Strategic Planning Director

AARP • Washington, DC

2d • Hybrid

About The Position

AARP Foundation’s Strategic Planning Director leads organization-wide planning processes, translating long-term strategy into clear priorities, integrating annual plans, and establishing actionable goals. Reporting to the Vice President, Business Integration, and serving on the President’s Office team, the Director designs and runs enterprise planning processes and develops consistent planning tools, practices, and rhythms across the Foundation.

Working with senior leaders and cross-functional teams, the Director aligns organizational work and strengthens prioritization, accountability, and execution. The role monitors progress against organizational priorities, identifies emerging risks and opportunities, and provides leadership with insights and recommendations to inform decisions and plan adjustments. The Director also prepares executive-level presentations, reports, and analysis for the Board of Directors, the President’s Office, and senior leadership, translating complex information into clear, actionable takeaways.

Requirements

• At least 8 years of progressively responsible experience in strategic planning, business integration, or a related discipline.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-wide strategic and annual planning; translating strategy into priorities, goals, and performance metrics; monitoring performance; and recommending adjustments based on emerging risks and opportunities.
• Ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives and matrixed teams through influence rather than direct authority.
• Experience advising senior executives and facilitating leadership planning and decision-making through strategic problem-solving, analysis, synthesis of complex information, evaluation of options, and development of actionable recommendations.
• Experience developing planning frameworks, tools, and operating rhythms that strengthen organizational alignment, accountability, and execution.
• Exceptional written, verbal, facilitation, and presentation skills, including experience preparing clear executive- and board-level materials from complex information.
• Strong judgment and relationship-management skills, with the ability to constructively challenge assumptions while building trust with diverse stakeholders.
• Ability to manage multiple high-priority projects in a fast-moving environment with independence, discretion, and attention to detail.
• Regular and reliable job attendance.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to show respect and understanding of others to maintain professional relationships.
• Independent judgment in evaluating options and making sound decisions.
• Ability to work effectively in an in-office/open-office environment surrounded by moderate noise.
• AARP will not sponsor an employment visa for this position.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of organizational strategy, including the strategic planning process, and provide methods, tools, resources, and guidance to departments conducting their own strategy development and implementation.
• Lead internal strategic consulting engagements and guide internal consultants in strategic problem-solving, including data gathering, root cause analysis, recommendations, and implementation considerations.
• Partner with leadership to develop strategic and client relationships that advance strategic planning excellence; challenge conventional thinking when appropriate.
• Work with stakeholders to analyze critical enterprise-wide issues and develop recommended approaches to address them.
• Lead and work with cross-functional and matrix teams toward common goals through influence rather than authority.
• Serve as a subject matter expert in strategic planning and strategic intelligence for the department.
• Monitor and evaluate marketplace activity, including conducting marketplace assessments, mapping competitive landscapes, understanding revenue models, and identifying white-space opportunities to inform strategic decisions.
• Monitor progress against organizational priorities, surface risks and opportunities, and provide leadership with insights and recommendations.
• Prepare executive-level presentations, reports, and analysis for the Board of Directors, the President’s Office, and senior leadership.

Benefits

• 401(k)
• 100% company-funded pension plan
• Health, dental, and vision plans
• Life insurance
• Paid time off, including company and individual holidays, vacation, sick, caregiving, and parental leave
• Performance-based and peer-based recognition
• Tuition reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed