Strategic Initiatives Specialist

The Strategic Initiatives Specialist supports the execution of the Founder’s strategic priorities through research, analysis, executive materials, and cross-functional project coordination. Reporting to the Manager, Founder’s Office, this hands-on individual contributor independently drives assigned initiatives from planning through completion, proactively identifying gaps, risks, and issues requiring leadership direction. The role works through coordination and influence and does not have independent authority to direct portfolio businesses, commit resources, approve investments, or communicate on behalf of the Founder unless specifically authorized.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Initiative Execution

• Execute assigned Founder’s Office initiatives by translating priorities into clear workplans, deliverables, milestones, and next steps.
• Coordinate cross-functional workstreams, track commitments, and follow up with stakeholders to maintain momentum.
• Identify risks, dependencies, and stalled decisions; escalate matters requiring leadership direction to the Manager, Founder’s Office.
• Drive initiatives through completion, closure, or transition to the appropriate business or functional owner.

Research, Analysis & Decision Support

• Conduct targeted business, industry, market, competitor, and portfolio research.
• Analyze and synthesize financial, operational, qualitative, and external information into concise, executive-ready insights.
• Prepare decision briefs outlining key facts, options, assumptions, risks, tradeoffs, and recommended next steps.
• Verify the accuracy and completeness of information presented to Founder’s Office and senior leadership.

Executive & Meeting Support

• Prepare presentations, briefings, dashboards, pre-reads, talking points, and other executive materials.
• Gather and organize information from business and functional leaders for priority meetings and decisions.
• Document decisions, action items, owners, deadlines, and follow-up requirements.
• Provide research and drafting support for selected communications and stakeholder engagements in partnership with the appropriate functional owners.

Portfolio & Stakeholder Coordination

• Develop a working understanding of Krause Group businesses, priorities, leaders, and key developments.
• Gather and organize portfolio information to support enterprise visibility and Founder’s Office priorities.
• Coordinate information and follow-through across portfolio leaders, shared services, external partners, and advisors.
• Identify cross-business connections, dependencies, opportunities, and matters requiring leadership awareness.

Founder’s Office Operations

• Maintain project plans, status dashboards, decision logs, action registers, and supporting documentation.
• Monitor deadlines, deliverables, decisions, and outstanding commitments across assigned initiatives.
• Prepare regular updates highlighting progress, upcoming priorities, risks, overdue actions, and decisions needed.
• Develop templates and recommend process improvements that strengthen Founder’s Office execution and information flow.

Special Projects, Risk & Confidentiality

• Execute time-sensitive, confidential, or emerging assignments that may not fit within an established function.
• Quickly build knowledge of unfamiliar topics and organize the research, stakeholders, and actions needed to advance the work.
• Identify and elevate material operational, financial, legal, reputational, or stakeholder risks.
• Handle sensitive information with discretion and follow applicable approval processes, records practices, and organizational boundaries.
• Support selected Growth & Investments assignments through research and project coordination without duplicating that team’s investment or transaction responsibilities.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Position has no formal leadership responsibilities and no direct reports.

Level of Supervision Received

• This position will have access to supervision as needed to resolve issues or problems.

Experience

• 2+ years of experience in strategic initiatives, project coordination, business analysis, consulting, executive-office support, or a related field.
• 2+ years of experience conducting research, developing executive-ready materials, and coordinating cross-functional projects preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, communications, or a related field; or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• Experience supporting senior leaders or working on confidential, time-sensitive initiatives preferred.
• Experience in a multi-business, investment, family-owned, or international organization preferred.

Skills and Competencies

• Strong analytical and critical-thinking skills, with the ability to research unfamiliar topics and synthesize complex information.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to prepare concise, executive-ready presentations and briefing materials.
• Ability to translate ambiguous priorities into organized workplans, clear deliverables, and actionable next steps.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and stakeholders.
• Proficiency with spreadsheets, presentation software, and project-tracking tools.
• Strong interpersonal and collaboration skills, with the ability to build trusted relationships across organizational levels and functions.
• Demonstrated initiative, ownership, resourcefulness, and consistent follow-through.
• Sound judgment and discretion when handling confidential or sensitive information.
• Ability to work independently while recognizing when to seek direction or escalate risks.
• Learning agility and adaptability in a fast-paced, evolving, multi-industry environment.
• Strategic and enterprise-minded, with strong attention to detail and a practical bias toward execution.

Duties and responsibilities, as required by business necessity may be added, deleted, or changed at any time at the discretion of management, formally or informally, either verbally or in writing. Scheduling, assignments, and work location may be changed at any time, as required by business necessity.

Krause Group believes in People First. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer building a culture of equity and inclusion.

Krause Group Purpose

Our purpose is to enhance the way people experience the world.

Krause Group Mission

Our mission is to nurture our family of brands, creating opportunities to do good in the world.

Krause Group Values

• Agility- We challenge the status quo with open minds, flexibility, and speed. We are comfortable being uncomfortable. We view change as opportunity.
• Courage -We take risks. We innovate. We win or learn. We push limits, disrupt norms, and define our own path.
• Growth Mindset - We are building an organization and legacy that will outlive us. We are continuously learning. There is no final-destination, only the journey to be better than we were yesterday.
• Inclusion -We actively seek and welcome alternative points of view. Diverse perspectives improve decision-making and make us all more successful.
• Integrity - We do the right thing, even when it’s difficult. We do not take shortcuts and always take accountability.
• Community Focused -We are committed to positively impacting our communities, stakeholders, and associates. We do good and encourage others to join us.