Strategic Initiatives Manager
About the position At U.S. Bank, we’re on a journey to do our best. Helping the customers and businesses we serve to make better and smarter financial decisions and enabling the communities we support to grow and succeed. We believe it takes all of us to bring our shared ambition to life, and each person is unique in their potential. A career with U.S. Bank gives you a wide, ever-growing range of opportunities to discover what makes you thrive at every stage of your career. Try new things, learn new skills and discover what you excel at—all from Day One. Job Description The Strategic Initiatives Manager will work closely with the direct reports to U.S. Bank’s Senior Executive Vice President & Chief Digital Officer and their teams, engaging deeply in confidential and high‑visibility initiatives. They will report to one of his direct reports, the Senior Vice President of Digital Operations, and have overall responsibility for properly sequencing projects to increase productivity, reduce cost, and ensure timely completion. The Strategic Initiatives Manager will oversee a team of seven direct reports, fostering a collaborative, high‑performance environment and leading with heightened emotional intelligence. In championing automation and AI and helping the organization shape and execute its future‑state operating model, hands-on technical skills are not required though they must demonstrate strong advocacy for technology‑enabled efficiency and process modernization. The Strategic Initiatives Manager will design, develop, and implement solutions that will optimize processes, including mapping existing workflows and designing new ones to meet operating objectives, launch new products and support regulatory change. They interface with internal and external contributors to the project to prioritize resources and ensure successful integration. Successful outcomes will mitigate operational conditions that have cost, risk, or customer impact. Responsibilities • Properly sequencing projects to increase productivity, reduce cost, and ensure timely completion • Overseeing a team of seven direct reports, fostering a collaborative, high‑performance environment and leading with heightened emotional intelligence • Championing automation and AI and helping the organization shape and execute its future‑state operating model • Design, develop, and implement solutions that will optimize processes, including mapping existing workflows and designing new ones to meet operating objectives, launch new products and support regulatory change • Interface with internal and external contributors to the project to prioritize resources and ensure successful integration Requirements • Bachelor's or Master’s degree, or relevant work experience • Typically 10 or more years of relevant work experience and 3 or more years of management experience • Demonstrated ability to lead and develop teams, maturity and organizational discipline are essential as is an elevated ability to foster psychological safety and employ a high level of emotional intelligence • Well‑developed leadership abilities and strategic management skills • Strong coaching capabilities and a collaborative leadership approach • Meaningful exposure to and understanding of AI and Automation • Passion for operational transformation, including automation and AI‑enabled efficiencies (no hands‑on technical expertise required) • Effective verbal and written communication skills • Considerable tact, diplomacy, and people skills • Well‑developed analytical, decision‑making, and problem-solving skills • Ability to manage sensitive, confidential, and high-visibility projects • Comfort with quarterly to monthly travel as needed Nice-to-haves • Banking experience is helpful but not mandatory; candidates with strong leadership and operational transformation backgrounds are encouraged to apply • Thorough knowledge of the current business or regulatory environment, with the ability to anticipate changes Benefits • Healthcare (medical, dental, vision) • Basic term and optional term life insurance • Short-term and long-term disability • Pregnancy disability and parental leave • 401(k) and employer-funded retirement plan • Paid vacation (from two to five weeks depending on salary grade and tenure) • Up to 11 paid holiday opportunities • Adoption assistance • Sick and Safe Leave accruals of one hour for every 30 worked, up to 80 hours per calendar year unless otherwise provided by law