Business Initiatives Manager - Innovation Leadership Program (iLead)

Western Alliance Bank•Phoenix, AZ

About The Position

This development program helps participants strengthen their business acumen, build practical credit skills, and develop an innovation‑focused mindset. Participants will gain a strong grounding in credit fundamentals, enhanced through a targeted development track that strengthens their credit expertise and prepares them to lead with insight and innovation. Training will also incorporate process optimization concepts, emerging uses of AI, and the essentials of change management to support well‑rounded, strategic decision‑making. Throughout the program, they will work on high‑impact projects that shape the future of Western Alliance Bank, accelerate their careers as innovation leaders, expand their professional networks, and engage closely with senior executives across the enterprise. Corporate Strategy and Planning Overview The Corporate Strategy & Planning team leads the development of Western Alliance Bank’s multi‑year strategic plan and oversees key enterprise initiatives that drive innovation, growth, and organizational alignment. The team acts as a trusted advisor to the Executive Leadership Team, helping define the long‑term direction of the bank, assess competitive risks and opportunities, evaluate financial trends, and support communication of strategic priorities to internal and external stakeholders. Partnering closely with Investor Relations, the team also supports messaging to the investment community, analyzes market and peer trends, and provides insights that support executive communication, capital planning, and the bank’s strategic narrative. This role is a key member of the Corporate Strategy & Planning team; the leadership track will provide the participant with a deep, holistic understanding of corporate strategy development, understanding the competitive landscape to enable market positioning and developing executive‑level presentations on behalf of the executive team. Participants will become immersed in the corporate strategic planning cycle, gaining firsthand experience in evaluating market dynamics, supporting executive decision‑making, and contributing to the development of Western Alliance Bank’s long‑term strategic direction. As they progress through the track, the participant will analyze industry, investor, and peer trends; support the development of Board‑ and Management‑level strategic materials; and collaborate with cross‑functional partners to advance major enterprise initiatives. They will also identify leadership opportunities and improve strategic insights, streamline communication processes, or strengthen initiative execution, present recommendations to leadership, and support approved enhancements through successful implementation. This experience builds strategic, analytical, presentation and communication capabilities while strengthening future leadership potential. This is an eighteen-month program that serves as a pathway into a long‑term career with Western Alliance Bank. After 12 months, participants may be considered for full‐time opportunities, contingent on performance and supported by our Talent team through the application and selection process.

Requirements

MBA or master's degree in a related field completed within the last three years and before the start of the program.
Two to five years of related experience in strategy consulting, management consulting, investment banking or corporate strategy in the banking or financial services industry.
Demonstrated history of acting as a change agent and taking initiative.
Desire to innovate, disrupt, and improve.
Entrepreneurial and proactive in identifying opportunities and solutions utilizing your strong business acumen & analytical problem-solving skills to help inform decision-making for senior leaders.
Demonstrated leadership, strong interpersonal skills, and ability to work effectively in a team environment supporting cross functional efforts.
Highly proficient in Microsoft Office (e.g., Excel) and other presentation tools.
Ability to work both independently and on cross functional teams.
Comfortable working in a rapidly changing environment.
Strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to present complex information to diverse stakeholders.
Expert in Microsoft Office and experience in other tools such as S&P Global, FactSet, Pitchbook, Copilot, PowerBI, Adobe Suite.
Experience creating and presenting executive level presentations for senior management stakeholders while managing ambiguity throughout the creative process.
Experience driving large initiatives from framing the problem, conducting research / analysis to building the business and operational plans through to driving execution to success.
Strong understanding of general banking operations with an interest in strategy development, operational excellence, process improvement, project management background
Ability to read and interpret policies, procedures, and regulatory requirements.
Analytical mindset with strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills with keen attention to detail and commitment to accuracy.

Nice To Haves

familiarity with financial evaluations, corporate finance / acquisition modeling, due diligence, and various valuation methodologies for organic and inorganic growth opportunities