What does a Strategic Planner do?
Published 4 min read
A strategic planner is responsible for developing and implementing marketing plans that promote a company's products or services. They work with other members of the marketing team to identify the target audience, create messaging, and choose the most effective channels for reaching customers. They also track results and adjust the plan as needed to ensure that objectives are met.
Strategic Planner job duties include:
- Research and analyze industry trends, economic conditions, and other data that affects the organization
- Develop short- and long-term plans to achieve the organization’s goals
- Create strategies to increase market share, grow revenue, and improve profitability
- Evaluate opportunities for mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures
- Identify and assess risks associated with the organization’s strategic initiatives
- Develop contingency plans to mitigate risks
- Monitor implementation of the strategic plan and make adjustments as needed
- Prepare reports for the Board of Directors and senior management detailing progress on the strategic plan
- Facilitate workshops with key stakeholders to gain input on the strategic direction of the organization
Strategic Planner Job Requirements
A strategic planner is a professional who helps organizations formulate and achieve their long-term goals. Strategic planners typically have a background in business administration, economics, or public policy. Many strategic planners also have a master's degree or higher in business administration or public policy. In addition to formal education, strategic planners must have strong analytical and problem-solving skills. They must be able to think creatively and develop innovative solutions to complex problems. Strategic planners must also be excellent communicators, both written and oral, and be able to effectively present their ideas to senior management.
Strategic Planner Skills
- Analytical
- Strategic
- Creative
- Flexible
- Innovative
- Organized
- Multi-tasking
- Leadership
- Communication
- Problem solving
- Decision making
Related: Top Strategic Planner Skills: Definition and Examples
How to become a Strategic Planner
There is no one-size-fits-all answer to becoming a strategic planner, as the role requires both hard and soft skills that can be acquired through a variety of means. However, there are some key steps that anyone interested in becoming a strategic planner can take to increase their chances of success.
First, it is important to develop strong research and analytical skills. Strategic planners need to be able to understand and make sense of complex data sets in order to identify trends and develop recommendations. There are many ways to improve research and analytical skills, but taking courses in economics, statistics, or market research can be a good place to start.
In addition to strong research skills, strategic planners also need to be excellent communicators. They need to be able to clearly articulate their ideas and recommendations to clients or senior management. Taking courses in public speaking or writing can help develop these communication skills.
Finally, it is also important for strategic planners to have a good understanding of business. Understanding how businesses operate and the various functions within a company can help strategic planners develop more effective plans. Courses in business administration or management can provide this type of knowledge.
While there is no single path to becoming a strategic planner, developing strong research, analytical, communication, and business skills will increase your chances of success in this field.
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