Corporate Strategy Director

Land O'Lakes; Arden Hills (MN); Hybrid; USD 164,000 - 245,000; Full time

Job summary

Land O’Lakes is seeking a Corporate Strategy Director at our Arden Hills, MN HQ. This role reports to the Chief Strategy Officer and drives long-term strategy, growth initiatives, and organizational alignment across business units.

The position blends strategic planning, market analysis, and stakeholder engagement to shape the cooperative’s future. The role emphasizes leading cross-functional teams, identifying opportunities, and mitigating strategic risks in a dynamic market.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or related field required. MBA preferred.
• Proven track record of 10+ years in corporate strategy or 5+ years in management consulting.
• Demonstrated people leadership experience leading cross-functional teams.
• Deep understanding of industry dynamics, market trends, and competitive landscapes.
• Strong analytical, strategic thinking, problem-solving and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with ability to influence stakeholders.

Responsibilities

• Lead development and implementation of corporate strategic plans aligned with goals and market trends.
• Partner with Economic Research to develop market analyses and translate findings into recommendations.
• Identify and evaluate new business opportunities and partnerships to drive growth.
• Establish KPIs and monitor performance, providing updates to executives.
• Foster organizational alignment and cascade strategic objectives across units.
• Conduct scenario planning and risk assessments to mitigate disruptions.
• Engage with investors, board members, and regulatory bodies in strategic discussions.

Skills

People leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Strategic thinking

Analytical skills

Communication

Presentation skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Finance/Economics

MBA preferred

Job description

Corporate Strategy Director

The Corporate Strategy team at Land O’Lakes works closely with the top leaders of our Cooperative to help them solve their most critical strategic problems. The team oversees designing strategic initiatives for the whole enterprise and each business unit, as well as analyzing how changing market conditions affect our businesses and what we can do about it. This team also leads the Corporate strategic planning process on behalf of the Executive Leadership Team and the Board of Directors.

Position Overview:

Reporting directly to the Chief Strategy Officer, the Corporate Strategy Director will play a pivotal role in driving the long-term strategic vision and growth trajectory of our organization. This position is instrumental in aligning corporate objectives with market realities, identifying strategic initiatives, and fostering a culture of innovation and agility.

This role is located at our Arden Hills, MN Corporate Headquarters (Tuesday-Thursday in office each week)

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Planning: Lead the development and implementation of corporate strategic plans in alignment with organizational goals, market trends, and competitive dynamics. Continuously assess and refine strategies to ensure responsiveness to evolving business landscapes.
• Market Analysis: Partner with Economic Research team to develop comprehensive market analysis, including competitor benchmarking, industry trends, and customer insights. Translate findings into actionable recommendations to inform strategic decision-making processes.
• Business Development: Identify and evaluate new business opportunities, partnerships, and investment avenues to drive revenue growth and market expansion. Collaborate with cross-functional teams to assess feasibility, mitigate risks, and execute strategic initiatives.
• Performance Monitoring: Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to track the effectiveness of strategic initiatives. Monitor performance against targets and provide regular updates to executive leadership, identifying areas for optimization and course correction.
• Organizational Alignment: Foster a culture of strategic thinking and alignment across departments and business units. Collaborate with senior leadership to cascade strategic objectives throughout the organization and ensure cohesive execution at all levels.
• Risk Management: Anticipate and mitigate strategic risks by conducting scenario planning, stress testing, and risk assessments. Develop contingency plans to address potential disruptions and safeguard organizational resilience.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Build and nurture relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including investors, board members, industry associations, and regulatory bodies. Represent the organization in strategic discussions, conferences, and networking events.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Economics, or related field required. MBA preferred.
• Proven track record of at least 10 years of experience in corporate strategy/related roles or 5+ years of management consulting. Experience in a matrixed organization preferred.
• Demonstrated people leadership experience required, with a track record of leading cross-functional teams and driving results in a dynamic environment.
• Deep understanding of industry dynamics, market trends, and competitive landscapes.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to translate complex data into actionable insights.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to influence and align stakeholders at all levels.

$163,520-$245,280. In most cases, candidates offered employment can expect to be hired at a pay rate near the middle of our salary ranges.

About Land O’Lakes, Inc.

Join us and be part of a Fortune 250, farmer- and member-owned cooperative that is reimagining the business of food. We have been named a Top Workplace by Indeed and LinkedIn, and to the TIME 100 Most Influential Companies list.

We provide a broad portfolio of benefits to keep you and your family at your best. Land O’Lakes is Where Your Future Takes Root.

Land O’Lakes and our global entities support diversity in employment practices.

Neither Land O’Lakes, nor its affiliates or search firms, will ever contact you and ask for confidential information over the phone or in email. If you receive a call or email like this, please do not provide the information being requested.

If you need to submit a reasonable accommodation request to complete the employment application process, please call the HR Solution Center at 844-LOL-HR4U (844-565-4748) M-F 8:00am-4:30pm CT.