Strategic Initiatives Manager

Works closely with senior managers within a division and the Bank to manage key initiatives, including supporting critical Division/Department cross-functional projects related to strategic objectives of the Bank, improving risk management and ensuring efficiency/sustainability of core processes and positioning the Bank to meet evolving regulatory expectations.  Concurrently manages large-scale projects while coordinating and managing initiatives at the division and department level.  Leads design, planning and implementation for time-sensitive, critical, programs and/or projects.  Leads facilitation of industry groups that meet regularly to share best practices and promote industry advocacy efforts.

• Lead efforts to define scope and approach for Division/Department initiatives.  Direct and monitor resources. 

• Direct complex, critical, and highly visible projects for division.

• Provide analytical expertise to support critical Bank-wide or divisional initiatives that may include planning, design and analysis of results, presenting content at various governance functions, developing comprehensive content/materials, analyzing complex data sets, or analyzing and optimizing data structures.

• Consider stakeholder perspectives, help build consensus, address objections, help develop solutions, and drive action. 

• Interact with senior management (internal/external) on a regular basis to obtain pertinent information.  Serve as liaison between the department and other Bank personnel on various projects.  Work within the organization and gain and understanding of the perspectives of others. 

• Exercise usual authority of a manager concerning staffing, performance appraisals, promotions, salary recommendations, performance management and terminations.

• Understand and adhere to the Company’s risk and regulatory standards, policies and controls in accordance with the Company’s Risk Appetite.  Design, implement, maintain and enhance internal controls to mitigate risk on an ongoing basis.  Identify risk-related issues needing escalation to management.

• Promote an environment that supports belonging and reflects the M&T Bank brand.

• Maintain M&T internal control standards, including timely implementation of internal and external audit points together with any issues raised by external regulators as applicable.

• Complete other related duties as assigned.

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum of 7 years’ relevant work experience, or in lieu of a degree, a combined minimum of 11 years’ higher education and/or work experience, including a minimum of 7 years’ relevant work experience

• Minimum of 2 years’ managerial experience

• Excellent analytical ability

• Creative problem-solving skills

• Excellent interpersonal skills necessary for business partner relationships within and outside the organization

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Experience communicating professionally at many different levels

• Self-motivated, results driven, and well organized

• Experience handling multiple tasks and working under time constraints in support of various assignments

• Experience thriving in a fast-paced environment

• Highly proficient with personal computers and pertinent spreadsheet, database, graphing, and presentation software

• Bachelors’ degree in Finance, Economics, Math, Accounting, Engineering, or Business Administration; Masters’ degree in Business Administration (MBA) or advanced degree

• Minimum of 8 years’ relevant work experience

• Minimum of 3 years’ managerial experience

• Banking/financial industry experience

• Six Sigma, Lean or Process Improvement, or project management-related education

• Experience with SQL, programming and statistical software

• Experience with financial, regulatory and/or process analysis, and technical writing

• Curious and innovative

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