Strategic Partnership Engagement Manager

55 Bloor Street West Toronto Ontario,M4W 3N5

**MANDATE**

The Strategic Partnership Engagement Manager is accountable to for the financial management and analysis of partnerships and merchant campaigns that relate to BMO’s Retail and Small Business Credit Cards business. In this role, the incumbent will act as a trusted advisor to senior leaders and lead strategic projects, conducting qualitative/quantitative analyses and making recommendations on high priority topics. This role reports into the Sr Manager, Payment Partnerships.

The role will be accountable to develop and transform BMO’s strategies with a diverse set of merchants and affinity partners based on qualitative, quantitative and market analyses.
- Working with internal and external stakeholders to develop and drive our merchant engagement strategy
- Working with AIR MILES to develop and execute strategies to best leverage the large coalition of retailers to optimize the customer experience and drive business performance
- Working with our Strategic Partnerships Manager to help maximize our 60+ Affinity partners.

Key Accountabilities

Relationship management of merchants towards mutually beneficial programs that drive engagement in our shared customer base:

- Working with merchants to drive value to our shared customers
- Financial analysis to develop new offers and programs (B2C)

Industry and customer expertise
- Develop and maintain and in-depth understanding of the Canadian Payments industry including customer needs and trends, competitive dynamics, and best practices with a focus on merchant engagement and loyalty

Ownership of strategic roadmap for merchant engagement area
- Develop business cases by identifying needs, analyzing potential options, and assessing expected return on investment.
- Recommend business priorities, advise on resource requirements, and develop roadmap for strategic execution

End-to-End Project Management that drives value to merchants
- Responsible for all phases of project management life cycle (initiation, planning, execution, and closure)
- Facilitate meetings between large cross-functional teams
- Generate and distribute reports to assist with the management of programs
- Perform schedule validations and risk assessments
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**KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS**:
Knowledge & Experience
- Strong track record delivering results in ambiguous and challenging situations
- 4-6 years of relevant experience (financial services, product management)
- Knowledge and experience in data preparation and analysis
- 2+ years product management experience with P&L accountability
- 2+ years payments experience preferred
- 2+ years loyalty program management experience preferred
- BMO organizational knowledge an asset
- Minimum undergraduate university degree, an MBA or other post-graduate degree, or equivalent industry related experience preferred

**Skills**:

- Excellent business acumen and strategic planning
- Strong financial, quantitative, analytical, and business casing skills
- Proven ability to manage multiple facets of a complex business and effectively prioritize most important business levers and initiatives
- Proven ability to establish conducive working relationships with external partners and colleagues across different business units and groups
- Proven ability to influence without authority and drive change
- Excellent communication skills (oral and written) with ability to frame and effectively communicate complex problems
- Excellent problem-solving skills
- Team-oriented, collaborative, and flexible
- Able to think like a customer and design the right customer experience
- Strong time management and project management skills
- Strong attention to detail

**We’re here to help**

At BMO we are driven by a shared Purpose: Boldly Grow the Good in business and life. It calls on us to create lasting, positive change for our customers, our communities and our people. By working together, innovating and pushing boundaries, we transform lives and businesses, and power economic growth around the world.

As a member of the BMO team you are valued, respected and heard, and you have more ways to grow and make an impact. We strive to help you make an impact from day one - for yourself and our customers. We’ll support you with the tools and resources you need to reach new milestones, as you help our customers reach theirs. From in-depth training and coaching, to manager support and network-building opportunities, we’ll help you gain valuable experience, and broaden your skillset.