Job Description
Vice President, Strategy and Enterprise Integration
SME - 4.0
Southfield, MI Job Details 1 day ago Benefits 403(b) matching Paid holidays Health insurance Dental insurance Paid time off Vision insurance 403(b) Qualifications Business development management Feature prioritization Project portfolio management Corporate partnership Strategic goal setting Program design Resource allocation (project management tasks) Performance management strategy Business analysis Portfolio performance measurement Team development Hiring Bachelor's degree Business alliance strategy Recruiting Leading team collaboration initiatives Project execution Networking through strategic partnership building Business development within technology Product strategy Investment analysis Workforce management Strategic partnerships Project leadership Cross-functional team management Staffing management Project stakeholder communication Market development strategies Cross-functional communication Senior leadership Full Job Description Responsible for ensuring SME's strategy, growth ideas, and new initiatives are market-validated, economically viable, organizationally integrated, and designed to scale. The Vice President, Strategy and Enterprise Integration sits at the center of SME executive leadership and works in close partnership with the CEO to translate mission and vision into a prioritized, integrated portfolio of initiatives—moving ideas from concept through feasibility, funding strategy, and go-to-market readiness before transitioning execution to appropriate department leaders. The role is highly collaborative and intentionally designed to prevent silos, leverage SME's full capabilities and value, and ensure that vertical strategies and new offerings reinforce one another. This role partners with other members of the SME executive leadership team to align workforce and technology strategies across the organization for measurable mission and outcomes. MAJOR FUNCTIONS
Co-own SME's enterprise strategic plan facilitation and development with the CEO, including product roadmaps, annual updates and long-range growth priorities. Architect and maintain a portfolio view of strategic initiatives, ensuring alignment across technology, workforce, events, membership, and partnerships. Identify opportunities for cross-vertical leverage (e.g., medical, automotive, defense, energy) where shared platforms, partners, or capabilities create compounded impact. Develop and maintain clear manufacturer segmentation strategies that differentiate how SME serves small and mid-sized manufacturers versus large manufacturers, ensuring enterprise coherence while allowing for tailored engagement and delivery models. Own and operate SME's enterprise stage-gate process for new business, program/product expansion, and strategic partnerships and pilots. Lead structured evaluation of ideas by assessing market demand and customer need, strategic alignment and differentiation, and organizational readiness and resource requirements Ensure leadership focus is inclusive of idea generation to disciplined prioritization and follow-through. Lead market feasibility analysis, including market size and demand validation, competitive analysis, and buyer and stakeholder discovery. Monitor competitive landscape and market dynamics and provide ongoing insights to the CEO and SME executive leadership team Oversee the organizational market intelligence function informing SME product roadmaps and strategies as well as thought leadership and messaging with external affairs. Develop business cases and operating models that define how initiatives scale sustainably. Identify and prioritize strategic funding pathways required to enable SME's growth initiatives and develop high-level funding roadmaps in partnership with Finance and External Affairs to support pilots, scaling, and long-term sustainability. Partner closely with the CFO to structure blended funding approaches (public, private, philanthropic, industry), seed pilots and design pathways for scaled investment, and evaluate business opportunities. For initiatives that clear stage-gate approval, define go-to-market strategy and target segments, determine build/buy/partner pathways, and identify staffing, capabilities, and ecosystem partners required for launch. Support early execution through initial pilots or market entry, then transition ownership to operational leaders for ongoing delivery. Ensure SME offerings are designed and positioned as integrated solutions tied to measurable industry outcomes, rather than standalone products or programs. Maintain an enterprise view of how SME's assets combine to deliver differentiated value by target audiences. Strategically convene industry members and experts to support market validation, solution shaping, and ecosystem alignment, in coordination with the CMO and other leaders. Establish and maintain a strategic performance framework that tracks progress against SME's enterprise strategic plan and priority initiatives. Monitor and report on the health of the enterprise initiative portfolio, including ideas and initiatives moving through the stage-gate process (e.g., intake, feasibility, pilot, scale, or stop). Define and track strategy-level, outcome-oriented metrics, such as market validation, adoption readiness, funding pathways identified or secured, and cross-enterprise leverage achieved. Provide the CEO and executive leadership with decision-oriented insights on strategic progress, risks, and trade-offs, enabling timely prioritization and course correction. Partner with the Vice President, Organizational Impact & Strategic Initiatives to ensure a clear handoff from strategic outcomes and intent to execution metrics and delivery accountability once initiatives are approved. Provide direction, coaching and leadership, ensuring effective recruitment, retention, talent development, performance management and alignment with SME's strategic and cultural priorities. Foster a high-performance culture of collaboration, accountability and innovation, that drives impact and is market driven, and advances SME's mission and strategic priorities. Negotiate and approve agreements and contracts in accordance with SME's policies to ensure strategic alignment, financial stewardship and regulatory compliance. Prepare and oversee annual department budget. Other duties as assigned MINIMUM EDUCATION, SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS
Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred (MBA, Organizational Leadership, Engineering, or related fields). At least 12 years of progressively responsible experience in enterprise strategy, corporate development, business planning, management consulting, portfolio management, venture building, or growth leadership. At least 5 years of experience managing and leading high-performing teams, including recruiting, developing and retaining talent and aligning team performance to organizational strategy and culture. Proven ability to develop and implement growth strategies, particularly expanding into new markets and emerging industries. Demonstrated success leading organizational initiatives, strategic partnerships, and externally funded programs. Deep understanding of manufacturing industry dynamics, workforce and advanced technology Exceptional cross-functional leadership skills and external relationship management. Experience working with academia, government, and corporate stakeholders Familiarity with federal and state funding mechanisms and industry consortia. Proven ability to develop, refresh, and operationalize enterprise strategy in a complex organization. Strong capability in portfolio prioritization, strategic trade-off decisions, and aligning cross-functional leaders around a shared direction. Experience building business cases and implementation roadmaps, including resource planning and go-to-market readiness. Experience designing and leading structured evaluation processes (e.g., stage-gate, investment review, venture incubation, portfolio governance). Exceptional ability to influence without authority, drive alignment, and integrate priorities across multiple executive leaders and business units Strong executive communication skills, including ability to deliver concise communication and materials and strategic updates. High judgment, discretion, and ability to operate as a trusted advisor to the CEO. Strong analytical capability, including comfort with data-driven decision making, KPI design (strategy-level outcomes), and portfolio monitoring. Prior experience operating within a mission-driven organization with a strong business orientation. KEY COMPETENCIES
Core Competencies:
Communication and Collaboration Relationship Management Professionalism and Integrity Critical Thinking and Decision-Making Execution Initiative, Leadership, and Development Leadership Competencies:
Leadership and Vision Talent Management and Development Change Leadership Job Specific Competencies:
Enterprise Strategy Architecture Portfolio Governance & Investment Discipline Market & Competitive Intelligence Business & Funding Strategy Development Strategic Trade-Off & Capital Allocation Decision-Making WORKING CONDITIONS
Normal office environment Primary office location: Southfield, MI Regular, in-person attendance required Travel required POSITION TITLE
Vice President, Strategy and Enterprise Integration GROUP:
Executive Office FLSA CLASSIFICATION
Exempt SME is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability and veteran status. Applicants must reside in the United States and be legally authorized to work in the U.S. without the need for sponsorship. In addition to base salary, SME offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, 403(b) with company matching, generous paid time off and holidays, professional development and training opportunities, and additional wellness and work-life balance benefits. Certain positions may also be eligible for bonus/incentive compensation, subject to role and company policies. SME is currently unable to hire employees residing in California, Colorado, Oregon, or Washington.
