Strategic Planning Manager

the USO•Arlington, VA

3d•Onsite

About The Position

This position reports to the Strategy, Innovation and Program Management Office (SIPMO) and supports enterprise strategic planning, execution tracking, and decision support. Working under the direction of the VP of SIPMO, the role helps organize inputs, conduct analysis, prepare materials, and coordinate follow-up across workstreams. The position contributes to the development and execution of the USO’s enterprise strategy by translating information into polished reports, supporting project activities, and helping maintain alignment across stakeholders. This role is suited for a detail-oriented analytical professional who can manage assigned workstreams, communicate clearly, thrive in a fast-paced work environment, and help catalyze the movement of strategy into action.

Requirements

5+ years of directly related experience.
Bachelor’s degree required (nonprofit management, business administration, strategic management, program management, or related field preferred)
Strong structured problem-solving and analytical thinking
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Ability to synthesize large amounts of information into clear insights
Strong organizational and project management capabilities
Ability to operate in ambiguous, fast-paced environments
High attention to detail and quality of output
Highly self-directed and proactive
Strong judgment and prioritization skills
Comfortable preparing materials and information for review by senior leaders.
Effective collaborator across functions and teams
Able to manage multiple priorities simultaneously
High level of professionalism, discretion, and integrity
Must be a strong advocate for the USO’s mission.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree in related field/relevant professional certification preferred

Responsibilities

Support the development of the USO’s enterprise strategic plan, including research, analysis, and synthesis of inputs.
Help organize cross-functional inputs into clear summaries, themes, and draft recommendations for review by leadership.
Prepare draft materials, including executive briefings, board and committee materials, strategy documents, and presentations, for review and refinement by the VP of SIPMO.
Identify key themes, trade-offs, and decision points within strategy work.
Conduct research and analysis to support strategic priorities, program design decisions, and enterprise tradeoff discussions.
Help clarify ambiguous problems by organizing information, identifying options, and outlining actionable next steps for review.
Assist with research, analysis, and drafting to support business cases for major initiatives.
Support assigned tasks related to enterprise strategic initiatives and cross-functional workstreams.
Track progress, identify risks, and escalate issues as needed.
Ensure alignment between strategy, execution, and operational realities.
Contribute to development of initiative charters, workplans, and deliverables.
Partner with leaders across Mission Delivery, Development, Finance, IT, and other functions.
Facilitate alignment across stakeholders and ensure inputs are incorporated into strategy work.
Support structured engagement processes (e.g., leadership sessions, working groups, interviews).
Develop high-quality, executive-ready materials to support: Senior leadership meetings, Board and committee briefings, Strategic updates and communications.
Ensure materials are clear, concise, and decision-oriented.
Support the VP of SIPMO in establishing and maintaining the operating cadence for strategy and execution, including: Weekly workstream tracking, Progress reporting, Key meetings and decision forums.
Help ensure follow-through on action items and commitments across workstreams.
Support high-priority, time-sensitive strategic initiatives led by executive leadership.
Conduct rapid analysis and develop recommendations under tight timelines.
Contribute to CEO-level materials and decision support as needed.
Other duties as assigned.