Strategic Officer

The Strategic Officer plays a pivotal role in driving strategic oversight, governance, and execution excellence during the establishment of the digital bank. This role ensures alignment between project execution and the bank’s long-term strategic objectives, while maintaining strong regulatory engagement with Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM).

Acting as a central coordination point across cross-functional teams, the Strategic Officer is responsible for monitoring progress, managing risks, optimizing resource allocation, and ensuring that all initiatives are delivered in line with timelines, budgets, and regulatory expectations.

During the setup phase, this role is critical in ensuring that the digital bank’s infrastructure, operating model, and governance framework are established efficiently, compliantly, and sustainably.

SCOPE & AUTHORITY

Strategic Planning & Execution

Collaborate with senior stakeholders to define strategic priorities, project objectives, scope, and success metrics.
Translate business strategy into actionable plans, timelines, and deliverables.
Drive alignment across all workstreams to ensure coherence with the bank’s overall strategic direction.
Identify strategic risks and opportunities, proposing mitigation and optimization plans.

Programme Governance & Performance Management

Establish and maintain governance structures, frameworks, and reporting standards.
Track milestones, deliverables, and performance metrics across all initiatives.
Identify deviations, risks, and bottlenecks, and recommend corrective actions.
Ensure projects are delivered on time, within budget, and according to quality standards.

Financial Inclusion Strategy

Partner with business leads to embed financial inclusion principles into products, services, and delivery frameworks.
Drive initiatives to expand access and improve financial outcomes for underserved and unserved segments, in alignment with national priorities and BNM objectives.
Lead the Financial Inclusion Working Group to ensure timely delivery of BNM KPIs and fulfilment of strategic commitments.

Regulatory & Compliance Oversight

Maintain up-to-date knowledge of BNM regulations, guidelines, and policies related to digital banking.
Ensure all initiatives comply with regulatory requirements and expectations.
Work closely with Legal and Compliance teams to embed regulatory considerations into project execution.

Regulatory Engagement (BNM Liaison)

Serve as the primary point of contact between the digital bank and Bank Negara Malaysia.
Manage regulatory communications, submissions, and reporting requirements.
Coordinate responses to BNM queries, requests, and assessments.
Facilitate discussions, approvals, and alignment with regulatory expectations throughout the establishment phase.

Stakeholder Management & Communication

Engage and influence internal and external stakeholders to drive alignment and decision-making.
Establish clear communication channels across business, technology, and regulatory teams.
Provide timely updates to leadership on progress, risks, and strategic insights.
Manage stakeholder expectations and address concerns proactively.

Documentation & Reporting

Oversee the preparation of strategic reports, dashboards, and executive updates.
Ensure accurate documentation of plans, decisions, risks, and outcomes.
Coordinate submission of required reports and documentation to BNM within stipulated timelines.
Track and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) and compliance milestones.

Change & Transformation Support

Support change management initiatives to enable smooth transition into the digital banking environment.
Promote adoption of new processes, governance structures, and technologies.
Coordinate training and awareness initiatives where required.

Relationship Management

Build and maintain strong, professional relationships with BNM and other key stakeholders.
Foster a collaborative, transparent, and trust-based engagement environment.
Act as a strategic partner to both internal teams and regulatory bodies.

Job Requirements & Criteria:

7–10 years of relevant experience in strategy, PMO, digital banking, financial services, or transformation roles, with at least 3–5 years in a strategic or governance capacity.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Finance, Information Technology, or a related field.
Professional certification (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2) is an advantage.
Strong understanding of digital banking, financial services operations, and regulatory frameworks.
Experience engaging with regulatory authorities, preferably Bank Negara Malaysia.
Proven ability in strategic planning, governance, and cross-functional coordination.
Strong analytical thinking and ability to translate strategy into execution.
Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
Ability to interpret and operationalise regulatory requirements.
Familiarity with project/program management tools is an added advantage.