Head - Strategy and Planning at Axiata Digital Labs

Colombo, Western Province, Sri Lanka -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

01 Jun, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

03 Mar, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Strategy Formulation, Strategic Planning, Business Planning, Financial Modelling, Performance Management, Governance Frameworks, Decision Support, Investment Analysis, Cross-functional Leadership, Stakeholder Engagement, Strategic Analysis, Forecasting, Valuation, Executive Presentation, Influencing Skills, Problem-Solving

Industry

IT Services and IT Consulting

Description

Scope & Authority Lead the formulation, refreshing, and execution of corporate strategy in alignment with shareholder and Axiata Group objectives Own the enterprise-wide annual business planning and rolling forecast processes Establish strategic planning, performance management, and governance frameworks across the organization Provide strategic insights, recommendations, and decision support to the CEO, Executive Committee, and Board Challenge assumptions, evaluate strategic options, and influence investment and resource allocation decisions Lead cross-functional strategic initiatives, transformation programs, and special projects Represent the company in Group-level strategy, planning, and performance forums Key Responsibilities Strategy Formulation Lead the development of the organizations long-term corporate strategy, aligned with shareholder objectives and Axiata Group strategic priorities Conduct strategic analysis including market trends, competitive landscape, industry disruptions, and internal capabilities to inform strategic choices Facilitate strategic discussions with the SLT and Board, providing fact-based insights, scenarios, and strategic options Define strategic themes, priorities, and initiatives that support growth, profitability, and transformation Ensure strategic coherence across business units, functions, and investments Strategic Planning Lead the annual and long-range business planning process, translating strategy into integrated financial and operational plans Drive alignment between strategic objectives, budgets, forecasts, and capital allocation Work closely with Finance to ensure consistency between strategy, financial planning, and performance targets Establish planning assumptions, guardrails, and performance benchmarks to ensure disciplined and realistic plans. Support business units and functional leaders in developing strategic initiatives, business cases, and investment proposals Business Planning & Financial Modelling Lead the annual business planning cycle and rolling forecasts across all business units Review and challenge assumptions underlying business plans to ensure robustness and achievability Oversee development of financial models, feasibility studies, and investment appraisals Support strategic partnerships, M&A, and expansion initiatives from a planning and valuation perspective Strategic Execution Monitoring Design and oversee the enterprise performance management framework, including KPIs, scorecards, and strategic dashboards Monitor strategy execution progress, identifying risks, gaps, and corrective actions required to achieve strategic outcomes Track delivery of strategic initiatives and transformation programs, ensuring benefits realization and value creation Embed a performance-driven culture focused on outcomes, execution discipline, and continuous improvement Performance Management Monitor organizational performance against strategic objectives and business plans Drive performance reviews with senior leadership, identifying gaps, risks, and corrective actions Provide consolidated performance insights and recommendations to ExCo and Board Stakeholder & Board Engagement Act as a trusted advisor to the CEO and senior leadership on strategic matters Engage with Axiata Group stakeholders on strategy, planning, and performance reporting Lead preparation of Board papers, dashboards, and strategic updates Communicate strategy clearly across the organization to build alignment and ownership Person Specifications Bachelors degree in business, Economics, Finance, Engineering, or a related discipline Masters degree (MBA / MSc) is strongly preferred Professional qualifications (CIMA, CFA, ACCA or equivalent) are an advantage Minimum 10–12 years of progressive experience in strategy, corporate planning, consulting, or performance management Prior experience in large corporates, conglomerates, telecoms, or strategy consulting is highly desirable Proven exposure to Board-level engagement and executive decision support Strong understanding of corporate strategy frameworks, business planning, and performance management. Solid commercial and financial acumen, including valuation and investment analysis Understanding of market dynamics, competition, and regulatory environments Familiarity with enterprise performance tools, dashboards, and analytics Exceptional strategic thinking, analytical, and problem-solving skills Strong financial modeling and business case development capability Excellent communication, storytelling, and executive presentation skills High-impact stakeholder management and influencing skills Ability to manage complexity, ambiguity, and competing priorities Ability to translate vision into actionable strategies and execution plans Ability to challenge senior leaders constructively and influence outcomes Ability to lead cross-functional teams without direct authority Ability to balance strategic thinking with operational execution High integrity, credibility, and professional maturity Proactive, results-driven, and future-oriented mindset Resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced, evolving environment Strong ownership, accountability, and attention to quality

Responsibilities

This role leads the formulation, refreshing, and execution of corporate strategy, aligning with shareholder and group objectives, while owning the enterprise-wide annual business planning and rolling forecast processes. Key duties include establishing performance management frameworks and providing strategic decision support to executive leadership and the Board.