MetLife

Role:  

Director, Business and Strategic Planning 

• Preferred Location: Cary, NC
• Alternate Location: Tampa, FL

Department:  

The Emerging Technology Platforms & Architecture (ETPA) team sits within MetLife’s Global Technology ecosystem and is positioned as a strategic, forward-looking architecture and emerging-technology enablement function. It is responsible for shaping the foundational platforms, architectural guardrails, and technology strategies required for MetLife to adopt next-generation capabilities, especially AI, Agentic Systems, data architectures, and enterprise platform technologies. 

When you join the Emerging Technology Platforms & Architecture (ETPA) team, you join a team that’s shaping MetLife’s future by turning emerging technologies into secure, scalable, enterprise-ready platforms and architectural standards. 

The Role: This dynamic position provides the opportunity to learn all aspects of the ETPA organization. This role will be engaged in strategic planning, goal setting/performance insights, facilitation of management routines, coordination and drafting of executive presentations, and project management of key programs and initiatives, as appropriate. This role requires frequent interaction with senior management across Global Technology organization. This role requires strong analytical and communications skills, the ability to convey information succinctly, and the ability to multitask and operate under fixed deadlines. It is also critical that the individual takes initiative and can operate with a high degree of independence, has a desire to lead and influence others, and thrives in a fast-paced environment where every contribution is respected, and every perspective is heard.  

Key Responsibilities: 

• Strategic Leadership: 

• Provides strategic guidance to ETPA leadership, participating in weekly senior‑leader forums to align priorities and drive coordinated execution. 
• Builds strong, cross‑functional partnerships to ensure enterprise‑wide alignment and delivery of GT and ETPA strategic objectives. 
• Maintains a deep understanding of ETPA-wide strategy, connecting the dots across AI, data, platform, and architecture domains to shape cohesive strategic direction. 
• Translates emerging‑technology trends into actionable recommendations that influence planning, investment, and enterprise architecture decisions. 
• Drives strategic prioritization and roadmap alignment, ensuring ETPA focuses on the highest‑value opportunities across interconnected technology areas. 

• CIO Support: 

• Provides Chief of Staff support for ETPA, leading confidential initiatives and coordinating quarterly Town Halls, extended leadership meetings, management routines, engagement sessions, and key organizational activities. 
• Enables executive decision‑making by preparing concise briefing materials, synthesizing complex information, and developing high‑quality communications for senior‑leader conferences and enterprise forums. 

• Operational Excellence: 

• Drives strategic planning cycles, including regular reviews and performance metrics reporting. 
• Maintains a commercial mindset with a pulse on evolving business and industry trends. 
• Collects and assembles data and information from global sources; summarizing and compiling for senior leaders and enabling the teams to prioritize for impact. 
• Acts as a liaison between the organization and associates to drive key initiatives, ensure results and prioritization of tasks and projects. 
• Manages ETPA reporting rhythms including ETPA cascades, Late Terminations, Headcount tracking, and 1:1 prep. 
• Oversees monthly M365 license reviews, monthly GT Portfolio prep and Dev Commits analysis 
• Draft ad-hoc organizational announcements and communications, as needed. 

• Culture & Talent Enablement 

• Supports talent programs, workforce management, and onboarding for strategic teams 
• Drive culture enablement initiatives; employ engagement programs like MyVoice 

Key Relationships: 

• Reports to: AVP, Technology Strategy and Planning 
• Matix Reporting: SVP Emerging Technology Platforms & Architecture 
• Direct Reports: 0 

Candidate Qualifications: 

Required Skills: 

• 7-10 years of experience, preferably a mix of management consulting, financial services and/or technology  
• BA/ BS degree required
• Demonstrated success in executing, mobilizing and leading large organizations around strategic initiatives within a global company 
• Demonstrated experience working in technology with a passion for emerging technologies 
• Strong understanding of Agile frameworks and Delivery practices 
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills (verbal, written and presentation)  
• High degree of organizational and structured operating skills; able to prioritize appropriate and keep track of multiple concurrent projects and deliverables 
• Judgment to accurately assess what can be managed directly, what needs to be delegated, and what needs to be escalated; tactical competency to execute accordingly 
• Resourcefulness and ability to creatively and independently get work done through influence and relationships 
• Execution orientation, attention to detail, and outcome-driven mindset 
• High degrees of business and financial acumen combined with analytical mindset and practical approach and ability to make recommendations based on available information 
• Solutions-orientation; perceives and either resolves or escalates risks or obstacles as appropriate 
• Strong synthesis and learning agility; connects dots and thinks strategically about business planning, governance, and solutions 
• Organizational intelligence; able to operate effectively in a complex, matrixed environment 
• Ability to foster and drive organizational change management through process optimization, change leadership and the development of a strong network of partners 
• Excellent presentation, written, oral, and relationship-building skills 

Preferred Skills:

• MBA or equivalent preferred
• Experience working with cloud technologies