Manager, Data Strategy & Programs

Come and work for a Forbes Best Employer! With more than $41 billion in assets and serving more than 900,000 customers, MidFirst Bank is the largest privately owned bank in the country. As a family owned bank, MidFirst has established many customer relationships that have spanned decades and generations. We are committed to continuously providing an exceptional culture creating an energizing and supportive employee experience while delivering extraordinary customer service.

Manager, Data Strategy & Programs

The Manager of Data Strategy & Programs partners closely with the Chief Data Officer to define, operationalize, and deliver the enterprise data and analytics strategy. This role serves as a bridge between strategic vision and tactical execution-ensuring data initiatives are prioritized, resourced, and executed in alignment with enterprise goals. The manager leads planning, program governance, and enablement efforts to maximize the value of data as a strategic asset.

Work with the Chief Data Officer and senior leadership to establish and continually refine the organization's data and analytics vision and roadmap.

• Support the creation and continual refinement of the enterprise data and analytics strategy, aligning with business objectives, regulatory expectations, and emerging technologies.
• Translate strategic priorities into actionable initiatives, measurable outcomes, and defined success metrics.
• Conduct maturity assessments, benchmark analyses, and environmental scans to identify opportunities for innovation and optimization across data governance, engineering, analytics, and AI enablement..
• Collaborate with domain leaders and business units to ensure strategy alignment with organizational priorities, operational needs, and emerging technologies.
• Prepare strategic presentations, frameworks, and communications for executive and board-level audiences.

Drive planning, prioritization, and oversight of enterprise data programs and projects to ensure efficient execution and alignment with strategic goals.

• Develop and maintain a consolidated portfolio of data programs and projects across business units, operational departments, data domains, and technology functions.
• Lead intake, prioritization, and sequencing of initiatives based on strategic alignment, business impact, and resource capacity.
• Manage cross-functional planning cycles and coordinate dependencies between data engineering, analytics, data governance, data stewards, and business stakeholders.
• Oversee program governance, dependencies, budgets, and performance tracking.
• Develop dashboards and scorecards to report progress, risks, and value realization.
• Facilitate steering committees, working groups, and status reviews to maintain alignment and accountability.

Redesign and streamline data operations to enhance efficiency, agility, and quality in the delivery of data products and analytics.

• Assess current-state data delivery, governance, and support workflows to identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
• Redevelop existing processes for intake, development, testing, deployment, and change management.
• Standardize templates, workflows, and operating procedures for consistent execution.
• Partner with technology, data, and analytics teams to implement automation and tooling to improve delivery speed, enhance cross-functional execution, and reduce manual effort.
• Establish continuous improvement mechanisms with performance metrics and feedback loops.
• Partner with data engineering, governance, and analytics teams to improve cross-functional execution and reduce delivery cycle times.

Foster a culture of data enablement and manage data as a product to ensure sustainable business value.

• Define and operationalize a data product management framework, including lifecycle governance, prioritization, and value tracking.
• Develop and lead a team of data product managers in the execution of the data product management framework.
• Partner with engineering and analytics teams to define reusable data products and shared data sets.
• Align data product strategy with enterprise architecture and governance standards.
• Lead a team of data program analysts who oversee the execution of data and analytics programs.
• Create a enterprise data enablement program to equip data analysts and business teams with the skills to leverage data effectively.
• Collaborate with data, analytics, and learning and development teams to execute enterprise data literacy initiatives-defining curricula, metrics, and engagement strategies.
• Coordinate enterprise-wide initiatives such as data democratization, self-service analytics, and AI readiness programs.
• Support deployment and adoption of data management tools such as data catalogs, lineage, and quality solutions.
• Monitor adoption and utilization of data assets and products to ensure measurable outcomes.

Serve as a trusted partner and advocate for the enterprise data strategy across business, data, analytics, and technology teams.

• Build strong relationships with executives, data owners, and operational teams to understand needs, communicate priorities, and align data program delivery.
• Lead transparent communication on program progress, successes, value realization and challenges through structured reporting and storytelling.
• Promote collaboration and knowledge sharing across functions to build an enterprise data culture.
• Facilitate steering committees, working groups, and status reviews to maintain alignment and accountability.
• Represent the data organization in cross-functional initiatives and enterprise planning forums.
• Act as a key advisor to senior leaders on data-driven strategy, decision-making, and governance.

Position Requirements:

• 5+ years of cumulative experience in data strategy, governance, analytics, project management, or program management
• Proven success translating strategic objectives into actionable plans and measurable results
• Skilled at managing ambiguity, prioritizing competing demands, and enabling decision-making
• Developed understanding of data management, governance, analytics, and architecture disciplines
• Excellent communication, facilitation, and stakeholder management skills
• Working knowledge of product management principles and lifecycle process
• Demonstrated experience redesigning processes for greater agility, quality, and consistency
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives in complex organizations
• Advanced ability to manage multi-year roadmaps, budgets, and resource allocations
• Familiarity with modern data platforms and tools (e.g., Snowflake, Informatica, Power BI, Azure)
• Bachelor's degree in Project Management, Business, Information Systems, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Engineering
• Commensurate experience considered in lieu of degree

Other Certifications:

• Project Management Professional, Program Management Professional, Certified Data Management Professional

5 - 8 years: 5+ years of cumulative experience in data strategy, governance, analytics, project management, or program management
* Proven success translating strategic objectives into actionable plans and measurable results
* Skilled at managing ambiguity, prioritizing competing demands, and enabling decision-making
* Developed understanding of data management, governance, analytics, and architecture disciplines
(required)