BMO

Senior Manager, Strategy & Enablement

Chicago, IL, USA Full time

Application Deadline:

04/09/2026

Address:

320 S Canal Street

Job Family Group:

Strategy & Change

This is a hybrid role

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Investment Prioritization (50%)

  • The Annual Cycle: Lead the end-to-end fiscal planning exercise from ideation through Board cycle. You will partner with business heads across Personal, Business, and Wealth segments to identify, vet, and prioritize strategic investments
  • Strategy and Finance Liaison: Act as the "connective tissue" between Delivery and Corporate / Business Strategy teams, while working lock-step with the Finance teams to ensure that the strategic "dream" is reflected in the financial "reality" 

2. Executive Governance & Portfolio Health (30%)

  • Driving the Narrative: Own the agenda and content for monthly Executive Forums. You aren't just a scribe; you are the curator of the story, updating the executives on portfolio health and "pressure-testing" new requests against our strategic roadmap
  • Cross-Functional Orchestration: Synthesize and consolidate material from Finance and Program Directors into insights that facilitate rapid executive decision-making

3. High-Stakes Ad-Hoc Initiatives (20%)

  • Executive Storytelling: Support the team in developing high-visibility presentations materials for executive audiences (e.g., Board, Executive Leadership Team (ELT), and Steering Committees)
  • Special Projects: Lead and support the end-to-end delivery of high-priority strategic initiatives that are directly aligned with the US Banking strategic agenda

Are you a high-performing consultant looking to transition your strategic toolkit into a high-impact leadership role? We are seeking a Senior Manager of Strategy & Enablement to serve as a primary architect for the US Banking strategic roadmap.

As a key member of the broader Office of the COO, you will bridge the gap between visionary ideation and disciplined execution. You will be in the room with executives, shaping a multi-billion dollar portfolio and ensuring our most critical investments align with our long-term North Star.

  • Fosters a culture aligned to BMO purpose, values and strategy and role models BMO values and behaviours in all that they do.
  • Ensures alignment between values and behaviour that fosters diversity and inclusion.
  • Regularly connects work to BMO’s purpose, sets inspirational goals, defines clear expected outcomes, and ensures clear accountability for follow through. 
  • Builds interdependent teams that collaborate across functional and operating groups to create the highest value for all stakeholders. 
  • Attracts, retains, and enables the career development of top talent.
  • Improves team performance, recognizes and rewards performance, coaches employees, supports their development, and manages poor performance. 
  • Acts as a trusted advisor to assigned business/group.
  • Recommends and implements solutions based on analysis of issues and implications for the business.
  • Identifies emerging issues and trends to inform decision-making.
  • Influences and negotiates to achieve business objectives.
  • Provides strategic input into business decisions as a trusted advisor.
  • Makes recommendations to senior leaders on strategy and new initiatives, based on an in-depth understanding of the business/group.
  • Acts as a subject matter expert on relevant regulations and policies.
  • May network with industry contacts to gain competitive insights and best practices.
  • Supports the execution of strategic initiatives in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
  • Conducts independent analysis and assessment to resolve strategic issues.
  • Develops the business case by identifying needs, analysing potential options and assessing expected return on investment.
  • Recommends business priorities, advises on resource requirements and develops roadmap for strategic execution.
  • Builds effective relationships with internal/external stakeholders.
  • Ensures alignment between stakeholders.
  • Acts as the prime subject matter expert for internal/external stakeholders.
  • Leads implementation of the strategic planning process by partnering with various internal & external stakeholders as required.
  • Defines business requirements for analytics & reporting to ensure data insights inform business decision making.
  • Provides coaching on complex strategic & business issues and facilitates processes to reach effective resolution.
  • Prepares strategic presentations for use in strategic planning processes.
  • Coordinates and organizes meetings for the strategic planning processes.
  • Leads the execution of operational programs; assesses and adapts as needed to ensure quality of execution.
  • Analyzes market trends and global competitors to inform strategic planning for the designated business group.
  • Conducts scenario planning to help inform senior leaders on the range of strategic choices.
  • Breaks down strategic problems, and analyses data and information to provide insights and recommendations.
  • Monitors and tracks performance, and addresses any issues.
  • Operates at a group/enterprise-wide level and serves as a specialist resource to senior leaders and stakeholders.
  • Applies expertise and thinks creatively to address unique or ambiguous situations and to find solutions to problems that can be complex and non-routine.
  • Implements changes in response to shifting trends.
  • Broader work or accountabilities may be assigned as needed.
  • Take measured risks while protecting the bank by applying our Risk Management Framework in the execution of your role, in line with our Risk Culture and within our approved Risk Appetite, making sound and risk informed decisions that align to business strategy, protect assets, and adhere to applicable policy documents (Frameworks, Policies, Standards, Procedures and Supporting documents), laws and regulations.

    Qualifications:

  • 5–7 years of professional experience, with a heavy emphasis on Big Four Management Consulting (Business or Tech Strategy) or internal consulting function within large organization
  • Proven track record of managing complex workstreams and high-level stakeholder relationships
  • Expert verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to distill complex analyses into clear, compelling narratives and deliver executive‑ready materials for senior leadership, boards, and regulators.
  • Expert-level analytical and problem-solving capability, applying structured, hypothesis-driven thinking to deconstruct ambiguous problems, identify root causes, and develop practical, data-backed solutions.
  • Expert collaboration and team leadership skills, with a strong track record of operating effectively across functions, business lines, and geographies to deliver integrated outcomes.
  • Highly effective in ambiguous environments, demonstrating sound judgment, adaptability, and the ability to move initiatives forward despite incomplete information or shifting priorities.
  • Expert in data-driven decision making, leveraging quantitative and qualitative insights to inform strategy, assess trade-offs, and drive measurable business impact.
  • Hybrid Ready: Based in or willing to relocate to Chicago (at one’s own expense), with a commitment to our collaborative in-office culture 3-4 days a week

Salary:

$102,000.00 - $190,000.00

Pay Type:

Salaried

The above represents BMO Financial Group’s pay range and type.

Salaries will vary based on factors such as location, skills, experience, education, and qualifications for the role, and may include a commission structure. Salaries for part-time roles will be pro-rated based on number of hours regularly worked. For commission roles, the salary listed above represents BMO Financial Group’s expected target for the first year in this position.

BMO Financial Group’s total compensation package will vary based on the pay type of the position and may include performance-based incentives, discretionary bonuses, as well as other perks and rewards. BMO also offers health insurance, tuition reimbursement, accident and life insurance, and retirement savings plans. To view more details of our benefits, please visit: https://jobs.bmo.com/global/en/Total-Rewards

About Us

At BMO we are driven by a shared Purpose: Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. It calls on us to create lasting, positive change for our customers, our communities and our people. By working together, innovating and pushing boundaries, we transform lives and businesses, and power economic growth around the world.

As a member of the BMO team you are valued, respected and heard, and you have more ways to grow and make an impact.  We strive to help you make an impact from day one – for yourself and our customers.  We’ll support you with the tools and resources you need to reach new milestones, as you help our customers reach theirs. From in-depth training and coaching, to manager support and network-building opportunities, we’ll help you gain valuable experience, and broaden your skillset.

To find out more visit us at http://jobs.bmo.com/us/en

BMO is proud to be an equal employment opportunity employer. We evaluate applicants without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, transgender status, sexual stereotypes, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or any other legally protected characteristics. We also consider applicants with criminal histories, consistent with applicable federal, state and local law.

BMO is committed to working with and providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation because of a disability for any part of the employment process, please send an e-mail to BMOCareers.Support@bmo.com and let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

Note to Recruiters: BMO does not accept unsolicited resumes from any source other than directly from a candidate. Any unsolicited resumes sent to BMO, directly or indirectly, will be considered BMO property. BMO will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume. A recruiting agency must first have a valid, written and fully executed agency agreement contract for service to submit resumes.