VP Strategy

CPI Card Group is a payment technology company and leading provider of credit, debit and prepaid solutions delivered physically, digitally and on-demand. CPI helps our customers foster connections and build their brands through innovative and reliable solutions, including financial payment cards, personalization and fulfillment, and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) instant issuance. Learn more at www.cpicardgroup.com

The Vice President, Strategy is responsible for leading the development and execution of the company's enterprise strategy, identifying and evaluating growth and diversification opportunities, and driving strategic initiatives that accelerate business performance and shareholder value. This role serves as a trusted advisor to the Executive Leadership Team and Board of Directors on matters related to corporate strategy, mergers and acquisitions, market expansion, competitive positioning, and long-term value creation. The role identifies the strengths, weaknesses, and business opportunities of the organization. The successful incumbent specializes in change management strategy, with the aim to align people, process, and technology initiatives of the company more closely with the business strategy and vision. The VP Strategy combines strategic vision with analytical rigor and execution excellence, leveraging experience in management consulting, banking, corporate strategy, strategic finance, business development, and/or M&A to evaluate complex business opportunities and drive transformational outcomes.

Corporate Strategy

Lead the development, refinement, and execution of the company's short- and long-term strategic plans.
• Partner with executive leadership to identify growth opportunities, emerging risks, and strategic priorities.
• Facilitate annual and multi-year strategic planning processes across business functions.
• Develop recommendations and business cases that support enterprise growth and profitability objectives.

Strategic Initiatives

• Lead high-impact enterprise initiatives that require cross-functional alignment and executive sponsorship.
• Establish governance and performance measures for key strategic programs.
• Ensure strategic priorities and initiatives decisions are driven by strong evaluation of strategic fit, value proposition, and opportunity size
• Ensure strategic priorities are translated into measurable execution plans and outcomes.

Strategic Finance

• Working with business and finance leaders to develop, maintain, and monitor performance against a long range financial model based on strategic planning
• Develop models to support strategic initiatives to inform decision making
• Works with FP&A to align strategic and operating plan targets and to help prioritize investments to highest value strategic initiatives

Executive and Board Advisory

• Serve as a key strategic advisor to the CEO, CFO, and Executive Leadership Team.
• Develop executive-level presentations, recommendations, and strategic analyses for leadership and Board discussions.
• Translate complex business issues into actionable strategic recommendations.
• Support Board strategy sessions, acquisition reviews, and long-range planning activities.

Market Intelligence and Competitive Analysis

• Develop a robust market intelligence capability to assess industry trends, customer needs, and competitor activities.
• Evaluate new markets, products, technologies, and business models.
• Monitor macroeconomic, regulatory, and industry developments that could impact company performance.
• Measure success of CPI strategies through market size assessments and market share estimates for CPI businesses

Mergers & Acquisitions

• Works with corporate development to ensure strategic fit.
• Lead financial evaluations of potential targets including valuation, financial modeling, synergy assessment, and risk analysis.
• Lead financial due diligence, integration planning, and post-transaction value realization.
• Monitor acquisition performance and ensure expected strategic, financial and operational outcomes are achieved.

Leadership and Team Development

• Build and lead a high-performing strategy function.
• Foster analytical, data-driven decision making throughout the organization.
• Develop strong partnerships across business, corporate development, finance, operations, technology, legal, and human resources functions.

Decision Making Level/Position Latitude

• This position operates with substantial independence in identifying strategic opportunities, conducting analyses, developing recommendations, and managing approved strategic initiatives.
• The VP Strategy exercises significant judgment in evaluating business risks, assessing investment opportunities, and prioritizing strategic activities.
• The role is authorized to lead strategic planning efforts, direct due diligence activities, engage external advisors, and recommend courses of action to executive leadership.
• Final approval authority for acquisitions, major capital commitments, strategic investments, and significant organizational changes rests with the CEO, CFO, Executive Leadership Team, and/or Board of Directors in accordance with established governance and approval processes.
• Success in this role requires balancing independent decision-making with collaboration, influence, and alignment across multiple stakeholders and functions.

Organization & Leadership

• Direct Reports: 1-3 employees.
• Leads cross-functional project teams and workstreams associated with strategic initiatives, acquisitions, and business transformation efforts.

Business Impact:

• Supports enterprise-wide strategic planning and growth initiatives.
• Leads evaluation of acquisition, partnership, and investment opportunities.
• Provides strategic analysis and recommendations that influence long-term business performance, growth, and capital deployment decisions.
• Oversees external advisors and consultants engaged in strategic initiatives and transaction activities.

• Experience with a leading management consulting firm (e.g., McKinsey, Bain, BCG, Deloitte, Accenture Strategy, Oliver Wyman, or similar).
• Experience within a publicly traded company.
• Exposure to manufacturing, financial services, banking, technology, or business services industries.
• Exceptional strategic thinking and business acumen.
• Strong financial modeling, valuation, and analytical capabilities.
• Ability to synthesize complex information into clear recommendations.
• Excellent executive presence and communication skills.
• Proven leadership and stakeholder-management abilities.
• Strong project management and execution discipline.
• Skilled at influencing without direct authority across functions and organizational levels.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, evolving business environment.
• High level of integrity, judgment, and discretion.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or related field.
• Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) or related advanced degree preferred.
• 12 years of progressive experience in corporate strategy, management consulting, investment banking, corporate development, private equity, or related fields.
• Demonstrated success evaluating and executing mergers, acquisitions, partnerships, and other growth transactions.
• Experience presenting recommendations to executive leadership and Boards of Directors.

Physical Demands:

• This position primarily operates in a professional office environment and requires the ability to perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation. Prolonged periods of sitting and working at a computer, including extensive use of a keyboard, mouse, and telephone.
• Frequent viewing of computer monitors and electronic devices requiring close visual attention.
• Regular verbal communication and active listening during in-person, virtual, and telephone meetings.
• Ability to occasionally stand, walk, bend, reach, and move throughout office and meeting spaces.
• Ability to occasionally lift, carry, push, or pull materials weighing up to 15 pounds, such as laptops, presentation materials, luggage, or office supplies.
• Ability to travel periodically by automobile and commercial airline, which may include navigating airports, train stations, hotels, and customer or company locations.
• Ability to transport and manage personal luggage, computer equipment, and work-related materials during business travel.
• Ability to work in a variety of environments, including offices, conference facilities, hotels, airports, and manufacturing or operational locations, as applicable.
• May require occasional early morning, evening, or overnight travel based on business needs.
• CPI Card Group is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities to enable them to perform the essential functions of the position.

Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of an employment Visa at this time

Company Overview:
CPI Card Group is a payment technology company and leading provider of credit, debit and prepaid solutions delivered physically, digitally and on-demand. CPI helps our customers foster connections and build their brands through innovative and reliable solutions, including financial payment cards, personalization and fulfillment, and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) instant issuance. Learn more at www.cpicardgroup.com.

Benefits:
Competitive pay rates and an inclusive, empowering and rewarding culture.
Solid benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Long Term Disability, Short Term Disability, Life Insurance, Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, FSA, HSA, Vacation and Holiday Pay, Tuition Reimbursement and 401(k) with a competitive company match percentage.

CPI is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/vets. A complete background including drug screen is contingent upon hire.