Business Strategy Manager

Working with KinderCare Learning Companies means using your outstanding talents to help set the foundation for lifelong learners, where you can collaborate with colleagues, grow and learn, and positively impact the families we serve.

With over 50 years of experience, 30,000+ employees, and more than 2,000 early learning center programs, we are the most accredited leaders in early childhood education. Together, we create environments where kids grow and thrive. As one of only four companies to receive the Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award six times, we’re confident that you can grow and thrive here, too. We can’t wait to meet you.

The Corporate Strategy team at KinderCare is a well-respected group of high-impact problem solvers who can see, generate, and implement concrete ideas across the organization, steering the future direction and positioning the organization for growth and long-term success.
As the Manager of Strategic Initiatives, you will identify new growth opportunities, develop strategic plans, and partner closely with leaders and teams across the organization to ensure the successful completion of large-scale strategic initiatives and programs. This role is critical in driving KinderCare’s ongoing transformation and growth ambitions, and will report to the Director of Corporate Strategy.

RESPONSIBILITIES:
Strategy Development & Content Analysis

• Drive and own content & solution design for top company initiatives (e.g. brand strategy, new product innovation, digital transformation).
• Analyze critical issues impacting the company and through logical frameworks and data, recommend clear actionable solutions to help cross-functional partners optimize strategic and operational decisions

Program Management and Execution

• Own portfolio of initiatives end-to-end in close partnership with cross-functional leaders and partners. Bridge the gap between concept and implementation to ensure initiatives are aligned to organization goals
• Define and own initiative charters and project organization (including goals and OKRs). Manage timeline, collaborators, delivery and key dependencies
• Lead initiative workstreams both day-to-day and on a quarterly planning basis to ensure progress and collaborator alignment; partner closely with both Senior Leadership and cross-functional teams
• Ensure initiatives are continually delivering value and return on investment to the organization. Partner with Finance to construct, measure and report out on baselines, target metrics, and progress

Strategic Planning

• Partner with Director, Corporate Strategy to drive KinderCare’s annual strategic planning process, including developing our near and long term corporate strategy in collaboration with Senior Leadership, as well as materials & presentations for leadership and Board of Directors
• Assess external trends & internal factors and synthesize findings into concrete recommendations on opportunities, to influence the development and evolution of our corporate and growth strategy
• Bring clarity to sources of growth and portfolio choices for the organization, answer critical questions about our strategic ambitions

Qualifications:

• 2 plus years in strategy, management consulting, business development or operations, agency, product or program management, or other similar role within a fast-pace, high-growth environment
• Strategy Formulation and Execution: Previous experience in strategy development and analysis, as well as translating big-picture ideas into concrete action items, solutions and execution plans
• Quicker Learner & Critical Thinker: Can quickly and effectively ramp up on new topics, identify the most important elements to focus on, and provide insight on content and solution design
• Thrives in Ambiguity: Comfortable working on projects independently with limited direction and/or defined expected outcomes. Enjoy navigating ambiguous environments to bring structure and clarity for others
• Effective Project Management: Highly organized & detail oriented, with ability to lead cross-functional projects with multiple partners in a fast-pace environment. Keen ability to differentiate what’s most important and prioritize accordingly
• Clear Communication & Public Speaking: Strong business presentation skills and ability to write and verbally present strategic recommendations and project updates in a clear, concise and compelling manner. Able to adapt presentation style to a diverse set of audiences from field operators to senior leadership
• Agile & Driven to Action: Highly adaptable to the situation at hand. Able to quickly move between high-level, big picture thinking and diving into the weeds in execution and take action where needed
• Interpersonal & Influential: Able to influence and build trust with diverse partners across all functions and levels of the organization. Skilled in active listening and engaging partners in insightful discussions, identifying commonalities and differences while actively connecting the dots.
• Initially an Individual contributor role with ample opportunity for continued leadership growth and development

Our benefits meet you where you are. We’re here to help our employees navigate the integration of work and life:

• Know your whole family is supported with discounted child care benefits.
• Breathe easy with medical, dental, and vision benefits for your family (and pets, too!).
• Feel supported in your mental health and personal growth with employee assistance programs.
• Feel great and thrive with access to health and wellness programs, unlimited paid time off and discounts for work necessities, such as cell phones.
• … and much more

At KinderCare Learning Companies you'll use your skills and expertise to help craft and contribute to our shared mission of supporting communities and encouraging lifelong learners. From our teachers to our cooks to our financial analysts, we are all passionate about crafting a world of learning, happiness and adventure for more than 150,000 children every day.

As the first national early childcare education provider to achieve the WELL Health-Safety Rating from the International WELL Building Institute, we continue to follow the latest science-backed and evidence-based strategies for maintaining a safe and worry-free workplace.

Our highest priority has always been to keep our employees, children, families, and communities as safe and healthy as possible. KinderCare highly encourages its employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to protect themselves and their communities. We are proud to provide paid time off for employees to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. We are also subject to state law, local ordinances, and Health Department requirements for employees working in child care, school facilities, and corporate work spaces.

We truly believe that everyone belongs in our circle, and everyone deserves to be celebrated for who they are. By partnering with underrepresented groups and experts in DEI, we are identifying areas to improve and forging a path forward through accountability, compassion, accessibility, and inclusion.

KinderCare Learning Companies is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, age, sex, religion, disability, sexual orientation, marital status, military or veteran status, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law.

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• No nights
• No weekends

Application Question(s):

• Describe a complex strategic project you've managed that required collaboration across different departments. How did you ensure alignment and drive the project to success, especially when faced with challenges or resistance?

Experience:

• Strategic planning: 1 year (Required)
• Project management: 1 year (Required)

Work Location: Remote