What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Strategic Programs and Innovation position at Visa?
The Director of Strategic Programs & Initiatives will serve as a strategic partner to the Sr. Director of Marketing Strategy & Innovation, leading the research, benchmarking, and strategic design work that informs Visa's marketing operational strategy. This role is ideal for a strategic thinker who excels at answering complex who, what, and why questions through comprehensive research and stakeholder engagement. Working in lock step with the Sr. Director of Marketing Strategy & Innovation, this leader will manage strategic workstreams for transformational initiatives while maintaining continuous feedback loops with regional and functional stakeholders.
Primary Responsibilities:
Lead Strategic Research & Competitive Intelligence
- Conduct comprehensive research, competitive benchmarking, and market analysis to identify best-in-class practices across AI transformation, operating models, agency ecosystems, learning & development, and organizational culture
- Perform deep stakeholder discovery through interviews, surveys, and workshops to understand challenges, opportunities, and priorities across regions and functions
- Conduct ongoing environmental scanning to identify competitive threats, emerging trends, and strategic opportunities
- Synthesize complex market intelligence into actionable insights and strategic recommendations
Manage Strategic Workstreams for Transformational Initiatives
- Lead strategic design and planning for key initiatives across the Five Ps (People, Practices, Processes, Partners, Products)
- Facilitate cross-functional collaboration to gather inputs, build alignment, and refine strategic recommendations
- Develop strategic frameworks and models that address critical questions about AI integration, operating model design, agency optimization, and organizational culture
- Support development of strategic vision for increasing Marketing's AI Power Users and improving EES scores across multiple dimensions
Develop Executive Communications & Strategic Narratives:
- Translate complex strategic insights into compelling narratives and executive presentations
- Create board-level materials that communicate strategic recommendations and business cases
- Develop stakeholder engagement plans and communication strategies for major initiatives
- Present strategic findings and recommendations to Marketing Leadership Team and cross-functional stakeholders
Monitor Strategic Performance & Maintain Feedback Loops
- Define and monitor strategic KPIs that track progress toward operational excellence
- Conduct post-implementation reviews to capture learnings and inform future strategy
- Maintain continuous feedback loops with regional and functional stakeholders to ensure strategic recommendations reflect real-world implementation insights
- Identify strategic course corrections based on performance data and stakeholder feedback
Partner Across the Dual-Track Operating Model
- Partner with the Manager of Operations Excellence to ensure smooth handoff of strategic initiatives into execution planning and implementation
- Ensure strategic recommendations account for operational realities, resource constraints, and change management considerations
- Collaborate on integrated planning that connects strategic vision with operational delivery
This is a hybrid position. Expectation of days in the office will be confirmed by your Hiring Manager.