Strategy Manager

Location: Shawnee Mission

Position Summary The Strategy Manager serves as a strategic partner to the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) and Chief Operating Officer (COO), supporting the development, coordination, communication, measurement and execution of enterprise strategic priorities. This is a detailed, hands-on individual contributor role responsible for translating strategic objectives into articulate and actionable plans, rigorous analyses, executive-ready materials and measurable results. The position coordinates the annual strategic planning process, quarterly performance reviews, selected strategic initiatives and ad hoc decision support.

Success requires strong business acumen, analytical rigor, financial modeling, exceptional written and presentation development skills, organizational discipline and the ability to influence stakeholders across the organization without direct authority. The ideal candidate is equally comfortable building a financial model, developing a Board-quality presentation, facilitating a working session and working through a complex business issue from initial question to process mapping to practical recommendation, implementation and measurement.

Duties & Responsibilities Strategic Planning & Enterprise Coordination Coordinate and support the annual and multi-year strategic planning process across business lines and support functions, including calendars, templates, inputs, working sessions and final materials

Maintain the enterprise inventory of strategic priorities, initiatives, milestones, measures, risk factors, owners and key dependencies

Partner with business leaders to translate enterprise objectives into actionable plans and measurable goals

Personally develop strategic planning materials, executive presentations, written narratives and progress updates in coordination with the CSO and COO and other business leaders as directed

Track progress against strategic objectives, identify execution risks and elevate issues requiring leadership attention

Research market trends, competitors, industry developments and emerging opportunities relevant to Busey and the banking industry

Coordinate cross-functional working groups and dotted-line project teams while maintaining clear ownership by business and functional leaders

Quarterly Performance Reviews & Executive Reporting Own the hands-on coordination and preparation of Quarterly Performance Reviews across the organization

Build and refine executive reporting materials, dashboards and scorecards that connect strategic planning objectives to timely updates on progress and emerging business issues or risks

Partner with Finance, Enterprise Project Management Office, Corporate Insights and business leaders to validate data, sharpen conclusions and ensure materials are presented in an accurate, concise and decision-useful format

Prepare agendas, briefing materials, discussion questions, meeting notes and executive summaries

Document decisions, commitments and action items; maintain disciplined follow-up between review cycles

Continuously improve review content and process so leadership time is focused on decisions, actions and enterprise implications

Proactively follow up with accountable leaders, surface interdependencies and help remove barriers to execution

Analysis & Decision Support Develop financial models, business cases, scenario analyses and data-driven assessments to support strategic decisions

Analyze and clearly synthesize profitability, growth, productivity and performance successes and/or issues across business lines, regions, markets and strategic initiatives

Participate in the design and lead the execution of key business line incentive plans for the Regional Operating Model, Wealth Management, Busey Payments and Consumer Banking Structure ambiguous business questions, gather relevant facts, test assumptions and develop practical recommendations

Evaluate organic growth opportunities, strategic partnerships, new capabilities and operating model alternatives as assigned

Benchmark business and enterprise performance against peers and relevant market indicators

Translate complex quantitative and qualitative information into concise executive-level insights and recommendations

Perform ad hoc analyses and special projects requested by the Chief Strategy Officer, COO or CEO Executive Partnership & Organizational Influence Operate as a trusted, hands-on extension of the CSO and COO on strategic planning, analysis and execution matters

Build productive dotted-line relationships…