Strategy Manager

Strategy Manager

The Strategy Manager serves as a strategic partner to the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO), supporting the development, coordination, communication, measurement and execution of enterprise strategic priorities. This is a detailed, hands-on individual contributor role responsible for translating strategic objectives into articulate and actionable plans, rigorous analyses, executive-ready materials and measurable results. The position coordinates the annual strategic planning process, quarterly performance reviews, selected strategic initiatives and ad hoc decision support. Success requires strong business acumen, analytical rigor, financial modeling, exceptional written and presentation development skills, organizational discipline and the ability to influence stakeholders across the organization without direct authority. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable building a financial model, developing a Board-quality presentation, facilitating a working session and working through a complex business issue from initial question to process mapping to practical recommendation, implementation and measurement.

Duties & Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Enterprise Coordination

• Coordinate and support the annual and multi-year strategic planning process across business lines and support functions, including calendars, templates, inputs, working sessions and final materials
• Maintain the enterprise inventory of strategic priorities, initiatives, milestones, measures, risk factors, owners and key dependencies
• Partner with business leaders to translate enterprise objectives into actionable plans and measurable goals
• Personally develop strategic planning materials, executive presentations, written narratives and progress updates in coordination with the CSO and COO and other business leaders as directed
• Track progress against strategic objectives, identify execution risks and elevate issues requiring leadership attention
• Research market trends, competitors, industry developments and emerging opportunities relevant to Busey and the banking industry
• Coordinate cross-functional working groups and dotted-line project teams while maintaining clear ownership by business and functional leaders

Quarterly Performance Reviews & Executive Reporting

• Own the hands-on coordination and preparation of Quarterly Performance Reviews across the organization
• Build and refine executive reporting materials, dashboards and scorecards that connect strategic planning objectives to timely updates on progress and emerging business issues or risks
• Partner with Finance, Enterprise Project Management Office, Corporate Insights and business leaders to validate data, sharpen conclusions and ensure materials are presented in an accurate, concise and decision-useful format
• Prepare agendas, briefing materials, discussion questions, meeting notes and executive summaries
• Document decisions, commitments and action items; maintain disciplined follow-up between review cycles
• Continuously improve review content and process so leadership time is focused on decisions, actions and enterprise implications
• Proactively follow up with accountable leaders, surface interdependencies and help remove barriers to execution

Analysis & Decision Support

• Develop financial models, business cases, scenario analyses and data-driven assessments to support strategic decisions
• Analyze and clearly synthesize profitability, growth, productivity and performance successes and/or issues across business lines, regions, markets and strategic initiatives
• Participate in the design and lead the execution of key business line incentive plans for the Regional Operating Model, Wealth Management, Busey Payments and Consumer Banking
• Structure ambiguous business questions, gather relevant facts, test assumptions and develop practical recommendations
• Evaluate organic growth opportunities, strategic partnerships, new capabilities and operating model alternatives as assigned
• Benchmark business and enterprise performance against peers and relevant market indicators
• Translate complex quantitative and qualitative information into concise executive-level insights and recommendations
• Perform ad hoc analyses and special projects requested by the Chief Strategy Officer, COO or CEO

Executive Partnership & Organizational Influence

• Operate as a trusted, hands-on extension of the CSO and COO on strategic planning, analysis and execution matters
• Build productive dotted-line relationships across business lines and functions; influence through credibility, sound analysis, responsiveness and follow-through
• Handle confidential and time-sensitive matters with sound judgment and discretion

Every day, our associates live Busey's core values, doing better business, building stronger relationships and creating thriving communities—while delivering meaningful value to shareholders.

Compensation and Benefits

Salary offered is based on factors, including but not limited to, the job duties, required qualifications and relevant experience, and local market trends. The role may be eligible for bonus or incentives based on company and individual performance.

(Base Pay Range: $112,000 - $147,000/year)

Busey provides a competitive Total Rewards package in return for your time, talents, efforts and ultimately, results. Your personal and professional well-being—now and in the years to come—are important to us. Busey's Total Rewards include a competitive benefits package offering 401(k) match, profit sharing, employee stock purchase plan, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, company-paid life insurance and long-term disability, supplemental voluntary life insurance, short-term and long-term disability, wellness incentives and an employee assistance program. In addition, eligible associates may take advantage of pre-tax health savings accounts and flexible spending accounts. Visit Busey Total Rewards for more information.

Equal Opportunity

Busey values a diverse and inclusive workplace and strives to recruit, develop and retain individuals with exceptional talent. A team with diverse talent, working together, is essential to Busey's commitment of delivering extraordinary excellence. Busey is an Equal Opportunity Employer including Disability/Vets. Visit Busey.com/Careers to learn more about Busey's Equal Opportunity Employment.

Unsolicited Resumes

Busey Bank, and its subsidiaries, does not accept any liability for fees for resumes from recruiters or employment agencies ("Agency"), without a binding, written recruitment agreement between Busey and Agency describing the services and specific job openings ("Agreement"). Busey may consider any candidate for whom an Agency has submitted an unsolicited resume and explicitly reserves the right to hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the Agency, unless an Agreement is in place. Any email or verbal contact with any Busey associate is inadequate to create a binding agreement. Agencies without an Agreement are requested not to contact any associates of Busey with recruiting inquiries or resumes. Busey respectfully requests no phone calls or emails.

Education & Experience

Knowledge of:

• Corporate strategy, strategic planning, initiative management and performance management disciplines
• Financial statements, budgeting, forecasting, financial modeling, business-case development and value-driver analysis
• Market research, competitor analysis, operating models, project governance and change management
• Banking or financial services economics, products, regulatory environment and competitive dynamics, or the ability to learn a complex regulated industry quickly
• Executive and Board-level communication practices
• PowerBI, Tableau or other data visualization tools

Ability to:

• Move fluidly between strategic thinking and detailed, hands-on execution
• Structure ambiguous questions, identify critical facts, test assumptions and develop practical recommendations
• Use advanced Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint skills to produce executive-ready analyses and presentations
• Manage multiple priorities, deadlines and stakeholders with limited supervision
• Influence senior leaders and cross-functional partners without direct authority
• Communicate complex information clearly and concisely in writing, presentations and discussions
• Exercise sound judgment, discretion and composure when handling confidential or sensitive matters
• Demonstrate strong attention to detail while maintaining an enterprise perspective

Education and Training:

• Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business Administration or a related field required
• Minimum 5 years of progressively responsible experience in corporate strategy, strategic finance, financial planning and analysis, management consulting, investment banking, corporate development, banking, business analytics, project or program management, or a comparable role required; 7-10 years preferred
• Experience leading cross-functional work and preparing materials for senior executives required
• Financial services or banking experience preferred, but not required for a candidate with strong strategic, financial and execution capabilities
• Prior direct people management is not required; demonstrated leadership through dotted-line relationships and project teams is preferred