Director - Strategic Planning

Job Description

This role is responsible for leading large-scale, highly complex, multi-faceted, Corporate Strategy Programs and processes, including the annual strategic plan, corporate strategic initiative planning or integrations involving internal and external partners. All projects and programs will involve leading fully cross-functional and global teams with both internal and external members. This role will be a thought leader, helping to lead the continuous development and improvement in annual, cross-functionally integrated strategic planning process. The Director will handle extremely confidential information regarding Olympus strategic plans and often be communicating sensitive information on behalf of the executive team into the broader organization of Olympus within defined boundaries.

This position is responsible for the planning of all strategic planning process deliverables, synchronization and prioritization of Executive Officer activities and includes holding executives accountable to agreed plans. The position is accountable for, delivery to schedule, budget maintenance, resource allocation and the creation/delivery of executive reports/dashboards, drawing on extensive subject matter expertise in theories and practices of executive decision-making best practices.

This position is responsible for directly and indirectly driving program execution (internal and external) while ensuring that all program deliverables and efforts are connected and meet internal and external customer requirements and follow the Olympus standards when applicable. This role will have a great deal of autonomy to engage executives and make judgments/decisions, often based on limited information, but drawing off experience in strategic planning and what it advisable based on the situation at hand. Over time this person will create formal networks with leaders/partners in Olympus BUs and functions, being seen as a trusted integrator of complex strategic plans that can be shared internally and with external stakeholders.

Job Duties

• Plan and execute highly complex, large-scale internal and external strategy programs including the annual corporate strategic plan (made up of multiple cross-functional projects with distinct goals).
• Recommend strategies and plans for how to navigate through an environment of competing priorities, based on delivering results that are in line with company goals.
• Directly lead or support the development of an improved annual strategic planning process that incorporates Corporate, Business and Functional layers, while optimizing the process with SBP, LRP, FYP, etc.
• May be required to work one-on-one with Corporate Executives often coaching them through complicated strategy planning processes.
• Lead Core Teams in the development of project charters, objectives, project plan and schedule for assigned program.
• Develop and manage budgets for the program including resource loading, external expenses, and capital requirements.
• Proactively identify and assess areas of risk, escalate issues in a timely manner, and collaboratively develop and deploy solutions.
• Proactively assess program health and identify opportunities for project change; implement and manage changes and interventions to achieve timely project outputs.
• Proactively manage project-related actions and deliverables, holding team members and functional managers accountable for completion.
• Create, align, and provide regular project updates (written and verbal) to appropriate stakeholders and relevant management board; create presentations, dashboards, and executive summaries – both scheduled and ad hoc.
• Conduct highly effective cross-functional team meetings to ensure accountability and milestone achievements; create agendas and publish minutes/actions.
• Build team ownership and commitment to project and business plans and define project milestones, deliverables, and associated resource requirements.
• Actively lead cross-functional project teams (and external partners) through planning and execution, providing direction, guidance, coaching and mentoring for Core Team members when needed; prioritizes activities for team.
• Proactively manage performance issues and conflicts within project team; work to resolve these issues in alignment with functional management.
• Provide input to functional leaders on team member performance and functional management support.
• Cultivate a team culture of continuous improvement and teamwork that strives to improve in quality, safety, delivery, and cost.
• Actively build and foster collaborative relationships across all levels of internal stakeholders and external partners to improve overall outcomes and timely project execution.
• Gain collaboration, cooperation, and commitment from people through influence, rather than authority.
• Define early-stage estimates of schedule, budget, and resources for a program; align estimates with functional leaders.
• Other essential duties as directed.

Job Qualifications

Required:

• BS degree in engineering or technical field required; MS, MBA or PhD preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of relevant professional work experience.
• Minimum 3+ years in a role that is highly engaged with executive officers and large corporate teams.
• Minimum 5+ years of Class 2 medical device industry experience in the medical device field.
• Minimum 5+ years of experience preferably in a project management role or consulting role, interfacing with large scale/senior level teams.
• Minimum 5+ years presenting and engaging with cross-functional executive audiences.

Preferred:

• Effectively demonstrated planning and organizational skills with background and experience in project management principles, practices, techniques, and tools.
• Must be able to work independently and be self-motivated with a strong sense of urgency and drive for results.
• Ability to work in an environment with competing priorities; highly effective at dealing with change and ambiguity as business needs shift, responding well under pressure, and demonstrating flexibility while ensuring compliance.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills and comfortable and adaptable presenting to different audiences and levels of the organization – including executive management teams.
• Master-level user of Microsoft Project; expertly proficient in Excel, Power Point, Visio, and Word.
• Formal training in project management completed; PMP certification preferred.
• Strong leadership skills and the ability to operate highly effectively in an executive team environment.
• Excellent group facilitation, mediation, and conflict resolution skills.
• Ability to expertly analyze complex problems, interpret operational needs, develop integrated, creative solutions – and to implement these solutions.
• Experience with and/or training in change management.