Business Planning Manager at Equity Bank Kenya

Job Purpose:

To support the Group Head Enterprise Digital Transformation and Group Head Internal Business Functions (Enabler Systems) in the development, coordination, and execution of strategic and operational plans. The role involves data analysis, performance monitoring, cross-functional coordination, and reporting to ensure that business planning activities are well-informed, timely, and aligned with corporate objectives. The Manager will drive operational efficiency, support strategic alignment, and ensure effective governance across both product and IT domains

The Key Responsibilities (Duties)

Operational Management

• Drive operational efficiency by supporting both product and IT processes. 
• Facilitate cross-functional coordination, enhance communication, and encourage collaboration across teams.
• Identify bottlenecks, risks, and opportunities, offering recommendations for enhancement. Stakeholder Engagement and Communication 
• Create communication products and ensure consistency in messaging to targeted audiences. 
• Prepare quarterly board reports and materials for IT and strategy committees as per standard agendas. Performance 

Tracking and Reporting 

• Regularly track critical KPIs and support the development of new performance measures.
• Monitor and share key insights from performance indicators to gauge progress and success. 

Strategic Planning & Governance 

• Support the preparation, review, and consolidation of business plans, budgets, and management reports. 
• Track and proactively manage action items to ensure key milestones are met. 
• Stay current with developments in IT and product management trends and innovations. 

Leadership & Team Development 

• Support training and professional development for staff members as needed. 
• •Build effective relationships with key internal business, operations, IT, product, design, and external partners

Qualifications

Core Accountabilities: 

• Data-driven insights for strategic planning 
• Process mapping and operational efficiency improvements 
• Cross-functional coordination and dependency management 
• Stakeholder engagement and tailored communication 
• KPI management and performance tracking 
• Preparation of governance and board-level materials 
• Follow-up on board/committee decisions into operational plans 

Deliverables: 

• Board/committee report decks 
• Standardized plan templates (objectives, KPIs, timelines, owners, dependencies) 
• Process documentation or SOPs for key workflows 
• Resource/allocation trackers 
• KPI framework document 
• Interactive dashboards for ongoing performance monitoring 
• Meeting agendas, minutes, and action logs for cross-functional syncs

Experience Requirements

• Experience: Minimum of 6–8 years in business planning, operations, or related functions.
• Industry Exposure: Experience in the relevant industry or product area (e.g., financial services, technology).
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Proven track record of working effectively with multiple functions such as IT, Finance, Marketing, and Legal.
• Stakeholder Management: Demonstrated ability to influence stakeholders without direct authority, manage dependencies, and resolve conflicts.
• Data & Analytics: Hands-on experience in building and maintaining dashboards (Power BI or similar), with solid skills in data analysis and PowerPoint presentations.
• Project Management: Familiarity with project management tools and practices, including tracking initiatives, dependencies, and resource allocation.
• Governance Reporting: Experience in preparing materials for governance bodies, such as Board or Steering Committee reports.
• Executive Engagement: Comfortable presenting to senior executives and translating their feedback into actionable plans.

Must-Haves

Academic Qualification: 

• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (Business, IT, Engineering, Product Management, Project Management).

Experience & Skills:

• Proven experience (5+ years) in business planning, operations, or a closely related function with demonstrable progression.
• Strong data-analysis capability: advanced Excel skills and hands-on use of at least one BI tool (e.g., Power BI) to build basic dashboards or reports.
• Experience preparing materials for senior leadership or governance bodies (e.g., concise slide decks, executive summaries).
• Demonstrated track record of cross-functional collaboration and influencing without direct authority.
  o Solid process-mapping or improvement experience.

Core Competencies:

• Ability to define, track, and interpret key performance indicators.
• Clear written and verbal communication skills tailored to different stakeholder levels.
• Basic project-management familiarity: comfortable using a project-tracking tool (e.g., MS Project, Jira, Asana) or equivalent experience managing timelines and dependencies.

Nice-to-Haves

Advanced Academic: MBA or master’s in Operations Management, Strategic Management, or a related discipline.

Certifications:

• Project Management Professional (PMP) or similar.
• Lean Six Sigma or equivalent process-improvement credential.
• Agile-related (e.g., Scrum Master, PMI-ACP).