Managing Director, Head OF Strategic Initiatives

About Cresset

Cresset is a firm built by clients, for clients. As an independent, award-winning multi-family office and private investment firm, we are reimagining the way wealth is experienced. Our purpose is to help ensure that both wealth and life are fully optimized-integrated, intentional, and aligned with each client's vision of success.

We provide access to the caliber of talent, ideas, and investment opportunities typically available to the largest single-family offices and institutions. Our approach is personalized, entrepreneurial, and client-first.

Proudly owned by our clients and employees, Cresset was built to endure. We are creating a 100+ year firm-one focused on delivering an exceptional experience, not only for the families we serve but for the team that serves them. Recognized by Barron's and Forbes among the nation's top RIA firms, and as one of the industry's best places to work,* Cresset is guided by long-term relationships, shared success, and a belief that wealth should serve a life well lived.

Job Summary

Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the Managing Director, Head of Strategic Initiatives drives enterprise-wide strategic planning, governance, alignment, and execution across Cresset. As a trusted partner and advisor to the CEO and senior leadership team, this individual works closely with leaders and team members across the firm to help define the firm's short- and long-term strategic priorities, translate vision into actionable initiatives, and ensure disciplined execution against the firm's most important business objectives.

This role operates at the center of the organization, providing enterprise-wide visibility across key initiatives, business priorities, operational challenges, and growth opportunities. The Managing Director, Head of Strategic Initiatives facilitates alignment across leadership, helps surface and resolve complex organizational issues, and drives accountability for execution in a dynamic and fast-growing environment.

The ideal candidate brings a combination of strategic rigor, executive presence, operational discipline, and strong business judgment, with prior experience in management consulting, financial services, or similarly complex, high-performance organizations. This individual must be highly collaborative, intellectually curious, exceptionally organized, and capable of influencing across teams without formal authority. The role requires regular travel with members of the executive leadership team and a high degree of discretion in handling sensitive and confidential business matters.

Key Responsibilities

Enterprise Strategy & Planning

• Partner closely with the CEO and Management Committee to develop, communicate, and execute Cresset's enterprise strategy and long-term business priorities.
• Lead Cresset's strategic planning process, including development of multi-year strategic objectives, annual goals, and enterprise-level initiatives.
• Partner with Finance and senior leaders to translate strategic priorities into measurable outcomes and scorecards.

Executive Governance & Decision Support

• Design and manage the operating cadence for the Board of Directors, Management Committee, Executive Leadership team, and other senior leadership forums.
• Develop agendas, materials, executive presentations, and follow-up processes that support focused discussion, clear decisions, and paths to execution.
• Synthesize complex business issues into clear recommendations, decision points, and recommended action plans.

Strategic Execution & Accountability

• Monitor progress against strategic initiatives, identify risks or execution gaps, and proactively escalate issues requiring leadership attention.
• Help establish governance structures, accountability frameworks, and operating rhythms for emerging initiatives and enterprise programs.
• Maintain an enterprise-wide view of priorities, organizational dynamics, and cross-functional dependencies.

Enterprise Initiatives & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Lead or support high-priority cross-functional initiatives, transformation efforts, and special projects on behalf of the CEO and executive leadership team such as AI enablement, data governance, operational scalability, and business continuity planning.
• Partner across Advisory, Investments, Technology, Operations, Finance, Marketing, HR, Legal, and Compliance to drive enterprise-wide coordination and execution.
• Support enterprise change management efforts and help drive organizational alignment during periods of growth and evolution.

Leadership Team Support

• Serve as a trusted, strategic thought partner to executive leadership on organizational priorities and business challenges.
• Represent the CEO and/or Management Committee in select internal and external meetings, as appropriate.