Chief Strategy Officer & Chief of Staff

ORNL Federal Credit Union•Oak Ridge, TN

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Chief Strategy Officer & Chief of Staff (CSO/COS) serves as a strategic advisor to the President & CEO and a member of the executive leadership team. The role leads the enterprise strategic planning process and supports alignment among the Board of Directors and executive leadership team, translating the credit union’s long-term vision into coordinated priorities, measurable outcomes, and sustained execution. The CSO/COS oversees strategic planning and execution, monitors progress and recommends adjustments, evaluates growth and transformation opportunities, and provides strategic analysis and decision support. The role also supports CEO effectiveness, coordinates executive leadership agendas around enterprise priorities, helps prepare Board strategy discussions and materials, and promotes alignment between Board-approved direction and management execution while maintaining the distinction between governance and management responsibilities. Other executive-level responsibilities and special assignments may be assigned by the President & CEO.

Requirements

12 or more years of progressively responsible leadership experience, including significant experience in strategy, financial services, management consulting, enterprise transformation, corporate development, operations, or executive leadership.
Experience advising senior executives, leading enterprise strategic planning, managing complex cross-functional initiatives, and preparing executive- and Board-level materials.
Ability to evaluate significant business opportunities and influence outcomes without relying solely on direct authority.
Bachelor’s degree in business administration, finance, economics, strategy, organizational leadership, or an equivalent combination of education, experience, or military service.
Ability to sit and/or stand at a desk for a minimum of eight hours a day and complete tasks requiring repetitive use of hands.
Ability to lift and move items weighing up to 15 pounds.
Ability to see written documents and computer screens and adjust focus.

Nice To Haves

Experience working within a complex, regulated financial institution is strongly preferred.
Credit union experience is desirable, but not required when the candidate brings substantial financial-services and strategic leadership experience.
Master’s degree, MBA, or equivalent advanced education.
Credit union industry leadership certifications.

Responsibilities

Design and lead the enterprise strategic planning cycle, including the annual offsite and quarterly update sessions.
Establish objectives, agendas, decision frameworks, and supporting materials for strategic discussions and decisions by the Board, CEO, and executive leadership team.
Maintain an integrated view of strategic priorities, performance measures, dependencies, risks, and resource requirements while preserving executives’ authorities and execution accountability.
Serve as Vice Chair of the Project Steering Committee and help ensure initiatives critical to the three-year strategic plan are prioritized and resourced.
Monitor strategic-plan execution and report progress, achievements, emerging challenges, and material deviations to the CEO and Board; recommend adjustments when warranted.
Coordinate across executive and functional areas to align the strategic plan with departmental priorities, major initiatives, and organizational communications.
Partner with the communications function and coordinate material strategic communications with the CEO so employees understand strategic direction, progress, and their role in execution.
Evaluate strategic results against original objectives and incorporate execution lessons into future planning and decisions.
Identify emerging trends and disruptive forces affecting credit unions, including demographic change, member expectations, technology, artificial intelligence, payments, fintech, economic conditions, regulation, and workforce trends.
Evaluate opportunities involving geographic expansion, new markets, products and services, partnerships, fintech relationships, acquisitions, mergers, and other growth opportunities.
Develop business cases and decision frameworks for significant enterprise investments and strategic choices.
Ensure strategic decisions consider financial performance, member value, organizational capacity, employee impact, risk, and sustainable community impact.
Maintain an external perspective on competitive dynamics and identify opportunities for differentiation and long-term relevance.
Advise and act as a thought partner to the CEO, providing independent analysis, sound judgment, and constructive challenge when appropriate.
Improve CEO and executive-team effectiveness by identifying issues requiring leadership attention and ensuring preparation, coordination, and follow-through.
Partner with executive leaders to resolve cross-functional barriers and organizational dependencies that could impede strategic execution.
Coordinate executive leadership meeting agendas around enterprise priorities, decisions, performance, and strategic issues.
Maintain visibility into major enterprise initiatives and proactively elevate risks, conflicts, resource constraints, or decisions requiring CEO attention.
Partner with the CEO and appropriate executives to prepare Board strategy discussions, retreats, presentations, and decision materials.
Help align Board-approved strategic direction with management execution while maintaining clear distinctions between governance and management responsibilities.
Develop concise executive- and Board-level reporting on progress, risks, tradeoffs, required decisions, and strategic outcomes.
Champion an enterprise perspective and encourage leaders to make decisions in the best interests of the overall credit union.
Perform other executive-level responsibilities, special assignments, and job-related duties as directed or assigned.