Strategic Planning Manager

Role Purpose
The Strategic Planning Manager is a key hire as Cosmo strengthens its strategy function. Reporting to the Strategic Planning Director, the role holder provides dedicated analytical and execution support for Cosmo’s strategic planning and transformation agenda, supporting senior management to advance COSMO Group towards achievement of the CEO and COSMO Board’s mandates and strategic priorities.

The manager works as a trusted right hand to the Director to manage and deliver the engagement cadence with senior management and Board of Directors(~8 BOD annual meetings, ~10 SRLT monthly workshops, annual strategic planning exercise, weekly SRLT meetings) successfully. Additionally, to conduct business growth and other strategic studies, analyse industry developments impacting COSMO, and manage the steady progress of strategic initiatives towards agreed targets and timelines. This is a high-visibility role suited to an analytically strong professional who can operate with autonomy.

Key Responsibilities
Performs the following under Strategic Planning Director’s guidance & deliver together:

A. Strategic Planning Cycle

• Conduct analyses on near and midterm industry developments (customers, competitors, macro-economic/geopolitical etc) to identify market shifts, opportunities & emerging risks impacting COSMO

• Assess internal capability strengths and gaps to further build COSMO’s competitive advantages

• Drive strategic planning annual group wide exercise and periodic reviews, workshops, discussion materials, templates and inputs from business and support units

• Develop submissions into a coherent corporate strategy with prioritized strategic themes and clear ownership of strategic initiatives, success metrics and timelines

B. SRLT & BOD Engagement Cadence

• Drive agendas & materials preparation of weekly & monthly SRLT meetings to ensure critical issues, progress of strategic initiatives and BOD mandates / agenda topics etc are discussed for cross-functional alignment, resolutions and advancing to schedules

• Co-ordinate inputs from & perform analyses with internal COSMO teams and external partners; prepare high quality Board meeting presentation / management discussion and analysis materials

• Ensure clear & compelling narratives to BOD to foster SRLT management confidence;
and co-ordinated alignment between SRLT on related issues, priorities &initiatives

C. Transformation Portfolio

• Track & report COSMO Group’s strategic &transformation initiatives (strategy house, sales plans etc) against agreed targets, timelines & success metrics

• Escalate risks, advocate for resolutions & suggest corrective actions, align between SLRT & team leads where necessary

D. Strategic Studies

• Conduct market research, commercial &strategic analyses, as well as financial evaluations on new business plans &other reviews, as assigned by the CEO

• Develop analytical frameworks, financial models, strategic options & manage timelines, in partnership with relevant teams& external stakeholders