Manager, Strategy and Planning

Genuine Parts Company•Birmingham, AL

About The Position

Under limited supervision, the Manager of Strategy and Planning leads and oversees the enterprise strategic portfolio management function, ensuring alignment between executive strategy and execution across the organization. Reporting to the VP, Strategy and Transformation, this role is responsible for managing a team of Portfolio Managers and Analysts, driving portfolio governance, overseeing execution performance, and leading long-range planning and forecasting efforts. The Manager plays a critical role in shaping and advancing the strategic direction of Motion´s business. This role partners closely with the Executive Leadership Team (ELT), Finance, and cross-functional leaders to define priorities and translate strategy into real actions and measurable business outcomes. The Manager serves as a strategic thought partner to executive leadership, providing forward-looking insights, portfolio-level risk management, and data-driven recommendations to optimize outcomes. This role requires strong leadership, financial acumen, enterprise influence, and the ability to operate at both strategic and operational levels.

Requirements

Typically requires a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Management, Strategy, or related field and seven (7) or more years of experience in strategy, portfolio management, transformation, or related leadership roles.
Minimum of three (3) years of experience leading teams in a complex, cross-functional environment.
Demonstrated experience managing enterprise-level strategic portfolios.
Proven experience working at the intersection of business strategy, finance, and technology.
Strong enterprise-level strategic thinking with the ability to translate executive vision into actionable portfolio direction
Experience leading long-range planning and forecasting processes.
Demonstrated people leadership skills, including coaching, performance management, and team development
Deep understanding of portfolio governance, prioritization methodologies, and investment decision frameworks
Strong financial acumen including budgeting, capital planning, forecasting, and KPI development
Ability to identify cross-functional risks, dependencies, and systemic execution challenges
Exceptional stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence senior executives
Strong executive communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and concisely
Analytical mindset with strong quantitative skills; ability to synthesize data into actionable insights
Ability to operate with autonomy in ambiguous and fast-paced environments
Strong conflict resolution and problem-solving capabilities
High level of personal integrity and confidentiality
Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools (Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint) and portfolio management software/tools

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree preferred.
Strong industry knowledge, preferably in distribution or manufacturing environments
PMP (Project Management Professional), Portfolio Management Professional (PfMP) certification preferred
Agile certification such as Leading SAFe or similar preferred
Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or certifications related to business analysis (CBAP) or financial acumen may be beneficial
Change Management Certification preferred

Responsibilities

Leads the development, refinement, and execution oversight of the enterprise strategic portfolio aligned to executive vision and long-range forecast.
Partners with executive leadership and business leadership to shape multi-year strategic roadmaps and investment priorities.
Establishes and continuously evolves enterprise portfolio governance frameworks, standards, and decision-making processes.
Drives enterprise-wide prioritization processes, ensuring initiatives align with strategic objectives, financial constraints, and resource capacity.
Provides strategic guidance on continuation, acceleration, restructuring, or termination of initiatives based on performance and value realization.
Monitors industry, market, and competitive trends to proactively inform portfolio adjustments.
Directly manages and develops a team of Portfolio Managers and related resources.
Provides coaching, mentorship, and performance management to ensure high-quality portfolio oversight and execution support.
Establishes clear roles, responsibilities, and operating rhythms for the Strategic Portfolio Management team.
Builds organizational capability and maturity in portfolio and program management disciplines.
Fosters a culture of accountability, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making.
Oversees execution performance across the enterprise portfolio, ensuring initiatives are progressing according to scope, budget, and timeline.
Identifies systemic risks, cross-initiative dependencies, and resource constraints; proactively escalates and resolves issues at the executive level.
Ensures business cases are robust, measurable, and aligned with financial and strategic objectives.
Oversees portfolio-level milestone tracking and value realization measurement.
Ensures consistent application of governance processes across all initiatives.
Develops and delivers comprehensive executive-level reporting on portfolio health, financial performance, risks, and strategic alignment.
Leads portfolio steering committee meetings and executive review sessions.
Prepares board-ready materials, strategic analyses, and enterprise performance updates as required.
Serves as a trusted advisor to executive stakeholders, providing objective, data-driven insights.
Acts as the primary escalation and alignment point between business units, Finance, and Technology for portfolio-related matters.
Ensures collaboration between business owners, product management, delivery teams, and support functions.
Leads strategic workshops and enterprise planning sessions.
Supports change management efforts tied to major strategic initiatives.
Performs other duties as assigned.