IT Strategy & Planning Sr. Manager

At Henderson, we're about more than just buildings
We're about the people, experiences, and longevity of a building. We’re a company of problem-solvers and innovators known for our technical excellence and ability to provide come up with out-of-the-box solutions when it comes to design and construction. We love the process of bringing buildings to life – and keeping them in shape long after the doors open.

As an ESOP, each of our employee-owners are an essential part of our mission to lead the industry in innovation, sustainability, and client experience. With a vision to build a better world, Team Henderson has a people-first culture and diverse portfolio of world-class facilities.

It's What We Do
We provide total building system design and construction services across multiple high-growth markets throughout the country for industry leaders. You'll get to use your talent to work on projects for some of the biggest names in mission-critical, higher education, sports, healthcare, grocery, restaurant, and retail within the sectors we serve in business, community, grocery, health, retail, and venue.

It's How We're Different
We're about more than just buildings. We're about you. You, and the hundreds of passionate employee-owners who make us who we are. We’ve always been committed to providing an inclusive workplace where people can bring their full self to work and helps people reach their full potential – both as professionals and individuals. Together, we provide dream up innovative solutions for our clients industry-wide problems, design and construct spaces that become landmarks, and toast the good life at our happy hours. Take a peek into what makes us different here: https://youtu.be/AIt17t_uJ-A?si=oSMy5zQeUcb_faE3

Position Summary
The IT Strategy & Planning Sr Manager leads the development and maturation of Henderson’s IT service management capabilities, establishing the operating model, processes, governance framework, and performance discipline required to deliver reliable, scalable, and business-aligned IT services. This role oversees critical IT management functions including program and project oversight, change and knowledge management, IT performance reporting, and enterprise architecture. Partnering closely with IT leadership and business stakeholders, this role defines priorities, process improvements, and ensures IT initiatives are executed with appropriate structure, communication, and accountability. This role also champions ITIL-aligned practices, standards, and continuous improvement frameworks to strengthen service delivery, increase operational maturity, and support the successful execution of Henderson’s IT strategy. Serving as a strategic advisor and execution partner to the CIO, this role represents IT leadership in governance, planning, and performance management activities.
Essential Job Functions & Accountabilities
Service Management & Governance

• Lead the design and maintain ITIL-aligned service management processes including incident, problem, change, and request management.
• Define governance structures, roles, and decision rights to ensure consistent execution of IT policies, standards, and service expectations.
• Partner with IT leaders to ensure service performance meets agreed service levels and business needs.

Program & Project Oversight

• Oversight of key IT projects to ensure scope, timeline, budget, and risk are actively managed and communicated.
• Establish consistent IT project management standards, templates, and reporting practices to improve execution discipline and visibility.
• Lead prioritization and sequencing of IT work through structured intake and alignment with strategic objectives.

Strategy & Planning

• Lead the development and ongoing refinement of the IT strategic plan in collaboration with IT leadership and business stakeholders.
• Translate strategic goals into actionable road maps, annual plans, and initiative sequencing that support business priorities.
• Lead strategic planning activities such as technology assessments, capability gap analysis, and future-state operating needs.
• Partner with Finance to support IT budget planning, forecasting, and financial reporting, ensuring alignment between strategic priorities, project roadmaps, and operational spending.

Performance, Metrics & Continuous Improvement

• Define and maintain IT performance metrics and dashboards that measure operational health, project outcomes, and strategic progress.
• Establish a continuous improvement framework to identify inefficiencies, strengthen IT processes, and improve service delivery outcomes.
• Provide recurring executive reporting on IT performance trends, risks, and improvement initiatives.

People Leadership

• Lead and coordinate talent across the IT organization through a combination of direct management and matrix leadership, ensuring teams are aligned to strategic priorities and positioned to deliver measurable business outcomes.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, psychological safety, and continuous improvement through servant leadership and team coaching.
• Ensure effective work intake, prioritization, and progress tracking to deliver progress against firm priorities.

Core Competencies

Communication

• Breaks down communication barriers and drives a timely exchange of critical information.
• Unites diverse ideas to achieve best results.
• Communicates comfortably with a wide variety of stakeholders, adapting naturally to ensure message is clear and appropriate for the audience and situation.

Integrity

• Leads with humility and tenacity, sharing lessons learned to help others build resiliency.
• Demonstrates great care and consideration for others, acting boldly to do the right thing.
• Aligns actions and words and prioritizes candor to build trust and a culture of accountability.

Quality Orientation

• Drives process improvements, employee development, and strategic upskilling that align with the future needs of the industry to keep the company competitive.
• Communicates the passion and vision that motivates others to achieve high-quality outcomes and an exceptional client experience.
• Empowers others to navigate ambiguity maintaining consistent standards of service and results, even when faced with challenges.

Teamwork/Inclusion

• Acts with a sophisticated level of empathy and emotional maturity to build community, strong networks, and high-performing teams.
• Values the advantages of diversity, fostering a culture of partnerships that leverages a diverse workforce and connects people through work to create success.
• Normalizes discussions of diverse, sensitive societal topics.

Continuous Learning

• Interfaces with industry leaders to maintain accurate pulse of relevant market/s and advance company goals.
• Builds an environment that rewards learning, initiative, and innovative ways of doing things.
• Aligns leadership development with current and future company needs.

Functional/Technical Expertise

• Clarifies company vision, goals, and strategies, aligns performance metrics appropriately, and provides ongoing leadership to maximize success.
• Leverages expertise and depth of experience to manage risks with opportunity.
• Wins buy-in and consensus by building solid businesses cases and making decisions in the best interest of the firm and with respect to all stakeholders.

Leadership
INSPIRES THE ORGANIZATION

• Personifies the values of the organization, defining and embodying the organizational culture and vision.
• Leads purposefully through ambiguity and change, exhibiting a determined, futuristic mindset and the ability to inspire and empower others to bring ideas to life.

FOCUSES ON CLIENT EXPERIENCE

• Embraces change, proactively seeking ways to ensure the company is ready for the future needs of our clients.
• Sees client services as a dynamic process that requires an evergreen, innovative approach, developing and leading long-term business strategies and solutions that keep the firm competitive.

DEVELOPS THE STRENGTHS OF OTHERS

• Mentors and enables leaders to build strong, diverse, change-ready teams, playing a key role in bringing on strategic and top talent when necessary.
• Speaks with candor, even when it is difficult or uncomfortable to ensure others are continuously learning and growing.

DRIVES ACCOUNTABILITY, QUALITY, AND INNOVATION

• Fosters a climate where all employee-owners feel accountable for the firm’s financial success and responsible for producing high-quality work.
• Empowers others to contribute imaginative solutions and challenge the status quo, rewarding the spirit of innovation, especially when change is necessary.

Required Education, Experience, Licenses & Technical Competencies

• Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, Business Administration, or related field. Relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of degree.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in Information Technology, including roles supporting IT operations, service delivery, governance, or enterprise technology initiatives, with 5+ years in IT leadership highly preferred.11+ years of experience required without a degree in a related field.
• Proven ability to design, implement, and mature IT Service Management (ITSM) practices aligned to ITIL frameworks.
• Experience establishing and maintaining IT governance structures, standards, and operating procedures across IT teams.
• Strong understanding of organizational change management practices, including communication planning, adoption enablement, and stakeholder engagement.
• Experience defining, implementing, and maintaining IT performance metrics, KPIs, service reporting, and executive dashboards.
• Ability to develop and facilitate IT strategy, annual planning, and roadmap development in collaboration with IT leadership and business stakeholders.
• Foundational understanding of enterprise architecture concepts, technology standards, and roadmap planning.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to evaluate service performance trends, identify root causes, and recommend continuous improvement initiatives.
• Awareness of IT security principles, compliance requirements, and risk management practices relevant to enterprise environments.
• Proven ability to build, mentor, and influence teams while driving accountability and execution discipline.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate effectively with both technical teams and non-technical business stakeholders.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, business and financial acumen, including executive-level reporting and facilitation.
• Must demonstrate proficiency in all core competencies as described and characterized in this job description.

Physical & Other Requirements

• Prolonged periods of sitting or standing at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to read, write and communicate in English.
• If remote, travel to Lenexa or other Henderson offices will be required (10%)

Let's Talk Perks
We take care of our people. As a Henderson employee, you'll enjoy some pretty awesome perks. Trust us, your friends will all have work envy.

Culture

• Flexible Work Hours (Because we all need to balance work and life.)
• Casual Dress Code (Be yourself, please.)
• Paid Volunteer Time (We literally pay you to volunteer.)
• Paid Parental Leave (Because we know both parents deserve to be there for a new child.)
• Health and Wellness Initiatives (Get Fit and Stay Fit.)
• Receptive and Forward-Thinking Leadership (Our doors are always open.)
• Clear Career Path Options (We want you to excel.)

Benefits

• Industry-leading 401K match and profit sharing (When the company succeeds, we all share in that success.)
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (Yes, our employees are the owners.)
• Paid Training for Professional Development (We’ll pay for the time you take getting better at what you do.)
• Performance Bonuses (When you do well, we reward you for your work.)
• Comprehensive and Extensive Insurance (We’ve got you covered.)
• Paid Term Life and Disability (We’ve got your family covered, too.)
• Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Accounts (We'll help you take advantage of tax savings.)
• Paid Time Off and Sick Time off (Take a break. You deserve it!)
• Financial Wellness & Coaching Program (Financial security makes you a happier team member.)

More information can be found here - https://www.hendersonengineers.com/careers/.

Henderson Engineers, Inc. and Henderson Building Solutions are EEO Employers/Vet/Disabled and participate in the E-Verify program.
Applicants for positions with Henderson Engineers/Henderson Building Solutions must be legally authorized to work in the United States, and verification of eligibility will be required at the time of commencement of employment.
All offers will be contingent upon completion of the hiring process including verifications and background checks as required for employment.

To all recruitment agencies: Henderson does not accept unsolicited resumes from search firms or agencies. Any resume submitted to any employee of Henderson without a prior written search agreement will be considered unsolicited and the property of Henderson. Please, no phone calls or emails.

NOTICE TO CANDIDATES: RECRUITMENT FRAUD ALERT
Henderson representatives conduct all email communications exclusively through a company email address that ends with @hendersonengineers.com, @hendersonbuilding.com. We extend offers of employment only after a comprehensive interview process and will never ask you for a payment of any sort nor offer one for any reason. Henderson will not ask any applicant to purchase equipment, nor offer to reimburse any applicant for expenses incurred prior to employment. We will not request personal information until a legitimate offer of employment has been extended. If you suspect a recruitment attempt is fraudulent, you should cease communications. All legitimate job opportunities are posted on our company website’s careers page.