Interim Head of Strategy & Planning

Head of Strategy & Planning (Interim)

• Lead enterprise strategy and planning for a major financial services organisation
• Senior executive exposure with leadership of an established strategy team
• November start | Melbourne CBD | Potential to explore permanent opportunity

Company Overview

Our client is a major Australian financial services organisation seeking an experienced strategy leader to join its Strategy & Insights function.

This is an opportunity to influence enterprise direction, shape commercial priorities and work closely with senior executives on the strategic decisions that matter.

Initially an interim appointment, this opportunity also offers potential to be considered for the permanent position.

Role Overview

Reporting to the GM of Strategy & Insights, you will lead a small strategy team while taking a hands-on role in enterprise strategy development and strategic planning.

The mandate calls for more than managing an established planning process. You'll bring commercial curiosity, analytical rigour and fresh thinking to complex business challenges, identifying opportunities, testing assumptions and helping executives make informed strategic choices.

You'll be equally comfortable developing a recommendation from the ground up, facilitating a challenging executive discussion or coaching your team to produce high-quality strategic work.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead enterprise strategy development, identifying commercial opportunities, strategic challenges and emerging risks.
• Develop strategic recommendations and business cases informed by commercial analysis, market intelligence and data.
• Partner with senior executives to evaluate opportunities, challenge assumptions and establish strategic priorities.
• Lead the enterprise strategic planning framework, connecting long-term direction with business priorities and measurable outcomes.
• Analyse industry trends, competitors and market developments to identify opportunities for growth and improvement.
• Strengthen performance measures and KPIs, assessing progress against strategic objectives.
• Lead, mentor and develop strategy professionals, fostering strong collaboration and high-quality thinking.

Skills & Experience

• A strong strategy or management consulting background, alongside significant experience leading corporate, enterprise or group strategy in-house.
• Strong commercial acumen and the ability to identify opportunities, evaluate trade-offs and formulate compelling recommendations.
• Demonstrated experience solving ambiguous business problems through structured analysis, critical thinking and strategic judgement.
• Confidence influencing senior executives, facilitating workshops and constructively challenging established thinking.
• A proactive, intellectually curious and hands-on approach, with the ability to move quickly from analysis to recommendation.
• Experience leading and developing high-performing strategy teams.
• Ability to translate strategic direction into clear priorities, measurable outcomes and practical action.

What's on Offer

An opportunity to step into a senior leadership role, contribute immediately to meaningful strategic decisions and build relationships across the executive team.

• Interim engagement commencing November 2026.
• Melbourne CBD location, with three days per week in the office.
• Interim tenure aligned to the future permanent recruitment process.
• Potential to be considered for the permanent appointment.
• Daily rate negotiable commensurate with experience.

The opportunity will appeal to an established interim executive or an experienced strategy leader available at short notice who is interested in exploring a longer-term appointment.

Apply now or contact Tess Thomson along with your CV at Profusion via tess.thomson@profusiongroup.com for a confidential discussion to learn more.

Profusion is committed to creating diverse and inclusive workplaces. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds, identities and lived experiences.