applying our Risk Management Framework in the execution of your role, in line with our Risk Culture and within our approved Risk Appetite, making sound and risk informed decisions that align to business strategy, protect assets, and adhere to applicable policy documents, laws and regulations.

Qualifications

• Previous experience in Personal Banking and Credit Strategies.
• Typically 9+ years of relevant experience and post‑secondary degree in related field of study or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Seasoned expert with extensive industry knowledge.
• Technical leader viewed as a thought leader for innovation.
• Verbal & written communication skills – Expert.
• Analytical and problem solving skills – Expert.
• Influence skills – Expert.
• Collaboration & team skills; with a focus on cross‑group collaboration – Expert.
• Able to manage ambiguity.
• Data driven decision making – Expert.

Salary & Benefits

Salary: $121,600.00 – $211,800.00

Pay Type: Salaried

The above represents BMO Financial Group’s pay range and type. Salaries will vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications for the role, and may include a commission structure. Salaries for part‑time roles will be pro‑rated based on number of hours regularly worked. For commission roles, the salary listed above represents BMO Financial Group’s expected target for the first year in this position. BMO Financial Group’s total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance‑based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards. BMO also offers health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans. To view more details of our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.bmo.com/global/en/Total-Rewards.

BMO is committed to an inclusive, equitable and accessible workplace. By learning from each other’s differences, we gain strength through our people and our perspectives. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. To request accommodation, please contact your recruiter.

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