Payments Strategy and Initiative Manager

About the role

The Payments Strategy and Initiative Manager is a key member of the Enterprise Payments Strategy, Sales Enablement & Execution team. The role leads strategic engagements across the Payments division and collaborates with other Huntington divisions. Partnering directly with Payments senior executives, the manager researches, evaluates, designs, recommends, and communicates high‑impact strategies and initiatives that drive growth, improve effectiveness, and support the bank’s long‑term vision. Engagements cover new growth pathways, product and industry evaluation, coverage model strengthening, business operating model evolution, and service/process improvement. The position requires strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and the ability to translate complex analysis into clear, actionable recommendations for executive and Board audiences.

Responsibilities

• Lead end‑to‑end strategy development and transformational initiatives across Payments, including scoping, hypothesis development, analysis, and recommendation delivery.
• Partner with business leaders across Payments, Commercial, Consumer and Regional Banking, Corporate Strategy, and shared services to identify, communicate, align on, and advance strategic priorities.
• Manage and lead multiple concurrent engagements with defined timelines, milestones, and deliverables while ensuring quality and strategic rigor.
• Co‑develop executive management presentations that communicate strategy, progress, and outcomes (including Board of Directors presentations, executive summaries, and CEO/C‑Suite briefing materials).
• Synthesize complex data, market research, and business performance into compelling narratives for Board, CEO, and CFO audiences.
• Facilitate alignment across payments functions to ensure strategic initiatives are coordinated and integrated.
• Lead workshops, working sessions, and stakeholder alignment meetings to drive consensus and action planning.
• Conduct market sizing, competitive benchmarking, and best‑in‑class assessments to inform strategic recommendations.
• Leverage expert networks, industry data, benchmarks, and internal analytics to support hypothesis testing and business case development.
• Contribute to the development and tracking of strategic priorities, OPR/OKRs, and the annual strategy planning process.
• Support quarterly and annual business reviews, ensuring strategic direction is well articulated and performance aligns to segment strategic objectives.
• Champion team culture by advocating for high‑value, deep engagement over high‑volume throughput, and by driving programs that strengthen team effectiveness.
• Build strong relationships and collaborate effectively with executives and subject‑matter experts within payments and with counterparts across HBAN.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s/Undergraduate degree in Finance, Economics, Business, Engineering, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience with a successful track record in management consulting, financial modeling and analysis, competitive analysis, and strategic corporate planning.
• 5+ years working in payments.
• 1+ year experience as an initiative manager/project leader.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree.
• 2+ years of direct experience in strategic management consulting or payments and financial services strategy (manager‑level role preferred).
• Executive‑level presence and ability to navigate and work at all levels within an organization.
• Ability to work and manage with ambiguity.
• Strong research skills and desire to expand knowledge.
• Ability to synthesize analysis and research into practical strategic insights and recommendations (critical thinking and assessment).
• Ability to manage individuals and complex engagements in a matrixed organization.
• Prior experience in payments strategy or business transformation consulting.
• Demonstrated ability to work with ambiguity and complex strategic analysis projects.
• Strong analytical and project management skills.
• Team player with strong written and verbal communication skills.

Workplace

Office‑based role with the possibility of a flexible work arrangement. Certain positions outside the branch network may combine in‑office and work‑from‑home schedules, allowing teams to deepen connections while maintaining productivity. Remote roles may also gather in offices for key moments.

Exempt Status

Exempt (not eligible for overtime pay).