Strategic Initiatives Director

Wheels • Schaumburg, IL

1d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Strategic Initiatives Director defines and drives the company’s strategic direction, working closely with functional vice presidents and the executive team to identify, develop, and implement initiatives aligned with long-term goals. The role combines strategic planning, project and change management, business transformation, analytics, and cross-functional leadership to deliver significant business outcomes.

The Director develops strategic plans and roadmaps, leads initiative execution, manages project plans and resources, resolves delivery barriers, and tracks realized benefits. The role also advises executive leadership, communicates recommendations and progress to stakeholders, builds collaborative teams, and establishes performance measures to assess initiative outcomes. It supports organization-wide adoption of new processes and systems through change management strategies.

This is a full-time, Monday-through-Friday position following a hybrid model, with required office days and remote-work days. The role is primarily office-based and requires occasional travel of up to 25%. It has no direct reports.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration, strategy, engineering, or a related field.
• At least 10 years of experience in strategic planning, business transformation, or project management, preferably in a leadership role.
• Proven track record of successfully leading and implementing strategic initiatives.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to think strategically and make data-driven decisions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, including the ability to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and motivate cross-functional teams.
• Proficiency in project management tools and software.

Nice To Haves

• MBA or equivalent advanced degree.
• PMP certification.
• Certification in Lean Six Sigma methodologies.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with functional vice presidents and the executive team to develop and refine the company’s strategic vision and long-term goals.
• Conduct market analysis, competitive research, and internal assessments to identify strategic opportunities and threats.
• Create strategic plans and roadmaps to achieve organizational objectives.
• Lead strategic initiatives to ensure projects are completed on time, within scope, and within budget.
• Develop and manage complex project plans, define milestones, and allocate resources effectively.
• Coordinate cross-functional planning, maintain alignment with business objectives, and provide escalation leadership to resolve conflicts and remove barriers.
• Monitor and report strategic project progress to executives and stakeholders.
• Coordinate and track benefit estimates and actual benefits throughout the initiative lifecycle.
• Lead cross-functional teams, providing guidance and support to achieve business outcomes.
• Communicate effectively with executives, respectfully challenge leadership, and foster collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Develop clear, concise presentations using data visualization to communicate strategic recommendations to executive leadership.
• Communicate strategic plans and project updates to internal and external stakeholders.
• Build and maintain relationships with senior management, partners, and clients.
• Advise the executive team with insights and recommendations based on data and market trends.
• Analyze large datasets to uncover insights and trends, and present findings using data visualization techniques and tools.
• Establish metrics and KPIs to measure strategic initiative success.
• Conduct post-implementation reviews, identify improvement opportunities, and implement corrective actions.
• Develop and implement change management strategies to support adoption of new processes and systems.
• Work with change management teams to address user concerns and resistance.

Benefits

• Robust benefits package described as market-leading and competitive, intended to provide care for employees and their families.
• Eligibility to participate in an annual incentive plan based on company and individual performance.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director