Occupation intelligence

strategic planning manager

Snapshot

Shape the future of organizations as a Strategic Planning Manager. This role involves crafting comprehensive strategies, aligning departments, and ensuring successful implementation, making it a vital position for companies seeking growth and adaptability.

Summary

As a Strategic Planning Manager, you’ll be at the forefront of organizational direction. Working collaboratively with other managers, you develop the overarching strategic plans for the entire company. Your role extends beyond creation; you translate these high-level plans into actionable, detailed strategies for individual departments and branches, ensuring consistency and effective execution across the organization. This is a professional and expert-level role requiring strong analytical and communication skills.

Key responsibilities
  • • Develop and refine strategic plans in collaboration with management teams.
  • • Translate overarching company strategy into departmental and branch-specific plans.
  • • Monitor and evaluate plan implementation, identifying and addressing any inconsistencies or roadblocks.

Shape the future of organizations as a Strategic Planning Manager. This role involves crafting comprehensive strategies, aligning departments, and ensuring successful implementation, making it a vital position for companies seeking growth and adaptability.

Management & Entrepreneurship Master's or equivalent level
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Day in the life

What people in this role usually do

Management & Entrepreneurship

Day in the life

A typical day as a strategic planning manager

09
09:00 · Morning
develop business plans
Plan, write and collaborate in the implement business plans. Include and foresee in the business plan the market strategy, the competitive analysis of the company, the design and the development of the plan, the operations and the management aspects and the financial forecast of the business plan.
10
10:30 · Mid-morning
implement operational business plans
Implement the strategic business and operational plan for an organisation by engaging and delegating to others, monitoring progress and making adjustments along the way. Evaluate the extent to which strategic objectives have been achieved, learn lessons, celebrate success and recognise people’s contributions.
12
12:00 · Midday
advise on communication strategies
Provide companies and organisations with consulting services concerning their internal and external communication plans and their representation, including their presence online. Recommend improvements in communication and make sure that important information reaches all employees and that their questions are answered.
14
14:00 · Afternoon
advise on efficiency improvements
Analyse information and details of processes and products in order to advise on possible efficiency improvements that could be implemented and would signify a better use of resources.
15
15:30 · Late afternoon
apply strategic thinking
Apply generation and effective application of business insights and possible opportunities, in order to achieve competitive business advantage on a long-term basis.
17
17:00 · Wrap-up
define organisational standards
Write, implement and foster the internal standards of the company as part of the business plans for the operations and levels of performance that the company intends to achieve.

Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.

Software & Technologies & Knowledge areas
Software & Technologies
3M Post-it AppAdobe AcrobatAdobe InDesignAdobe PhotoshopADP Workforce NowAirtableApple KeynoteApple macOSAsanaAtlassian BambooAtlassian ConfluenceAtlassian JIRAAutodesk AutoCAD Civil 3DBentley MicroStationBlackboard softwareBlinkCisco WebexDropboxEkoEvernote
Knowledge areas
  • company policies

    The set of rules that govern the activity of a company.

  • corporate social responsibility

    The handling or managing of business processes in a responsible and ethical manner considering the economic responsibility towards shareholders as equally important as the responsibility towards environmental and social stakeholders.

  • corporate sustainability

    A business practice to conduct long-term sustainable growth by seeking environmental, economic, and social strategies as its three main pillars.

  • organisational policies

    The policies to achieve set of goals and targets regarding the development and maintenance of an organisation.

  • accounting department processes

    The different processes, duties, jargon, role in an organisation, and other specificities of the accounting department within an organisation such as bookkeeping, invoices, recording, and taxing.

  • business process modelling

    The tools, methods and notations such as Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) and Business Process Execution Language (BPEL), used to describe and analyse the characteristics of a business process and model its further development.

Cross-sector skills
  • business analysis
  • hoshin kanri strategic planning
  • management department processes
Essential skills
developing operational policies and procedures
  • integrate strategic foundation in daily performance

    Reflect on the strategic foundation of companies, meaning their mission, vision, and values in order to integrate this foundation in the performance of the job position.

  • develop organisational policies

    Develop and supervise the implementation of policies aimed at documenting and detailing the procedures for the operations of the organisation in the lights of its strategic planning.

  • define organisational standards

    Write, implement and foster the internal standards of the company as part of the business plans for the operations and levels of performance that the company intends to achieve.

implementing new procedures or processes
  • implement operational business plans

    Implement the strategic business and operational plan for an organisation by engaging and delegating to others, monitoring progress and making adjustments along the way. Evaluate the extent to which strategic objectives have been achieved, learn lessons, celebrate success and recognise people’s contributions.

  • implement strategic management

    Implement a strategy for the development and transformation of the company. Strategic management involves the formulation and implementation of the major objectives and initiatives of a company by senior management on behalf of the owners, based on consideration of available resources and an assessment of the internal and external environments in which the organisation operates.

  • implement strategic planning

    Take action on the goals and procedures defined at a strategic level in order to mobilise resources and pursue the established strategies.

developing objectives and strategies
  • imprint visionary aspirations into the business management

    Integrate ambition and visionary plans in both the planning and the day-to-day operations in order to set goals for the company to strive for.

  • apply strategic thinking

    Apply generation and effective application of business insights and possible opportunities, in order to achieve competitive business advantage on a long-term basis.

collaborating and liaising
  • impart business plans to collaborators

    Diffuse, present, and communicate business plans and strategies to managers, employees making sure that objectives, actions, and important messages are properly conveyed.

  • liaise with managers

    Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.

developing financial, business or marketing plans
  • develop company strategies

    Envision, plan, and develop strategies for companies and organisations aimed at achieving different purposes such as establishing new markets, refurbishing the equipment and machinery of a company, implementing pricing strategies, etc.

  • develop business plans

    Plan, write and collaborate in the implement business plans. Include and foresee in the business plan the market strategy, the competitive analysis of the company, the design and the development of the plan, the operations and the management aspects and the financial forecast of the business plan.

leading and motivating
  • lead managers of company departments

    Collaborate and guide the managers of the departments of a company in terms of the objectives of the company, the actions, and expectations required from their managerial scope.

communicating with colleagues and clients
  • use different communication channels

    Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.

advising and consulting
  • advise on communication strategies

    Provide companies and organisations with consulting services concerning their internal and external communication plans and their representation, including their presence online. Recommend improvements in communication and make sure that important information reaches all employees and that their questions are answered.

Career progression

Growth Pathways & Similar Roles

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Career landscape

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Growth paths

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Common questions

Frequently asked questions

What’s the difference between a strategic planner and a strategic planning manager?
While both roles deal with strategy, a Strategic Planning Manager typically has a broader scope. They not only develop the plans but also oversee their implementation and ensure alignment across different departments, often leading a team or coordinating with various managers.
What kind of background is typically helpful for this role?
A background in business administration, economics, or a related field is common. Experience in project management, data analysis, and strong communication skills are highly valuable. Experience within a specific industry can also be beneficial.
How does this role contribute to a company's success?
Strategic Planning Managers provide the roadmap for a company’s future. By ensuring clear goals, aligned departments, and effective implementation, they contribute directly to improved performance, market competitiveness, and sustainable growth.