Director, Head of Strategic Initiatives, COO, GBM

Scotiabank•New York City, NY

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Leads and oversees the Strategic Initiatives, Business Management, Governance, Communications, and People / Operating Model agenda for the GBM Chief Operating Officer (“COO”); and provides strategic support to the Managing Director, COO, GBM to execute the COO mandate by ensuring strategies, plans, initiatives, costs, governance forums, and organizational priorities are executed / delivered in alignment with GBM and the overall Bank strategy, internal policies, and applicable governance requirements.

Requirements

Minimum 15 years of financial services industry experience, preferably at global top-tier banks or comparable financial institutions.
Experience in a financial management role with a cost management focus, including budgeting, forecasting, cost allocation, expense discipline, headcount management, and management reporting.
Good knowledge of Banking & Markets products and associated operational processes.
Strong general management and leadership experience, including the ability to lead through ambiguity, influence without direct authority, and mobilize cross-functional partners.
Proven ability to work across multiple functions and with senior leaders (VP+) to drive outcomes.
A university degree in business, finance, economics, or a related field.
Impactful communicator who communicates clearly and effectively, verbally and in writing, with all levels including senior management.
Excellent organizational and administrative skills, with demonstrated ability to coordinate multiple competing priorities and escalate as appropriate in a timely manner.
Strong analytical, organizational, project management, and presentation development skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Power BI) and related collaboration / reporting tools.
Ability to work independently with minimal supervision while maintaining strong judgment, discretion, and confidentiality.

Nice To Haves

Strong knowledge of wholesale banking, GBM operating models, governance forums, and enterprise committee requirements preferred.
Advanced degree preferred (e.g., MBA).

Responsibilities

Advises the GBM COO on strategic, organizational, business management, governance, communications, and operating model matters, identifying and managing key objectives, dependencies, risks, and decision points.
Supports the GBM COO on timely delivery of confidential and / or time-sensitive issues, including executive ready materials, cross-functional priorities, and leadership communications.
Fills leadership gaps as responsibilities shift and change by managing through influence, partnering across teams, and driving outcomes for priorities small and large alike.
Supports the development and implementation of the COO’s strategic agenda in line with GBM and the overall Bank strategy.
Oversees the coordination and consolidation of the COO annual budget planning submission and quarterly forecasts, including the cost allocation process across COO globally to ensure accurate assignment of costs to the various businesses.
Ensures COO costs are properly managed within GBM Expense Management policy, driving accountability, cost efficiency, and ownership of incurred costs and associated headcount.
Oversees the production of management reporting and presentation materials required for multiple forums and purposes.
Partners across multiple functions and with senior leaders (VP+) to drive execution, resolve barriers, and maintain alignment against strategic priorities.
Ensures GBM alignment with global governance requirements from enterprise offices and committees, including Data & AI Committee, Compliance and Operational Risk Committee, Real Estate Committee, and other relevant global governance forums.
Coordinates with enterprise partners to ensure GBM requirements, messaging, and submissions are consistent, complete, and appropriately positioned for senior management review.
Manages GBM global management committees, including the newly established GBM ExCo, GBM COO, and GBM COO direct reports meetings, ensuring consistency across forums, clear messaging, and disciplined follow-through.
Oversees agenda planning, materials development, decision tracking, escalation, and communication of key outcomes for COO-led governance forums.
Maintains a strong governance cadence to support transparency, accountability, and timely execution across the COO organization.
Partners with Communications to manage the COO communications strategy across GBM and relevant stakeholder groups.
Develops key content to ensure consistent messaging across the GBM COO, peers, and the COO leadership team.
Translates strategic priorities, organizational changes, and leadership decisions into clear, audience-appropriate communications.
Designs and optimizes the current organizational structure to achieve strategic, operational, and business management goals.
Partners with HR to effect organizational adds / deletes / changes both administratively and with a communication lens.
Designs and maintains the location strategy across the COO organization, balancing business needs, talent considerations, and operating effectiveness.
Develops Service Level Agreements where appropriate for COO service offerings to clarify scope, expectations, accountability, and service delivery standards.
Provides leadership support on people engagement, organizational effectiveness, succession, and change management priorities across the COO organization.
Leads and drives a customer-focused culture throughout the team to deepen client relationships and leverage broader Bank relationships, systems, and knowledge.
Understands how the Bank’s risk appetite and risk culture should be considered in day-to-day activities and decisions.
Creates an environment in which the team pursues effective and efficient operations in accordance with Scotiabank’s Values, its Code of Conduct, and the Global Sales Principles, while ensuring the adequacy, adherence to, and effectiveness of day-to-day business controls to meet obligations with respect to operational, compliance, AML / ATF / sanctions, and conduct risk.
Builds a high-performance environment and implements a people strategy that attracts, retains, develops, and motivates the team by fostering an inclusive work environment and using a coaching mindset and behaviors; communicating vision / values / business strategy; and managing succession and development planning for the team.