Strategic Initiatives Lead

Role Description

The Strategic Initiatives Lead orchestrates the execution of high-priority non-technical projects and strategic programs, serving as the primary liaison between Legal leadership and operational departments. This role translates executive vision into disciplined project plans, ensuring standardized and improved execution, enterprise governance, and the successful reactivation of stalled cross-functional initiatives.

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

• Legal Project Leadership: High-level project ownership for initiatives designated by the General Counsel. Maintain a centralized tracking ecosystem to provide executive leadership with real-time visibility into milestones, bottlenecks, and risk mitigation.
• Enterprise Governance: Maintain and audit the organization’s Authority Matrix. Drive the adoption of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and governance tools through organization-wide training and continuous monitoring.
• Operational “First Response”: Intervene in complex, multi-departmental projects that lack clear ownership. Re-establish momentum by clarifying scope, assigning accountability, and defining path-to-completion.
• Legal & Quasi-Legal Support: Support the legal department by capturing legal guidance, past decisions, and common processes, and tracking contract lifecycles and regulatory deadlines. Draft governance materials, board resolutions, and research-based briefs under the supervision of the General Counsel.
• Regulatory & Licensure Oversight: Execute the end-to-end coordination and support of gaming and racing licensure activities, including managing new applications, renewals, and mandatory reporting while maintaining audit-ready documentation in compliance with state and tribal regulations.
• Foundation Management: Direct the end-to-end charitable giving process for the WarHorse Foundation. Manage board operations, vet grant eligibility, and serve as the primary relationship lead for nonprofit partners.

Qualifications

• Strategic Translation: Ability to convert broad legal/regulatory guidance into granular, actionable milestones.
• Regulatory Precision: Exceptional attention to detail; a "zero-error" mindset regarding regulatory deadlines and filing accuracy.
• Ambiguity Management: High comfort level stepping into disorganized or high-pressure situations to create structure and clarity.
• Influential Communication: Skillful at interfacing across the hierarchy with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Technical Writing: Mastery in drafting SOPs, corporate protocols, and formal project documentation.

Requirements

• Education: Bachelor’s degree required; master’s degree (MBA, JD, or MPA) or PMP certification preferred.
• Project Management: 5+ years of experience managing non-technical projects, specifically those involving complex budgets, procurement, or supply chain logistics.
• Leadership: Proven experience in a management tier, with a track record of directing multidisciplinary teams and professional staff.
• Industry Context: Previous experience in legal coordination or regulatory compliance, ideally within the gaming or hospitality sector.

Supervisory Responsibility

This position directs and supervises all support resources assigned to specific project activities. Responsibilities include the leadership, evaluation, and professional development of professional and technical personnel assigned to the project lifecycle.

Work Environment

The work environment involves interfacing with all areas of the company, including executive leadership, legal, compliance, and various business units (Operations, Finance, HR). This role requires managing the integration of tasks and serving as a primary interface for internal and external stakeholders.

Travel

Periodic travel to the company’s Nebraska corporate offices will be required.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Our Values

• Native American Owned & Proud
• Accountable
• Team Focused
• Innovative
• Visionary
• Excellence

AAP/EEO Statement

Ho-Chunk, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are considered without regard to age, sex, race, national origin, religion, marital status or physical disability. However, preference may be extended to persons of Indian descent in accordance with applicable laws.