VP Strategy

CPI Card Group® is a payment technology company and leading provider of credit, debit and prepaid solutions delivered physically, digitally and on-demand. CPI helps customers foster connections and build their brands through innovative and reliable solutions, including financial payment cards, personalization and fulfillment, and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) instant issuance.

About the role

The Vice President, Strategy leads the development and execution of the company's enterprise strategy, identifies and evaluates growth and diversification opportunities, and drives strategic initiatives that accelerate business performance and shareholder value. This role serves as a trusted advisor to the Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors on corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, market expansion, competitive positioning, and long-term value creation. The VP Strategy combines strategic vision with analytical rigor and execution excellence, leveraging experience in management consulting, banking, corporate strategy, strategic finance, business development, and/or M&A to evaluate complex business opportunities and drive transformational outcomes.

Responsibilities

• Lead the development, refinement, and execution of the company's short- and long-term strategic plans.
• Partner with executive leadership to identify growth opportunities, emerging risks, and strategic priorities.
• Facilitate annual and multi-year strategic planning processes across business functions.
• Develop recommendations and business cases that support enterprise growth and profitability objectives.
• Lead high-impact enterprise initiatives that require cross-functional alignment and executive sponsorship.
• Establish governance and performance measures for key strategic programs.
• Ensure strategic priorities and initiatives are driven by strong evaluation of strategic fit, value proposition, and opportunity size.
• Translate strategic priorities into measurable execution plans and outcomes.
• Develop, maintain, and monitor performance against a long-range financial model based on strategic planning.
• Create models to support strategic initiatives and inform decision-making.
• Align strategic and operating plan targets with FP&A and prioritize investments to highest value strategic initiatives.
• Serve as a key strategic advisor to the CEO, CFO, and Executive Leadership Team.
• Develop executive-level presentations, recommendations, and strategic analyses for leadership and Board discussions.
• Translate complex business issues into actionable strategic recommendations.
• Support Board strategy sessions, acquisition reviews, and long-range planning activities.
• Develop a robust market intelligence capability to assess industry trends, customer needs, and competitor activities.
• Evaluate new markets, products, technologies, and business models.
• Monitor macroeconomic, regulatory, and industry developments that could impact company performance.
• Measure success of CPI strategies through market size assessments and market share estimates.
• Ensure strategic fit in mergers and acquisitions by working with corporate development.
• Lead financial evaluations of potential targets including valuation, financial modeling, synergy assessment, and risk analysis.
• Conduct financial due diligence, integration planning, and post-transaction value realization.
• Monitor acquisition performance and ensure expected strategic, financial, and operational outcomes are achieved.
• Build and lead a high-performing strategy function.
• Foster analytical, data-driven decision-making throughout the organization.
• Develop strong partnerships across business, corporate development, finance, operations, technology, legal, and human resources functions.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or related field.
• Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) or related advanced degree preferred.
• 12+ years of progressive experience in corporate strategy, management consulting, investment banking, corporate development, private equity, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success evaluating and executing mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, and other growth transactions.
• Experience presenting recommendations to executive leadership and Boards of Directors.

Qualifications

• Experience with a leading management consulting firm (e.g., McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Deloitte, Accenture Strategy, Oliver Wyman, or similar).
• Experience within a publicly traded company.
• Exposure to manufacturing, financial services, banking, technology, or business services industries.
• Exceptional strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Strong financial modeling, valuation, and analytical capabilities.
• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear recommendations.
• Excellent executive presence and communication skills.
• Proven leadership and stakeholder-management abilities.
• Strong project management and execution discipline.
• Skilled at influencing without direct authority across functions and organizational levels.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving business environment.
• High level of integrity, judgment, and discretion.

Physical Demands

• Primarily operates in a professional office environment.
• Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer, including extensive use of a keyboard, mouse, and telephone.
• Frequent viewing of computer monitors and electronic devices requiring close visual attention.
• Regular verbal communication and active listening during in-person, virtual, and telephone meetings.
• Ability to occasionally stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout office and meeting spaces.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull materials weighing up to 15 pounds, such as laptops, presentation materials, luggage, or office supplies.
• Ability to travel periodically by automobile and commercial airline, including navigating airports, train stations, hotels, and customer or company locations.
• Ability to transport and manage personal luggage, computer equipment, and work-related materials during business travel.
• Ability to work in a variety of environments, including offices, conference facilities, hotels, airports, and manufacturing or operational locations.
• May require occasional early morning, evening, or overnight travel based on business needs.

Benefits

• Competitive pay rates and an inclusive, empowering, and rewarding culture.
• Medical, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability, Life Insurance, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance.
• FSA, HSA, Vacation and Holiday Pay, Tuition Reimbursement.
• 401(k) with a competitive company match percentage.