Strategic Initiatives Director

We are the leading provider of professional services to the middle market globally, our purpose is to instill confidence in a world of change, empowering our clients and people to realize their full potential. Our exceptional people are the key to our unrivaled, inclusive culture and talent experience and our ability to be compelling to our clients. You’ll find an environment that inspires and empowers you to thrive both personally and professionally. There’s no one like you and that’s why there’s nowhere like RSM.

The Director – Strategic Initiatives is a high-impact, execution-focused role supporting the Country Leader in driving India’s enterprise transformation agenda. The role serves as the nerve center for all strategic, cross-functional, and change initiatives, ensuring that priorities are translated into action, risks are flagged early, and outcomes are delivered consistently and quickly.

The ideal candidate combines consulting-style thinking with strong program management discipline and the ability to operate in fast-changing environments. This role requires exceptional ownership, structured problem-solving, and the maturity to work directly with senior leadership across India, the US, and other member firms.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategy Execution & Transformation Management

• Translate the Country Leader’s strategic agenda into actionable workstreams with clear outcomes, milestones, and KPIs.
• Drive end-to-end execution of transformation initiatives across People, Operations, Finance, Risk, Technology, and Client domains.
• Track progress on the 30-60-90-day plan, annual priorities, and multi-year transformation roadmap.
• Identify operational gaps, design interventions, and ensure timely escalation/decision-making.
• Coordinate with LoB, Functional, and Location Leaders to maintain alignment and momentum.

2. Program Governance & Operating Rhythm

• Develop and maintain governance structures: Steering Committees, PMO dashboards, executive reviews, and progress scorecards.
• Establish the operating cadence for the Country Leader's weekly, monthly, and quarterly business reviews.
• Prepare leadership briefings, insights, talking points, and recommendation papers.
• Manage cross-functional dependencies and ensure accountability of initiative owners.

3. Business Performance & Analytics

• Build and analyze KPIs across revenue, utilization, hiring velocity, talent health, risk/compliance, NPS, brand initiatives, and operational excellence metrics.
• Provide data-driven insights and decision support to the Country Leader.
• Partner with HR, Finance, and Operations teams to integrate performance dashboards into the leadership operating rhythm.

4. Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration

• Serve as a key liaison between India leadership, LoB Heads, US practice leaders, and global teams.
• Drive structured communication across the organization to ensure clarity, alignment, and transparency.
• Support leadership in preparing for global presentations, townhalls, client engagements, and board updates.

5. Special Projects & Change Management

• Lead high-priority projects such as operating model redesign, digital/AI adoption, workforce transformation, talent mobility, and compliance uplift.
• Conduct research, benchmarking, and opportunity sizing for strategic decisions.
• Create change management plans and communication strategies to help teams adopt new ways of working.

6. Executive Office Support

• Function as an extension of the Country Leader to ensure focus on the most critical priorities.
• Filter, prioritize, and sequence issues requiring Country Leader attention.
• Coordinate briefing materials, pre-reads, and follow-up actions for all leadership interactions.
• Maintain confidentiality and manage sensitive strategic information with utmost discretion.

7. Insights, Reporting & Data Infrastructure

• Build operating reports, analytic models, and predictive insights (talent risks, operational bottlenecks, productivity signals).
• Partner with Tech/Data teams to enhance automation, AI workflows, and visualization layers for leadership.
• Standardize reporting formats across India, LoBs, and global teams for consistency and comparability.

8. Risk & Compliance Integration

• Track and coordinate all risk, quality, and compliance actions across LoBs and Functions.
• Engage with Finance, Risk, and Legal teams to ensure readiness for internal and external audits.
• Build a compliance scorecard and escalate red flags proactively to the Country Leader.

• 9. People, Culture & Talent Initiatives
• Partner with HR on workforce planning, leadership development, and engagement programs.
• Track talent mobility, attrition patterns, and succession pipelines.
• Support culture-building initiatives aligned with RSM values.

10. Digital, AI & Process Innovation

• Support identification and adoption of AI-driven workflow enhancements.
• Pilot automation initiatives and measure business impact.
• Build an experimentation framework to test, scale, or sunset innovation ideas quickly.

Qualifications & Experience

• 18-20+ years experience
• Experience in management consulting, strategy, transformation, or PMO roles (Big Four experience preferred).
• Strong understanding of professional services, audit/tax/consulting delivery models, and shared services/GCC environments.
• Proven ability to manage cross-functional initiatives at scale.
• Excellent analytical and critical thinking skills; proficiency with Excel, PowerPoint, and data visualization tools.
• Strong executive presence and communication skills; ability to collaborate with senior stakeholders.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, demonstrate judgment, and operate with high integrity.
• MBA or equivalent degree preferred.

Key Competencies

• Ownership & Accountability – Thinks like an operator, not a coordinator.
• Strategic Thinking – Connects business priorities with operational execution.
• Structured Problem Solving – Uses frameworks, data, and insight to drive clarity.
• Influence Without Authority – Works across levels and functions to drive outcomes.
• Operational Excellence – Implements systems, processes, and discipline.
• Speed & Agility – Executes quickly, adapts to changing priorities.
• Cultural Stewards – Embodies RSM values and strengthens team cohesion.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Highly structured and intellectually curious.
• Thrives in ambiguity; can create clarity from noise.
• Strong consulting mindset with an operator execution style.
• High emotional intelligence and ability to influence without authority.

Expectations

• Ability to manage multiple parallel priorities with tight turnaround times.
• Comfortable operating in a hybrid environment with frequent interactions with global teams.
• Willingness to work extended hours during critical transformation phases.

At RSM, we offer a competitive benefits and compensation package for all our people. We offer flexibility in your schedule, empowering you to balance life’s demands, while also maintaining your ability to serve clients. Learn more about our total rewards at https://rsmus.com/careers/india.html.  

RSM does not tolerate discrimination and/or harassment based on race; colour; creed; sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances; sex (including pregnancy or disabilities related to nursing); gender (including gender identity and/or gender expression); sexual orientation; HIV Status; national origin; ancestry; familial or marital status; age; physical or mental disability; citizenship; political affiliation; medical condition (including family and medical leave); domestic violence victim status; past, current or prospective service in the Indian Armed Forces; Indian Armed Forces Veterans, and Indian Armed Forces Personnel status; pre-disposing genetic characteristics or any other characteristic protected under applicable provincial employment legislation.  

Accommodation for applicants with disabilities is available upon request in connection with the recruitment process and/or employment/partnership. RSM is committed to providing equal opportunity and reasonable accommodation for people with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete an application, interview, or otherwise participate in the recruiting process, please send us an email at careers@rsmus.com.