Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives

Overview

Senior Director, Stategic Initiatives for the Golden Gate Branch in San Francisco. This role is a pivotal leadership position responsible for advancing the Credit Union’s strategic priorities, driving enterprise-wide projects, and ensuring measurable impact across the organization. The role serves as a trusted advisor to the CEO and senior leadership, translating vision into actionable initiatives that improve member experiences, enhance operational efficiency, and strengthen community engagement.

The Director champions cross-functional collaboration, provides analytical insights to inform decision-making, and ensures the Credit Union remains agile in a rapidly evolving financial services landscape.

• Partner with the CEO, Chief of Staff, SVP Head of Community Affairs and Government Affairs, executive leadership, and department heads to define, prioritize, and implement high-impact strategic initiatives.
• Develop and maintain frameworks, dashboards, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress and demonstrate measurable outcomes.
• Ensure alignment of all strategic initiatives with the Credit Union’s mission, vision, and long-term goals, integrating them into operational plans and annual budgets.
• Identify opportunities to optimize processes, improve efficiencies, and mitigate risks associated with strategic initiatives.

• Lead enterprise-level initiatives from conception through execution, ensuring clear goals, scope, timelines, and accountability across cross-functional teams.
• Implement project management best practices, including risk management, issue resolution, and resource allocation, to ensure timely delivery.
• Act as a bridge between departments, promoting collaboration and alignment on strategic priorities.
• Monitor and evaluate initiative performance, adjusting strategies as needed to achieve desired outcomes.

• Conduct comprehensive market research, competitor benchmarking, and member insights analysis to inform strategic decisions.
• Monitor trends in financial services, regulatory changes, technology adoption, and emerging business opportunities to recommend innovative solutions.
• Translate data and analytics into actionable recommendations that drive growth, enhance member experiences, and maintain competitive advantage.

• Cultivate strong relationships with internal teams, executive leadership, and external partners to advance strategic objectives.
• Prepare executive-level presentations, reports, and updates for the Board of Directors, senior leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Serve as a change champion, fostering organizational adoption of new processes, tools, and strategic initiatives.

• Mentor, coach, and guide project teams to build capability, foster innovation, and promote accountability.
• Identify gaps in organizational capacity and develop training, tools, and processes to strengthen strategic execution.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, innovation, and results-driven performance across the Credit Union.

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Strategy, or related field;
Master’s degree preferred.

• 7+ years of progressive experience in strategic planning, enterprise project management, business development, or consulting.
• Experience in the financial services or credit union industry strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide projects and cross-functional teams.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to executives and boards.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Proficiency in project management methodologies and tools (e.g., Agile, Lean, MS Project, or similar).

• Strategic & Innovative Thinking
• Business & Financial Acumen
• Collaboration & Influence
• Project & Change Management
• Member-Centric Focus
• Results Orientation

You’ll work alongside a passionate team in a mission-driven organization, gain exposure to…