Sr. Director, Banking Strategic Planning & Alignment

At FNBO, our employees are the heart of our story—and we’re committed to their success! Please see below the details of this career opportunity and how it fits into our organization’s success.

Summary of the Job:

 

The Sr. Director, Strategic Planning & Alignment is a key member of the Banking Division’s leadership team, reporting directly to the Executive Vice President of Banking. Serving as the center point for consistency across the Banking Division ecosystem, this role works collaboratively with the leadership team and business line leaders to shape the long-term strategy while also designing and supporting the tactical plans required to achieve strategic objectives. This leader ensures the integration of financial, strategic, technology, and talent priorities into a cohesive multi-year roadmap that supports the organization’s nine-state Midwestern footprint.
In addition to planning expertise, the Sr. Director, Strategic Planning & Alignment provides informed business judgment, research-driven insights, and credible challenge—pushing the Banking Leadership Team to drive growth, innovation, and competitive advantage throughout the business. By dedicating capacity, leadership and expertise to our strategic planning process, this role ensures we sustain consistent forward momentum.

About This Role:

 

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Lead and advance the development and execution of the Banking Division’s multi-year strategic plan, ensuring alignment with organizational vision, standards, and values, while serving as the integration point for strategic, financial, technology, and talent priorities across the Banking Division.
• Identify and assess strategic growth opportunities including market expansions, acquisitions, partnerships, and new business ventures in alignment with the strategic plan.
• Provide thought leadership and strategic insights to inform executive decision-making.
• Partner across, up, and down the organization to knit together all components of the strategy, ensuring alignment, clarity, and sustained forward momentum.
• Work collaboratively with business line leaders to translate broad strategic objectives into actionable implementation plans with clear metrics and timelines.

Strategic Communications & Alignment

• Develop and implement communication strategies to effectively articulate the Banking Division’s strategic direction to internal and external stakeholders, partnering with the Communications Team as appropriate.
• Ensure cross-functional alignment and commitment to strategic initiatives.
• Establish and lead a community of practice within Banking for strategic planning roles embedded in business lines, ensuring alignment, context, and shared standards enterprise-wide.
• Lead quarterly strategy reviews with the Banking Leadership Team.

Strategic Business Perspective and Enablement

• Market Competition: Synthesize industry market trends and competitive intelligence across Banking Leaders to inform strategic decision-making and position FNBO for sustained market leadership.
• Innovation: Ensure innovation is embedded within business planning processes, connecting emerging opportunities to FNBO's strategic priorities and customer needs.
• M&A and Strategic Partnerships: Contribute strategic insights on potential M&A opportunities and strategic partnerships while collaborating with the FNNI Finance team during due diligence to ensure alignment between acquisition targets and the Banking Division’s multi-year business roadmap. Monitor post-merger integration performance against established objectives.

The Ideal Candidate for This Role:

 

Qualifications*

Experience & Education

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in financial services, with at least 7 years in strategy, corporate development, or related roles.
• MBA or advanced degree in Finance, Economics, Strategy, or related field.
• Proven success in developing and executing multi-year strategic plans for complex financial institutions.
• Experience leading organizations through significant transformation and change.

Knowledge & Skills

• Deep understanding of banking, regulatory frameworks, and competitive landscape.
• Strong analytical capabilities and financial acumen.
• Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Proven ability to influence and build consensus across diverse stakeholder groups.

Leadership Qualities

• Visionary thinking balanced with practic