Senior Manager - Risk Strategic Initiatives

Bank of Montreal•Chicago, IL

8h•$102,000 - $190,000

About The Position

The Senior Manager, Enterprise Stress Testing & Strategic Initiatives, is responsible for planning, coordinating, and delivering complex cross‑functional projects with a primary focus on enterprise‑wide regulatory and internal stress tests. This role also manages additional strategic and operational initiatives within the group. The ideal candidate is an exceptionally strong task manager who thrives in structured environments, excels at driving accountability, and is adept at coordinating numerous moving parts under tight deadlines. A background in risk management, finance, stress testing, or related disciplines is a strong asset, enabling the Project Manager to better understand the technical context and anticipate stakeholder needs in a fast‑evolving regulatory and business environment. Provides expertise in the design, development, management and execution of assigned projects and strategic initiatives from business case development through to execution. Develops business goals, execution plans and key performance metrics to support initiative/program monitoring and enable insights. Works across BMO stakeholders to deliver specific initiative/program results in alignment with overall group goals. Leads end to end project management for enterprise-wide stress tests, including regulatory (e.g., OSFI) and internal scenarios. Drives structured project governance, including reporting, change control, and stakeholder management. Develops and maintains detailed project plans, workback schedules, issue logs, and status reporting for senior leadership. Coordinates input, deliverables, and sign‑offs from Risk, Finance, Treasury, Lines of Business, and other support functions. Manages strict timelines, dependencies, and handoffs to ensure high‑quality submissions. Facilitates working groups, prepares meeting materials, tracks actions, and monitors completion. Identifies delivery risks early and implements mitigation strategies to protect critical milestones. Ensures documentation, assumptions, and processes are consistently captured and maintained for audit/regulatory readiness. Leads or supports departmental projects, including process improvements, capability builds, and transformation initiatives. Prepares executive‑level presentations, summaries, and progress reports. Maintains exceptional rigor in organizing work, tracking tasks, and following up with stakeholders. Supports continuous improvement by identifying operational inefficiencies and recommending enhancements.Makes recommendations to senior leaders on strategy and new initiatives, based on an in-depth understanding of the business/group. Acts as a subject matter expert on relevant regulations and policies. May network with industry contacts to gain competitive insights and best practices. Influences and negotiates to achieve business objectives. Identifies emerging issues and trends to inform decision-making. Recommends business priorities, advises on resource requirements and develops roadmap for strategic execution. Acts as the prime subject matter expert for internal/external stakeholders. Leads change management programs of varying scope and type, including readiness assessments, planning, stakeholder management, execution, evaluation and sustainment of initiatives. Acts as a relationship manager on assigned projects/programs. Builds effective relationships with internal/external stakeholders. Breaks down strategic problems, and analyses data and information to provide insights and recommendations. Integrates information from multiple sources to enable more efficient processes, enhanced analysis and/or streamlined reporting. Reviews the program for effectiveness, considers industry trends and recommends enhancements; makes changes as required. Operates at a group/enterprise-wide level and serves as a specialist resource to senior leaders and stakeholders. Applies expertise and thinks creatively to address unique or ambiguous situations and to find solutions to problems that can be complex and non-routine. Implements changes in response to shifting trends. Broader work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed.

Requirements

Typically 7+ years of relevant experience and post-secondary degree in related field of study or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
In-depth experience in project management, PMO, or coordination roles within financial services or a complex enterprise environment.
In-depth / Expert knowledge of risk management, audit, compliance, governance and/or project management is preferred.
In-depth / Expert knowledge of business and regulatory environment and understanding of risk issues / trends and best practices.
In-depth / Expert communication and relationship management skills.
Experience in stress testing, risk management, finance, modeling, or regulatory processes is preferred.
Proficiency with project management tools (e.g., MS Project, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Teams).
Proven track record as a highly organized, detail‑oriented, and disciplined task manager.
Ability to manage multiple priorities with effective planning and organizing skills.
Seasoned professional with a combination of education, experience and industry knowledge.
Verbal & written communication skills - In-depth / Expert.
Analytical and problem solving skills - In-depth / Expert.
Influence skills - In-depth / Expert.
Collaboration & team skills; with a focus on cross-group collaboration - In-depth / Expert.
Able to manage ambiguity.
Data driven decision making - In-depth / Expert.

Nice To Haves

In-depth / Expert knowledge of risk management, audit, compliance, governance and/or project management is preferred.
Experience in stress testing, risk management, finance, modeling, or regulatory processes is preferred.

Responsibilities

Provides expertise in the design, development, management and execution of assigned projects and strategic initiatives from business case development through to execution.
Develops business goals, execution plans and key performance metrics to support initiative/program monitoring and enable insights.
Works across BMO stakeholders to deliver specific initiative/program results in alignment with overall group goals.
Leads end to end project management for enterprise-wide stress tests, including regulatory (e.g., OSFI) and internal scenarios.
Drives structured project governance, including reporting, change control, and stakeholder management.
Develops and maintains detailed project plans, workback schedules, issue logs, and status reporting for senior leadership.
Coordinates input, deliverables, and sign‑offs from Risk, Finance, Treasury, Lines of Business, and other support functions.
Manages strict timelines, dependencies, and handoffs to ensure high‑quality submissions.
Facilitates working groups, prepares meeting materials, tracks actions, and monitors completion.
Identifies delivery risks early and implements mitigation strategies to protect critical milestones.
Ensures documentation, assumptions, and processes are consistently captured and maintained for audit/regulatory readiness.
Leads or supports departmental projects, including process improvements, capability builds, and transformation initiatives.
Prepares executive‑level presentations, summaries, and progress reports.
Maintains exceptional rigor in organizing work, tracking tasks, and following up with stakeholders.
Supports continuous improvement by identifying operational inefficiencies and recommending enhancements.
Makes recommendations to senior leaders on strategy and new initiatives, based on an in-depth understanding of the business/group.
Acts as a subject matter expert on relevant regulations and policies.
May network with industry contacts to gain competitive insights and best practices.
Influences and negotiates to achieve business objectives.
Identifies emerging issues and trends to inform decision-making.
Recommends business priorities, advises on resource requirements and develops roadmap for strategic execution.
Acts as the prime subject matter expert for internal/external stakeholders.
Leads change management programs of varying scope and type, including readiness assessments, planning, stakeholder management, execution, evaluation and sustainment of initiatives.
Acts as a relationship manager on assigned projects/programs.
Builds effective relationships with internal/external stakeholders.
Breaks down strategic problems, and analyses data and information to provide insights and recommendations.
Integrates information from multiple sources to enable more efficient processes, enhanced analysis and/or streamlined reporting.
Reviews the program for effectiveness, considers industry trends and recommends enhancements; makes changes as required.
Operates at a group/enterprise-wide level and serves as a specialist resource to senior leaders and stakeholders.
Applies expertise and thinks creatively to address unique or ambiguous situations and to find solutions to problems that can be complex and non-routine.
Implements changes in response to shifting trends.
Broader work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed.