IT Strategy & Planning Sr. Manager

Henderson Companies•Lenexa, KS

About The Position

The IT Strategy & Planning Sr Manager leads the development and maturation of Henderson’s IT service management capabilities, establishing the operating model, processes, governance framework, and performance discipline required to deliver reliable, scalable, and business-aligned IT services. This role oversees critical IT management functions including program and project oversight, change and knowledge management, IT performance reporting, and enterprise architecture. Partnering closely with IT leadership and business stakeholders, this role defines priorities, process improvements, and ensures IT initiatives are executed with appropriate structure, communication, and accountability. This role also champions ITIL-aligned practices, standards, and continuous improvement frameworks to strengthen service delivery, increase operational maturity, and support the successful execution of Henderson’s IT strategy. Serving as a strategic advisor and execution partner to the CIO, this role represents IT leadership in governance, planning, and performance management activities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field. Relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
8+ years of progressive experience in Information Technology, including roles supporting IT operations, service delivery, governance, or enterprise technology initiatives, with 5+ years in IT leadership highly preferred.11+ years of experience required without a degree in a related field.
Proven ability to design, implement, and mature IT Service Management (ITSM) practices aligned to ITIL frameworks.
Experience establishing and maintaining IT governance structures, standards, and operating procedures across IT teams.
Strong understanding of organizational change management practices, including communication planning, adoption enablement, and stakeholder engagement.
Experience defining, implementing, and maintaining IT performance metrics, KPIs, service reporting, and executive dashboards.
Ability to develop and facilitate IT strategy, annual planning, and roadmap development in collaboration with IT leadership and business stakeholders.
Foundational understanding of enterprise architecture concepts, technology standards, and roadmap planning.
Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate service performance trends, identify root causes, and recommend continuous improvement initiatives.
Awareness of IT security principles, compliance requirements, and risk management practices relevant to enterprise environments.
Proven ability to build, mentor, and influence teams while driving accountability and execution discipline.
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical teams and non-technical business stakeholders.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills, business and financial acumen, including executive-level reporting and facilitation.
Must demonstrate proficiency in all core competencies as described and characterized in this job description.

Responsibilities

Lead the design and maintain ITIL-aligned service management processes including incident, problem, change, and request management.
Define governance structures, roles, and decision rights to ensure consistent execution of IT policies, standards, and service expectations.
Partner with IT leaders to ensure service performance meets agreed service levels and business needs.
Oversight of key IT projects to ensure scope, timeline, budget, and risk are actively managed and communicated.
Establish consistent IT project management standards, templates, and reporting practices to improve execution discipline and visibility.
Lead prioritization and sequencing of IT work through structured intake and alignment with strategic objectives.
Lead the development and ongoing refinement of the IT strategic plan in collaboration with IT leadership and business stakeholders.
Translate strategic goals into actionable road maps, annual plans, and initiative sequencing that support business priorities.
Lead strategic planning activities such as technology assessments, capability gap analysis, and future-state operating needs.
Partner with Finance to support IT budget planning, forecasting, and financial reporting, ensuring alignment between strategic priorities, project roadmaps, and operational spending.
Define and maintain IT performance metrics and dashboards that measure operational health, project outcomes, and strategic progress.
Establish a continuous improvement framework to identify inefficiencies, strengthen IT processes, and improve service delivery outcomes.
Provide recurring executive reporting on IT performance trends, risks, and improvement initiatives.
Lead and coordinate talent across the IT organization through a combination of direct management and matrix leadership, ensuring teams are aligned to strategic priorities and positioned to deliver measurable business outcomes.
Foster a culture of collaboration, psychological safety, and continuous improvement through servant leadership and team coaching.
Ensure effective work intake, prioritization, and progress tracking to deliver progress against firm priorities.