Payments Strategy and Initiative Manager at Huntington Bank

Description Job Description Summary The Payments Strategy and Initiative Manager is a key member of the Enterprise Payments Strategy, Sales Enablement & Execution team responsible for leading strategic engagements across the Payments division and in collaboration with other Huntington divisions. This individual will partner directly with Payments senior executives to research, evaluate, design, recommend and communicate high impact strategies and corresponding initiatives that drive growth, improve effectiveness, and support the bank's long-term vision.   Engagements span a wide range of strategic priorities, including identifying new growth pathways, evaluating new products and industries, strengthening the coverage model, evolving the business operating model, and improving services and processes. The role requires a blend of strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and the ability to translate complex analysis into clear, actionable recommendations for executive and Board level audiences.  Job Description Summary: The Payments Strategy and Initiative Manager is a key member of the Enterprise Payments Strategy, Sales Enablement & Execution team responsible for leading strategic engagements across the Payments division and in collaboration with other Huntington divisions. This individual will partner directly with Payments senior executives to research, evaluate, design, recommend and communicate high impact strategies and corresponding initiatives that drive growth, improve effectiveness, and support the bank's long-term vision.   Engagements span a wide range of strategic priorities, including identifying new growth pathways, evaluating new products and industries, strengthening the coverage model, evolving the business operating model, and improving services and processes. The role requires a blend of strategic thinking, stakeholder management, and the ability to translate complex analysis into clear, actionable recommendations for executive and Board level audiences.  Duties and Responsibilities: Strategic Engagement Leadership   Lead end-to-end strategy development and/or transformational initiatives across Payments, including scoping, hypothesis development, analysis, and recommendation delivery  Partner with business leaders across Payments, Commercial, Consumer and Regional Banking, Corporate Strategy and shared services functions to identify, communicate, align on and advance strategic priorities  Manage and lead multiple concurrent engagements with defined timelines, milestones, and deliverables while ensuring quality and strategic rigor  Executive Materials   Co-develop executive management presentations that communicate strategy, progress, and outcomes (inc., Board of Directors presentations, executive summaries, and CEO / C-Suite briefing materials)   Synthesize complex data, market research, and business performance into compelling narratives for the Board, CEO, and CFO audiences  Cross Functional Coordination   Facilitate alignment across payments functions to ensure strategic initiatives are coordinated and integrated  Lead workshops, working sessions, and stakeholder alignment meetings to drive consensus and action planning  Market Research and Competitive Analysis   Conduct market sizing, competitive benchmarking, and best in class assessments to inform strategic recommendations Leverage expert networks, industry data and benchmarks, and internal data and analytics to support hypothesis testing and business case development  Strategic Planning and OKR Management   Contribute to the development and tracking of strategic priorities, OPR/OKRs, and the annual strategy planning process  Support Quarterly and Annual business reviews, ensuring strategic direction is well articulated and performance aligns to segment strategic objectives  Team Culture   Champion team culture by advocating for high value, deep engagement over high volume throughput, and by driving programs in a way that strengthens team effectiveness  Build strong relationships and collaborate effectively with executives and subject matter experts within payments and with counterparts across HBAN Basic Qualifications: Bachelor’s/Undergraduate degree in Finance, Economics, Business, Engineering, or a related field 5+ years of experience including a successful track record of management consulting, financial modeling and analysis, competitive analysis, and strategic corporate planning. 5+ years working in payments 1+ years experience as an initiative manager/project leader Preferred Qualifications: Master’s degree 2+ years of direct experience in strategic management consulting or payments and financial services strategy is strongly preferred having achieved the role of manager Executive-level presence Ability to navigate and work at all levels within an organization Ability to work and manage with ambiguity Strong research skills and desire to expand knowledge Ability to synthesize analysis and research into practical strategic insights and recommendations (critical thinking and assessment) Ability to manage individuals and complex engagements in a matrixed organization Prior experience in payments strategy or business transformation consulting Demonstrated ability to work with ambiguity and complex strategic analysis projects Strong analytical and project management skills Team player Strong communication (written and verbal) skills Exempt Status: (Yes   = not eligible for overtime pay) ( No   = eligible for overtime pay) Yes Workplace Type: Office Our Approach to Office Workplace Type Certain positions outside our branch network may be eligible for a flexible work arrangement. We’re combining the best of both worlds:  in-office and work from home. Our approach enables our teams to deepen connections, maintain a strong community, and do their best work. Remote roles will also have the opportunity to come together in our offices for moments that matter. Specific work arrangements will be provided by the hiring team. Huntington is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Tobacco-Free Hiring Practice: Visit Huntington's Career Web Site for more details. Note to Agency Recruiters:   Huntington Bank will not pay a fee for any placement resulting from the receipt of an unsolicited resume.  All unsolicited resumes sent to any Huntington Bank colleagues, directly or indirectly, will be considered Huntington Bank property. Recruiting agencies must have a valid, written and fully executed Master Service Agreement and Statement of Work for consideration.