Senior Vice President, Global Strategy & Planning
Chief Operating Officer (COO) Organization
Located : Atlanta GA or Austin TX
The Senior Vice President, Strategy & Planning will serve as a trusted deputy to the Chief Operating Officer and a key member of the COO leadership team. This executive will provide enterprise‑level governance and strategic leadership across financial management, workforce and capacity planning, vendor strategy, performance management, risk and audit coordination, and executive communications.
The role oversees a $650M+ annual budget, a global workforce of ~2,900 employees plus a substantial third‑party contractor population, and a globally distributed team of approximately 60 professionals. The Senior Vice President will play a critical role in shaping and executing the COO organization’s long‑range strategy, ensuring operational excellence, financial discipline, and alignment with enterprise objectives.
Role Responsibilities
Strategy, Planning & Governance
Function as deputy to the COO, advising on strategy formulation and operating model design.
Lead long‑range planning, OKRs, and enterprise objective alignment across the COO organization and with cross‑functional partners.
Translate strategic priorities into actionable operating plans, working closely with the COO leadership team to drive execution.
Financial & Resource Management
Lead planning and management of the COO organization’s $650M annual operating budget, ensuring strong financial governance and transparency.
Own global workforce and capacity strategy, including insourcing/outsourcing decisions and location strategy, in partnership with HR and Finance.
Drive data‑driven resource planning to optimize cost, productivity, and scalability.
Vendor & Portfolio Management
Define and lead vendor strategy, including critical vendor alignment, portfolio oversight, and deal negotiation in partnership with sourcing.
Oversee engineering and technology portfolio management, ensuring strategic alignment, performance tracking, and value realization.
Performance & Insights
Lead teams responsible for performance measurement, reporting, and analytics.
Establish performance frameworks and KPIs and advise leaders on insights that drive informed decision‑making.
Executive & Board Communications
Develop and oversee high‑quality materials for the Executive Team and Board of Directors, including:
Monthly Business Reviews
Weekly Executive Packages
Board‑level presentations and supporting content.
Partner closely with the COO and leadership team to ensure clarity, accuracy, and strategic narrative.
Risk, Audit & Compliance
Lead enterprise‑level risk management for the COO organization in alignment with the corporate risk team.
Ensure compliance with policies and procedures, driving enhancements were needed.
Own coordination, response, and resolution of audit requests and findings across the COO organization.
Leadership
Lead, mentor, and develop a globally dispersed team of ~60 professionals.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and strategic thinking across the organization.
Role Required
15+ years of experience in financial service industry preferred. Technology, consulting, or related industries, with deep exposure to strategy, operations, program management, or technology leadership.
7+ years of demonstrated leadership experience managing large, global, cross‑functional teams.
Proven success working in large, complex, global enterprises with multiple business verticals.
Global experience to include Latin America and India preferred.
Demonstrated ability to work with a variety of vendors.
History of managing a large PL.
Strong financial acumen with experience managing large‑scale budgets and resource models.
Bachelor’s degree in computer science, Information Technology, Engineering, or a related field.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting to executive leadership and boards.
Ability to work at both strategic and operational levels, driving outcomes through influence and execution.
We make financial services accessible to humans everywhere. Join us for what’s next.
Western Union is positioned to become the world’s most accessible financial services company —transforming lives and communities. We’re a diverse and passionate customer-centric team of over 8,000 employees serving 200 countries and territories, reaching customers and receivers around the globe. More than moving money, we design easy-to-use products and services for our digital and physical financial ecosystem that help our customers move forward.
Just as we help our global customers prosper, we support our employees in achieving their professional aspirations. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to learn new skills and build a career, as well as receive a great compensation package. If you’re ready to help drive the future of financial services, it’s time for Western Union. Learn more about our purpose and people at https://careers.westernunion.com/.
Benefits
You will also have access to short-term incentives, multiple health insurance options, accident and life insurance, and access to best-in-class development platforms, to name a few (https://careers.westernunion.com/global-benefits/). Please see the location-specific benefits below and note that your Recruiter may share additional role-specific benefits during your interview process or in an offer of employment. Your United States – specific benefits include:
Family First Program
Flexible Time off
Medical, Dental and Life Insurance
Tuition Assistance Program
Parental Leave
Western Union values in-person collaboration, learning, and ideation whenever possible. We believe this creates value through common ways of working and supports the execution of enterprise objectives which will ultimately help us achieve our strategic goals. By connecting face-to-face, we are better able to learn from our peers, problem-solve together, and innovate.
Our Hybrid Work Model categorizes each role into one of three categories. Western Union has determined the category of this role to be Hybrid. This is defined as a flexible working arrangement that enables employees to divide their time between working from home and working from an office location. The expectation is to work from the office a minimum of three days a week.
For residents of Colorado, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania: Please do not respond to any questions on this initial application that may seek age-identifying information such as age, date of birth, or dates of school attendance or graduation. You may also redact this information from any materials you submit during the application process. You will not be penalized for redacting or removing this information.
We are passionate about diversity. Our commitment is to provide an inclusive culture that celebrates the unique backgrounds and perspectives of our global teams while reflecting the communities we serve. We do not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, religion, political affiliation, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, or veteran status. The company will provide accommodation to applicants, including those with disabilities, during the recruitment process, following applicable laws.
Estimated Job Posting End Date:
05-13-2026
This application window is a good-faith estimate of the time that this posting will remain open. This posting will be promptly updated if the deadline is extended or the role is filled.
