Strategic planning manager

Strategic planning managers create, together with a team of managers, the strategic plans of the company as a whole, and provide coordination in the implementation per department. They help to interpret the overall plan and create a detailed plan for each one of the departments and branches. They ensure consistency in the implementation.

The following job titles also refer to strategic planning manager:

strategic manager
business continuity strategy director
corporate strategist
business continuity planning director
strategy manager
strategic development manager
innovation and strategy specialist
planning manager
strategy adviser
strategic business planning manager

Bachelor’s degree is generally required to work as strategic planning manager. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Strategic planning manager is a Skill level 4 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to strategic planning manager.

chief operating officer
policy manager
environmental protection manager
regulatory affairs manager
business intelligence manager

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of strategic planning manager. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of strategic planning manager with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of strategic planning manager.

Organisational policies: The policies to achieve set of goals and targets regarding the development and maintenance of an organisation.
Business analysis: The research field which addresses the identification of business needs and problems and the determination of the solutions that would mitigate or prevent the smooth functioning of a business. Business analysis comprises IT solutions, market challenges, policy development and strategic matters.
Corporate social responsibility: The handling or managing of business processes in a responsible and ethical manner considering the economic responsibility towards shareholders as equally important as the responsibility towards environmental and social stakeholders.
Management department processes: The different processes, duties, jargon, role in an organisation, and other specificities of the management and strategy department within an organisation such as strategic processes and general management of the organisation.
Strategic planning: The elements defining the foundation and core of an organisation such as its mission, vision, values, and objectives.
Company policies: The set of rules that govern the activity of a company.

These skills are necessary for the role of strategic planning manager.

Integrate strategic foundation in daily performance: Reflect on the strategic foundation of companies, meaning their mission, vision, and values in order to integrate this foundation in the performance of the job position.
Imprint visionary aspirations into the business management: Integrate ambition and visionary plans in both the planning and the day-to-day operations in order to set goals for the company to strive for.
Develop organisational policies: Develop and supervise the implementation of policies aimed at documenting and detailing the procedures for the operations of the organisation in the lights of its strategic planning.
Lead managers of company departments: Collaborate and guide the managers of the departments of a company in terms of the objectives of the company, the actions, and expectations required from their managerial scope.
Use different communication channels: Make use of various types of communication channels such as verbal, handwritten, digital and telephonic communication with the purpose of constructing and sharing ideas or information.
Advise on communication strategies: Provide companies and organisations with consulting services concerning their internal and external communication plans and their representation, including their presence online. Recommend improvements in communication and make sure that important information reaches all employees and that their questions are answered.
Implement operational business plans: Implement the strategic business and operational plan for an organisation by engaging and delegating to others, monitoring progress and making adjustments along the way. Evaluate the extent to which strategic objectives have been achieved, learn lessons, celebrate success and recognise people’s contributions.
Apply strategic thinking: Apply generation and effective application of business insights and possible opportunities, in order to achieve competitive business advantage on a long-term basis.
Monitor company policy: Monitor the company’s policy and propose improvements to the company.
Follow the statutory obligations: Understand, abide by, and apply the statutory obligations of the company in the daily performance of the job.
Advise on efficiency improvements: Analyse information and details of processes and products in order to advise on possible efficiency improvements that could be implemented and would signify a better use of resources.
Implement strategic management: Implement a strategy for the development and transformation of the company. Strategic management involves the formulation and implementation of the major objectives and initiatives of a company by senior management on behalf of the owners, based on consideration of available resources and an assessment of the internal and external environments in which the organisation operates.
Impart business plans to collaborators: Diffuse, present, and communicate business plans and strategies to managers, employees making sure that objectives, actions, and important messages are properly conveyed.
Develop company strategies: Envision, plan, and develop strategies for companies and organisations aimed at achieving different purposes such as establishing new markets, refurbishing the equipment and machinery of a company, implementing pricing strategies, etc.
Ensure compliance with policies: Ensure compliance with legislation and company procedures in respect of health and safety in the workplace and public areas. Ensure awareness and compliance with all company policies in relation to health and safety and equal opportunities in the workplace.
Define organisational standards: Write, implement and foster the internal standards of the company as part of the business plans for the operations and levels of performance that the company intends to achieve.
Develop business plans: Plan, write and collaborate in the implement business plans. Include and foresee in the business plan the market strategy, the competitive analysis of the company, the design and the development of the plan, the operations and the management aspects and the financial forecast of the business plan.
Liaise with managers: Liaise with managers of other departments ensuring effective service and communication, i.e. sales, planning, purchasing, trading, distribution and technical.
Implement strategic planning: Take action on the goals and procedures defined at a strategic level in order to mobilise resources and pursue the established strategies.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of strategic planning manager. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Accounting department processes: The different processes, duties, jargon, role in an organisation, and other specificities of the accounting department within an organisation such as bookkeeping, invoices, recording, and taxing.
Financial department processes: The different processes, duties, jargon, role in an organisation, and other specificities of the financial department within an organisation. Understanding of financial statements, investments, disclosing policies, etc.
Operations department processes: The different processes, duties, jargon, role in an organisation, and other specificities of the operations and manufacturing department within an organisation such as purchasing, supply chain processes, and goods handling.
Government policy: The political activities, plans, and intentions of a government for a legislative session for concrete causes.
Marketing department processes: The different processes, duties, jargon, role in an organisation, and other specificities of the marketing department within an organisation such as market research, marketing strategies, and advertising processes.
Business process modelling: The tools, methods and notations such as Business Process Model and Notation (BPMN) and Business Process Execution Language (BPEL), used to describe and analyse the characteristics of a business process and model its further development.
Sales department processes: The different processes, duties, jargon, role in an organisation, and other specificities of the sales department within an organisation.
Legal department processes: The different processes, duties, jargon, role in an organisation, and other specificities of the legal department within an organisation such as patents, legal cases, and legal compliance.
Human resources department processes: The different processes, duties, jargon, role in an organisation, and other specificities of the human resources department within an organisation such as recruitment, pension systems, and personnel development programs.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of strategic planning manager. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Integrate headquarter’s guidelines into local operations: Understand and implement the guidelines and objectives provided by the headquarters of a company into the local management of a company or subsidiary. Adapt guidelines to the regional reality.
Disseminate internal communications: Disseminate internal communications using the different communication channels that a company has at its disposal.
Provide feedback on job performance: Provide feedback to employees on their professional and social behaviour in the work environment; discuss results of their work.
Identify undetected organisational needs: Use the collected input and information from interviewing stakeholders and analysing organisational documents in order to detect unseen needs and improvements that would support the development of the organisation. Identify the needs of the organisation in terms of staff, equipment, and improvement of operations.
Process commissioned instructions: Process instructions, usually oral ones, provided by managers and directives on actions required to be made. Take note, inquire, and take action on the commissioned requests.
Develop environmental policy: Develop an organisational policy on sustainable development and compliance with environmental legislation in line with policy mechanisms used in the field of environmental protection.
Evaluate performance of organisational collaborators: Evaluate the performance and results of managers and employees considering their efficiency and effectivity at work. Consider personal and professional elements.
Gather feedback from employees: Communicate in an open and positive manner in order to assess levels of satisfaction with employees, their outlook on the work environment, and in order to identify problems and devise solutions.
Promote organisational communication: Promote and nurture the efficient spread of plans and business information throughout the organisation by strengthening the channels of communication at its disposal.
Advise on financial matters: Consult, advise, and propose solutions with regards to financial management such as acquiring new assets, incurring in investments, and tax efficiency methods.
Get involved in the day-to-day operation of the company: Collaborate and perform hands-on work with other departments, managers, supervisors, and workers in different aspects of the business from preparing accounting reports, envisioning the marketing campaigns up to having contact with clients.
Revise drafts made by managers: Revise drafts made by managers in order to check completeness, accuracy, and formatting.

1213 – Policy and planning managers

 

 

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References

1. Strategic planning manager – ESCO