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SMBC Group is a top-tier global financial group. Headquartered in Tokyo and with a 400-year history, SMBC Group offers a diverse range of financial services, including banking, leasing, securities, credit cards, and consumer finance. The Group has more than 130 offices and 80,000 employees worldwide in nearly 40 countries. Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, Inc. (SMFG) is the holding company of SMBC Group, which is one of the three largest banking groups in Japan. SMFG’s shares trade on the Tokyo, Nagoya, and New York (NYSE: SMFG) stock exchanges.

In the Americas, SMBC Group has a presence in the US, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. Backed by the capital strength of SMBC Group and the value of its relationships in Asia, the Group offers a range of commercial and investment banking services to its corporate, institutional, and municipal clients. It connects a diverse client base to local markets and the organization’s extensive global network. The Group’s operating companies in the Americas include Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp. (SMBC), SMBC Nikko Securities America, Inc., SMBC Capital Markets, Inc., SMBC MANUBANK, JRI America, Inc., SMBC Leasing and Finance, Inc., Banco Sumitomo Mitsui Brasileiro S.A., and Sumitomo Mitsui Finance and Leasing Co., Ltd.

The anticipated salary range for this role is between $179,000.00 and $230,000.00. The specific salary offered to an applicant will be based on their individual qualifications, experiences, and an analysis of the current compensation paid in their geography and the market for similar roles at the time of hire. The role may also be eligible for an annual discretionary incentive award. In addition to cash compensation, SMBC offers a competitive portfolio of benefits to its employees.

Role Description

SMBC, a prominent global financial institution, has experienced significant growth and success in our journey through the Americas Division (AD). The newly formed Organizational Strategy capability, within HR, will work to align SMBC’s structure, talent, culture, and capabilities with business strategy, cost discipline, and growth. We partner across HR, Finance, and Senior Business Leaders to drive organizational design, workforce and capacity planning, and skills and capability development through enterprise scalable, data-informed approaches. Reporting to the Head of Organizational and HR Strategy, the Workforce & Organizational Strategy lead will lead the Organizational Strategy team, integrating workforce planning, organizational and operating model design, and capability strategy with a systems view, to help HR and senior leaders make aligned, data-driven organizational decisions, creating enterprise consistent methodologies and alignment.

Role Objectives

+ Lead team engagements and ensure integration across organizational and operating model design, workforce planning, and skills strategy on priority business initiatives

+ Serve as strategic advisor to senior business leaders, translating enterprise / function strategy to organizational implications

+ Drive strategy and cross-functional alignment to build out enterprise approaches for workforce planning, capacity planning, and buy / build / borrow talent strategies and decisions, with Finance, People Analytics, HRBPs, and Business Leaders

+ Establish repeatable processes and planning cycles, integrated into other HR and business processes, and demonstrating clear business value

+ Leverage and strategically guide data-driven planning and modeling tools (i.e. Anaplan, OrgVue) to enable proactive, data-driven and value-based, cost-effective decisions

Qualifications and Skills

+ Advanced degree in Human Resources, Organizational Development, Business Administration, or a related field (e.g., MBA, MSOD) preferred.~12–15 years of progressive human capital consulting or HR leadership experience, with a strong focus on organizational effectiveness, organizational design, workforce planning, and strategic transformation.

+ Demonstrated expertise in systems thinking and the ability to connect enterprise-wide initiatives to talent and organizational strategies.

+ Demonstrated expertise in operating model and organizational design (strategy, implementation, and continuous improvement), including ability to adapt to various scales, build repeatable methodologies, and build capability in others.

+ Proven success in designing and implementing organizational models, operating models, and capacity planning frameworks that drive business performance.

+ Deep experience leading change initiatives, including culture change, in complex, matrixed environments, with a strong understanding of change leadership principles and stakeholder engagement.

+ Strong analytical and diagnostic skills, with the ability to interpret organizational data and translate insights into actionable strategies.

+ Track record of enhancing team effectiveness through targeted interventions, leadership development, and culture shaping.

+ Exceptional consultative and interpersonal skills, with the ability to influence C-level and senior leaders and build trusted partnerships across functions.

+ Strong business acumen and deep knowledge of HR best practices.

+ Experience with Banking and/or heavily regulated Financial Services environments and/or Japanese HQ company experience a plus.

+ Commitment to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace culture.

+ Ability to anticipate future workforce trends and proactively shape organizational strategies that align with business goals.

+ Embody and promote the organization’s core values in all initiatives and leadership behaviors.

Who Will Succeed in This Role

_You might be an ideal candidate if you:_

+ **Thrive in ambiguity and are energized by building from the ground up.** You’re excited by the opportunity to shape a new team and function, and you bring the structure, creativity, and resilience needed to lead through uncertainty.

+ **Are a visionary change driver with patience and pragmatism.** You know how to set a bold direction while pacing change to bring others along. You understand transformation in a regulated, culturally nuanced org requires influence, trust-building, and incremental wins.

+ **Have strong business acumen and a systems mindset.** You see the big picture and understand how organizational design, workforce planning, and team effectiveness intersect with business strategy. You use data and insight to guide decisions and anticipate future needs.

+ **Are a relationship builder and cross-functional influencer.** You excel at building credibility with senior leaders and peers across functions. You know how to navigate a matrixed environment and gain alignment without formal authority.

+ **Balance compliance with innovation.** You’re experienced in regulated industries and understand how to drive change while honoring legal, risk, and cultural considerations—especially in a Japanese corporate context.

Who This Role is Not For

_This role may not be a good fit if:_

+ **You prefer a steady-state environment.** If you’re most comfortable with well-established processes and predictable routines, this role’s evolving nature and need for strategic build-out may feel misaligned.

+ **You lean heavily on operational HR.** While operational excellence is critical in all we do, this role is focused on strategic advisory and transformation—not day-to-day HR administration.

+ **You’re uncomfortable with ambiguity or change.** If you prefer clear roadmaps and minimal disruption, the pace and complexity of this environment may be challenging.

+ **You avoid financial and data-driven decision-making.** This role requires comfort with analytics, pattern recognition, detailed cost analysis and ability to engage and influence Finance/FP&A and using insights to shape strategy and influence stakeholders.

Additional Requirements

D&I Commitment

Responsible for fostering a culture of diversity and inclusion, holding leaders accountable for creating an inclusive environment through awareness and practice of equity in recruiting, developing, and promoting diverse talent.

SMBC’s employees participate in a Hybrid workforce model that provides employees with an opportunity to work from home, as well as, from an SMBC office. SMBC requires that employees live within a reasonable commuting distance of their office location. Prospective candidates will learn more about their specific hybrid work schedule during their interview process. Hybrid work may not be permitted for certain roles, including, for example, certain FINRA-registered roles for which in-office attendance for the entire workweek is required.

SMBC provides reasonable accommodations during candidacy for applicants with disabilities consistent with applicable federal, state, and local law. If you need a reasonable accommodation during the application process, please let us know at [email protected].