Director of Strategy and Performance Management

About the role

The Office of Strategic Management (OSM) works closely with the C-suite and senior leaders in each of the businesses on the bank’s top strategic priorities, spanning the end-to-end lifecycle—from strategy development and solution prioritization through to implementation. The OSM integrates the development and execution of BMO’s overall strategy by deeply connecting strategy and performance management within each business, enabled by strong connectivity to Operating Group Heads, Finance, Technology & Operations, and Corporate Functions.

In recent years, the team’s work has included cross-bank growth initiatives, client segment strategies, Digital and AI acceleration, M&A target evaluation, large-scale M&A integration, business portfolio reviews, new business entry and go-to-market strategies (e.g., climate finance), transformation initiatives, and enterprise cloud and data strategies. The OSM is recognized as a strong talent incubator for BMO, with a track record of placing team members in key roles across the organization.

As a Director, you will have unique exposure to executives and opportunities to build cross-bank relationships by working with line-of-business and corporate function leadership on developing and delivering the bank’s strategic priorities.

Responsibilities

• Leads high-priority strategy engagements identified by the CEO and their direct reports, acting as a strategic thought partner to the business by drawing key implications from analysis to develop actionable recommendations.
• Leads the development and structuring of complex strategic projects into relevant work-streams using a hypothesis-driven approach.
• Actively manages working team members to deliver on strategy project objectives.
• Cultivates and supports a team culture that enables high performance, employee morale, integrity, teamwork, and work-life balance through coaching and participation in team recruitment.
• Shapes relevant analyses into high-quality strategic recommendations, providing external perspectives and competitive insights where relevant.
• Applies expertise and thinks creatively to address unique or ambiguous situations and find solutions to complex, non-routine problems.
• Effectively communicates key messages and recommendations to executive audiences.
• Leads business performance management monitoring and action plan development to ensure tight alignment between business KPIs (leading/lagging) and enterprise ambitions.
• Serves as a trusted advisor to senior executives and manages stakeholders at various levels, including C-Suite and Operating Group executives.
• Leads change management activities, ensuring cross-business/group coordination and logistical support for implementation.

Strategy Development

• Leverages a consultative approach to develop current state analysis (e.g., fact base, opportunity areas) and recommendations on strategic choices/trade-offs.
• Recommends business priorities, advises on resource requirements, and develops roadmaps for strategic execution.
• Conducts analysis and research to provide context into the current state (e.g., industry trends, benchmarks) and inform future state priorities (e.g., financial modeling, best practices).
• Develops business cases by identifying needs, analyzing potential options, and assessing expected return on investment.
• Breaks down strategic problems and analyzes data to provide insights and recommendations.
• Networks with industry contacts to gather competitive insights and best practices.

Delivery

• Leads implementation of strategic initiatives within the group and across BMO by partnering with internal and external stakeholders; complexity may vary and usually involves multiple stakeholders.
• Acts as a relationship manager on assigned projects/programs, ensuring alignment with enterprise and group goals.
• Leads execution of operational programs, assessing and adapting as needed to ensure quality.
• Defines business requirements for analytics and reporting to ensure data insights inform decision-making.
• Supports strategy execution by leading transformation roadmaps/programs to ensure disciplined delivery and successful change management.
• Collaborates with stakeholders to provide business context in the design, development, and implementation of programs and solutions.

Executive Support

• Supports C-Suite on strategic priorities and ad hoc requests as necessary.
• Operates at a group/enterprise-wide level and serves as a specialist resource to senior leaders and stakeholders.
• Broader work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed.

Requirements

• Typically, 6-10 years of relevant experience (management consulting, financial services, strategy roles) and a post-secondary degree in a related field (e.g., MBA, CFA) or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Expertise in structuring, organizing, and managing complex strategy projects with minimal supervision.
• Outstanding analytical skills with the ability to frame key analyses and tell a cohesive story to address critical business issues.
• Seasoned professional with a combination of education, experience, and industry knowledge.
• Demonstrated excellence in stakeholder management and organizational effectiveness in complex environments.
• Strong team management skills and proven leadership ability.

Skills

• 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
• Passion for the Financial Services industry and/or experience in relevant content areas

Pay

Salary: $137,000.00 - $238,000.00 (salaried). Salaries will vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications. For commission roles, the salary listed represents BMO Financial Group’s expected target for the first year. Total compensation may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, and other perks and rewards.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Accident and life insurance
• Retirement savings plans
• Performance-based incentives and discretionary bonuses
• Other perks and rewards