Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives

San Francisco Federal Credit Union; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance plans

Generous PTO

401(k) Plan

Profit sharing

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

A regional financial institution in San Francisco is seeking a Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives to drive strategic priorities and lead enterprise-wide projects. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of experience in strategic planning, exceptional leadership, and analytical skills. This role involves working closely with executive leadership and requires a strong background in the financial services industry. The position offers a comprehensive compensation package, including health benefits and bonuses.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of progressive experience in strategic planning or project management.
• Experience in the financial services or credit union industry strongly preferred.
• Exceptional analytical and strategic thinking skills.

Responsibilities

• Define and implement strategic initiatives with executive leadership.
• Lead enterprise-level initiatives ensuring accountability across teams.
• Conduct market research to inform strategic decisions.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Agile methodologies

MS Project

Job description

Overview

Senior Director, Stategic Initiatives for the Golden Gate Branch in San Francisco. This role is a pivotal leadership position responsible for advancing the Credit Union’s strategic priorities, driving enterprise-wide projects, and ensuring measurable impact across the organization. The role serves as a trusted advisor to the CEO and senior leadership, translating vision into actionable initiatives that improve member experiences, enhance operational efficiency, and strengthen community engagement. The Director champions cross-functional collaboration, provides analytical insights to inform decision-making, and ensures the Credit Union remains agile in a rapidly evolving financial services landscape.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the CEO, Chief of Staff, SVP Head of Community Affairs and Government Affairs, executive leadership, and department heads to define, prioritize, and implement high-impact strategic initiatives.
• Develop and maintain frameworks, dashboards, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to track progress and demonstrate measurable outcomes.
• Ensure alignment of all strategic initiatives with the Credit Union’s mission, vision, and long-term goals, integrating them into operational plans and annual budgets.
• Identify opportunities to optimize processes, improve efficiencies, and mitigate risks associated with strategic initiatives.

Program & Project Leadership

• Lead enterprise-level initiatives from conception through execution, ensuring clear goals, scope, timelines, and accountability across cross-functional teams.
• Implement project management best practices, including risk management, issue resolution, and resource allocation, to ensure timely delivery.
• Act as a bridge between departments, promoting collaboration and alignment on strategic priorities.
• Monitor and evaluate initiative performance, adjusting strategies as needed to achieve desired outcomes.

Research, Analysis & Innovation

• Conduct comprehensive market research, competitor benchmarking, and member insights analysis to inform strategic decisions.
• Monitor trends in financial services, regulatory changes, technology adoption, and emerging business opportunities to recommend innovative solutions.
• Translate data and analytics into actionable recommendations that drive growth, enhance member experiences, and maintain competitive advantage.

Stakeholder Engagement & Communication

• Cultivate strong relationships with internal teams, executive leadership, and external partners to advance strategic objectives.
• Prepare executive-level presentations, reports, and updates for the Board of Directors, senior leadership, and other stakeholders.
• Serve as a change champion, fostering organizational adoption of new processes, tools, and strategic initiatives.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Mentor, coach, and guide project teams to build capability, foster innovation, and promote accountability.
• Identify gaps in organizational capacity and develop training, tools, and processes to strengthen strategic execution.
• Promote a culture of collaboration, innovation, and results-driven performance across the Credit Union.

Who Are You?

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Finance, Strategy, or related field; Master’s degree preferred.

• 7+ years of progressive experience in strategic planning, enterprise project management, business development, or consulting.
• Experience in the financial services or credit union industry strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide projects and cross-functional teams.
• Exceptional analytical, problem-solving, and strategic thinking skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including experience presenting to executives and boards.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Proficiency in project management methodologies and tools (e.g., Agile, Lean, MS Project, or similar).

Core Competencies

• Strategic & Innovative Thinking
• Business & Financial Acumen
• Collaboration & Influence
• Project & Change Management
• Member-Centric Focus
• Results Orientation

Why You’ll Love It Here

You’ll work alongside a passionate team in a mission-driven organization, gain exposure to executive decision-making, and grow your skills across a broad range of functions. No two days will be the same—and that’s exactly how you like it.

The compensation package includes an excellent benefits program including health insurance plans, generous PTO, 401(k) Plan, profit sharing, competitive base, bi-annual bonuses, as well as tuition reimbursement.

SFFedCU is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. In accordance with federal and state laws, SFFedCU does not discriminate in employment because of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical and mental disability, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding or related condition, ancestry, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history cancer or genetic characteristics), veteran or military status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or gender expression, HIV/AIDS status, genetic information or any other characteristic protected by law.

Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.