VP, Enterprise Strategy-(Hybrid

Central 1 cooperatively empowers credit unions and other financial institutions to deliver banking choice to Canadians, providing critical services at scale to enable a thriving credit union system. We collaborate with our clients, developing strategies, products, and services to support the financial well‑being of over five million diverse customers across Canada.

Central1 seeks a strategic, enterprise‑mindful leader to serve as VP, Enterprise Strategy. Reporting to the Chief Client, Strategy and People Officer, the role partners with the CEO, executive leadership, senior leaders, and the Board of Directors to shape Central1’s long‑term corporate strategy. The VP will bring market insights, client needs, financial performance, risk considerations, and operational realities to guide strategic choices and align the organization around growth and value.

• Shape and steward Central1’s medium‑to‑long‑term enterprise strategy aligned with purpose, growth ambitions, financial goals, priorities, and risk appetite.
• Lead structured problem‑solving on complex and ambiguous strategic questions, including growth opportunities, strategic trade‑offs, market positioning, and enterprise priorities.
• Partner closely with the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and senior leaders to provide strategic clarity, analytical rigor, synthesis, and constructive challenge to key discussions.
• Monitor and interpret external market trends, client needs, competitive dynamics, regulatory developments, and industry shifts to assess implications for Central
  1.
• Develop clear, high‑impact materials for Executive Leadership Team meetings, Board discussions, governance forums, and strategy off‑sites.
• Help Executive Leadership Team focus on the most important enterprise‑level issues with a long‑term perspective.
• Support strategic decision‑making by framing issues, synthesizing perspectives, tracking commitments, and sustaining momentum on priority initiatives.
• Plan and facilitate executive strategy sessions, leadership forums, and off‑sites focused on enterprise direction, performance, and strategic alignment.
• Provide strategic advisory support to the CEO, CCSPO, and Executive Leadership Team on enterprise priorities, narratives, governance matters, and key engagements.
• Act as a connective hub across business lines and enabling functions, integrating insights from client, finance, risk, technology, operations, people, legal, governance, communications, and marketing teams.
• Collaborate with Finance to link strategy to multi‑year financial planning, investment priorities, resource allocation, portfolio management, and performance metrics.
• Partner with Risk Management to align plans and growth initiatives with risk assessments, scenario planning, and the organization’s risk appetite.
• Work with Communications & Marketing and People & Culture to shape a cohesive organizational narrative that connects strategy to purpose, priorities, and change.
• Partner with Legal and Governance teams to prepare Board and Committee materials translating complex strategic, financial, and operational issues into clear decisions and recommendations.
• Lead and support senior leadership forums, including operational planning, Quarterly Business Reviews, enterprise policy alignment, and strategic execution touchpoints.
• Help enable change adoption by supporting clear communication, leadership alignment, and reinforcement of enterprise priorities across the organization.

• Bachelor’s degree in business or related discipline.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in corporate strategy, management consulting, executive‑level business management, or related strategic leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience leading or shaping a strategy function within a complex, multi‑stakeholder environment.
• Strong knowledge of the financial services industry, ideally including payments and/or treasury functions.
• Exceptional executive communication skills; ability to distill complex analysis into clear, compelling narratives for senior executives, Boards, and key stakeholders.
• Strong business acumen and systems thinking; ability to connect strategy, finance, risk,…