VP of Strategy recruitment

TIAA-CREF is a leading financial services organization with $487 billion in assets under management (as of 3/31/12). The firm is a leader in helping those in the academic, medical, cultural, governmental and research fields plan for retirement, and life's other goals. Over 3.7 million individuals trust us to help support their financial well-being.

Job Description

Reporting to the SVP of Operations and Management Services , this position shapes and operationalizes the long-term strategy for Finance Actuarial. The individual must have the ability to communicate complex issues in a concise and compelling way and build strong cross-functional relationships with Corporate Strategy, Enterprise Integration, Shared Services, and high-level business and support partners.

Develop and manage metrics and analytics package to track progress against goals and operational excellence, including current state, desired state, gap analysis, and efficacy of proposed actions. Establish organizational planning protocol, methodology, and key metrics to measure performance. Prepare key planning documents for senior management.

Guide the organization through the strategic planning process, including: mission and objectives, environmental scanning, strategy formulation, operational and tactical implementation, evaluation, and control.

Instill and strengthen the strategic planning mindset in the organization through training, education, and other interventions as appropriate. Serve as a change agent to facilitate organizational transformation, strengthening relationships, improving action plans, and driving identification and framing of problems across the organization.

Scope and Knowledge

Lead Integrated Planning team with VP/SVP level membership from across Finance Actuarial. Lead the Finance Actuarial strategic planning and analytics function as well as modeling, metrics, and reporting from across Finance Actuarial.

Successfully navigate strategic influences and enterprise initiatives, and integrate enterprise lean, learning, process, and program initiatives into a strategic framework for Finance Actuarial.

Develop and execute 3-5 year multi-dimensional strategic plan that balances the client needs, efficiencies in internal process, development of human capital, and financial success for both the organization and the enterprise.

Create and maintain a framework and environment in which the organization is able to: develop effective strategies; develop a coherent and defensible basis for decision making; improve organizational performance; anticipate future opportunities and issues; and communicate clear objectives and directions for the future.

Use a variety of strategic planning tools, including: SWOT analysis, PEST/PESTLE environmental scans, Five Forces analysis, QSPM. Understand the relationship between strategic planning and performance through operational, financial, structural, and technological flexibility.

Interaction

Report directly to the SVP. Partner closely with others at the VP/SVP level, as well as senior management across several business and support areas. Serve as the strategic consultant to the enterprise CFO. Present to one or more of the governing boards and committees of TIAA-CREF on occasion and in partnership with the enterprise CFO.

Oversight / Freedom to Act

Lead overall strategic planning and analysis activities for Finance Actuarial. Key input into budgeting, staffing, planning, risk management, and spend prioritization. Recommend and implement changes to methods of performing work.

Decisions and execution of this role will have a material impact on the overall success of Finance Actuarial from a financial, regulatory and legal perspective.

May lead a cross functional team based on business needs. Independently manage one or more complex initiatives and/or teams, providing leadership, coaching, and guidance to ensure that goals and objectives are met and team members work towards continuous improvement and development.

Qualifications