Director, Strategic Initiatives at FINRA in Washington, Washington DC

Job Description:

The Director, EFS Strategic Initiatives role is a critical position supporting the Enterprise and Financial Solutions (EFS) department. This role is responsible for managing a portfolio of large-scale departmental projects and initiatives and is accountable for the tracking and progress reporting to the Chief of Staff and the EFS Executive Leadership Team, leading ultimately to the successful conclusion of the projects and initiatives under their supervision. In addition, the Director assists the Chief of Staff in establishing the overall strategic priorities of the Department.

Essential Job Functions:

• Leads strategic, cross-program projects and initiatives that seek to advance the operations of the Department in support of FINRA’s strategic goals.  This includes: a) providing thought leadership; b) ensuring cross-program efforts are aligned with the strategic vision and broader goals of EFS; and c) holding the Strategic Initiatives team accountable for timely and quality project management work.


• Oversees the execution of projects and initiatives under the Strategic Initiatives portfolio (including scope, resources required, timeliness and project dependencies), ensures progress is being made on the projects and initiatives under the portfolio, and problem solves or escalates issues to the Chief of Staff when necessary.


• Manages a cross-functional team responsible for the day-to-day management of projects and initiatives and serves as an escalation point on projects and initiatives when issues or problems arise.


• Works with the functional leaders in EFS to assign appropriate resources to large-scale departmental projects and initiatives. Liases with department leaders on matters,  projects and initiatives related to EFS goals and objectives.


• Acts as a “behind-the-scenes” utility for the Chief of Staff, performing delegated tasks, and is trusted and able to act and effectively communicate on their behalf in a variety of circumstances.


• Seeks to enhance collaboration by bringing the right stakeholders together to unblock hurdles and drive decision-making to support realizing EFS and FINRA strategic goals. Areas of engagement include strategic partnership, challenging the status quo, and escalating risks and challenges. 


• Partners with key stakeholders outside of EFS, including Technology, People Solutions, etc. to ensure strategic alignment and effective collaboration as One FINRA. Lead a cultural shift from reactionary execution to strategic and visionary planning of key initiatives. Partners with teams across Strategic Operations to deliver on strategic projects, advising and guiding work within team to ensure high quality, on time delivery.


• Leads special projects autonomously and through partnership with cross functional teams. Identifies and evaluates emerging technologies, developing strategic plans, and ensuring successful implementation and integration of technology initiatives across the organization.


• Lead the development of strategies and recommendations to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and mitigate risks. Implement performance metrics and KPIs to measure the effectiveness of operational initiatives.


• Advise and assist with the creation of strategic initiative roadmaps that include key milestones and deliverables.


• Understand, triage, and address a wide range of complex, and often novel matters. Contribute knowledge to background analysis and recommendations for resolution.


• Provide guidance and support to leaders on matters of significance, frequently sensitive or confidential in nature to include:


• Strategic and operational goal development and support.


• Executive and operational metrics/reporting.


• Operational efficiency.


• Digital enablement.


• Non-project/initiative related items as assigned.


• Create communications and materials for executive/senior management and board.

Education/Experience Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Strategic Management or related field and a minimum of 8 years of experience in Project Management, Process Management, Agile Delivery, or Management Consulting or related field, or combination of education and experience required.  Masters Degree or MBA preferred.


• Experience managing diverse operational functions, including staffing, budgeting and executing high-level meetings/events preferred.


• Direct experience working with senior stakeholders across different business functions.


• Direct experience writing communications and presentations for leadership and non-leadership audiences.


• Direct experience in driving organizational change and operational excellence.


• Technical background in IT development or support preferred.

Skills Requirements:

• Advanced knowledge and technical skills related to project management, including ability to manage multiple complex projects concurrently, adapt to changing priorities, and execute against tight deadlines in multiple areas with varying requirements.


• Advanced verbal, written and organizational skills, with an ability to effectively articulate matters (oral, written & presentation) with a high degree of complexity across teams and organizations.


• Advanced critical thinking, research and analytical skills.

Working Conditions:

• Work is normally performed in a hybrid work environment.


• Work environment includes high productivity expectations and tight deadlines.


• Extended hours may be required.


• Some travel may be required.

For work that is performed in CA, CO, HI, MN, VT, IL, Jersey City, NJ, NY, NY, MD, Washington DC, and WA the chart below outlines the proposed salary range for the corresponding location. In addition to location, actual compensation is based on various factors, including but not limited to, the candidate’s skill set, level of experience, education, and internal peer compensation comparisons.

CA: Minimum Salary $146,200, Maximum Salary $296,100

CO/HI/MN/VT*: Minimum Salary $127,300, Maximum Salary $246,600

IL*: Minimum Salary $139,800, Maximum Salary $271,400

Jersey City, NJ/NY, NY: Minimum Salary $152,700, Maximum Salary $296,100

MD/Washington, DC: Minimum Salary $146,200, Maximum Salary $283,800

WA: Minimum Salary $127,300, Maximum Salary $283,800

*Including positions performed outside the state but reporting to an office or manager in that state.

Candidates can expect salary offers that range from the minimum to the mid-point of the salary range. FINRA provides full pay ranges so that the candidate can consider their growth potential while at FINRA.

#LI-Hybrid

To be considered for this position, please submit an application. Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

The information provided above has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work of the position. It is not a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required.

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FINRA strives to make our career site accessible to all users. If you need a disability-related accommodation for completing the application process, please contact FINRA's Employee Relations team at 240.386.4865 or by email at EmployeeRelations@finra.org. Please note that this process is exclusively for inquiries regarding application accommodations. 

Employees may be eligible for a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Non-exempt employees are also eligible for overtime pay in accordance with federal, state, or local law. As part of its dedication to employee wellness, FINRA provides comprehensive health, dental and vision insurance. Additional insurance includes basic life, accidental death and dismemberment, supplemental life, spouse/domestic partner and dependent life, and spouse/domestic partner and dependent accidental death and dismemberment, short- and long-term disability, long-term care, business travel accident, disability and legal. FINRA offers immediate participation and vesting in a 401(k) plan with company match and eligibility for participation in an additional FINRA-funded retirement contribution, tuition reimbursement, commuter benefits, and other benefits that support employee wellness, such as adoption assistance, backup family care, surrogacy benefits, employee assistance, and wellness programs.

Time Off and Paid Leave*

FINRA encourages its employees to focus on their health and wellness in many ways, including through a generous time-off program of 15 days of paid time off, 5 personal days and 9 sick days, unless otherwise required by law (all pro-rated in the first year). Additionally, we are proud to support our communities by providing two volunteer service days (based on full-time schedule). Other paid leave includes military leave, jury duty leave, bereavement leave, voting and election official leave for federal, state or local primary and general elections, care of a family member leave (available after 90 days of employment); and childbirth and parental leave (available after 90 days of employment). Full-time employees receive nine paid holidays.

*Based on full-time schedule

Important Information

FINRA’s Code of Conduct imposes restrictions on employees’ investments and requires financial disclosures that are uniquely related to our role as a securities regulator. FINRA employees are required to disclose to FINRA all brokerage accounts that they maintain, and those in which they control trading or have a financial interest (including any trust account of which they are a trustee or beneficiary and all accounts of a spouse, domestic partner or minor child who lives with the employee) and to authorize their broker-dealers to provide FINRA with duplicate statements for all of those accounts. All of those accounts are subject to the Code’s investment and securities account restrictions, and new employees must comply with those investment restrictions—including disposing of any security issued by a company on FINRA’s Prohibited Company List or obtaining a written waiver from their Executive Vice President—by the date they begin employment with FINRA. Employees may only maintain securities accounts that must be disclosed to FINRA at one or more securities firms that provide an electronic feed (e-feed) of data to FINRA, and must move securities accounts from other securities firms to a firm that provides an e-feed within three months of beginning employment.

You can read more about these restrictions here.

As standard practice, employees must also execute FINRA’s Employee Confidentiality and Invention Assignment Agreement without qualification or modification and comply with the company’s policy on nepotism.

Search Firm Representatives

Please be advised that FINRA is not seeking assistance or accepting unsolicited resumes from search firms for this employment opportunity. Regardless of past practice, a valid written agreement and task order must be in place before any resumes are submitted to FINRA. All resumes submitted by search firms to any employee at FINRA without a valid written agreement and task order in place will be deemed the sole property of FINRA and no fee will be paid in the event that person is hired by FINRA.

FINRA is an Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, citizenship status, color, disability, marital status, national origin, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status or any other classification protected by federal state or local laws as appropriate, or upon the protected status of the person’s relatives, friends or associates.

FINRA abides by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-741.5(a). This regulation prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of disability, and requires affirmative action by covered prime contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities.

FINRA abides by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-300.5(a). This regulation prohibits discrimination against qualified protected veterans, and requires affirmative action by covered prime contractors and subcontractors to employ and advance in employment qualified protected veterans.

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