Principal, Strategy

Be part of an amazing story.

Macy’s is more than just a store. We’re a story. One that’s captured the hearts and minds of America for more than 160 years. A story about innovations and traditions…about inspiring stores and irresistible products…about the excitement of the Macy’s 4th of July Fireworks, and the wonder of the Thanksgiving Day Parade. We’ve been part of memorable moments and milestones for countless customers and colleagues. Those stories are part of what makes this such a special place to work.

Job Overview

The Principal, Strategy operates at the intersection of strategy, transformation, and execution, translating enterprise objectives into coordinated action across functions, geographies, and stakeholder groups. This role leads complex, enterprise-wide initiatives, drives operating model transformation, influences executive decision-making, manages external partners, and ensures the successful delivery of strategic outcomes at scale.

As a key member of the strategy function, the Principal, Strategy serves as a connective leader across project teams, functional stakeholders, and third-party vendors, fostering alignment, accountability, and execution excellence. This role orchestrates cross-functional efforts, removes barriers to progress, and maintains momentum against critical business priorities while ensuring initiatives remain aligned with enterprise goals.

The Principal, Strategy provides leadership with real-time, decision-ready insights into implementation progress, key risks, and transformational outcomes. This role proactively identifies and mitigates risks, strengthens coordination across teams, and drives seamless transitions that improve operational efficiency, quality, and long-term organizational capacity. Success in this position is measured by the ability to deliver high-priority initiatives with precision, achieve transformational objectives, and enable informed executive decision-making.

Combining strategic thinking, program leadership, and executive influence, the Principal, Strategy is accountable for the end-to-end orchestration and delivery of complex, high-impact initiatives. This position reports to the Senior Director, Strategy.

What You Will Do

Strategic Orchestration & Execution

• Translate strategic priorities into integrated workplans, milestones, and execution roadmaps, adapting plans based on business needs, risks, and emerging insights.
• Coordinate activities across multiple workstreams to ensure alignment, integration, and successful execution.

Enterprise Program Leadership & Governance

• Lead governance processes for assigned initiatives, including executive steering committees, decision forums, reporting cadences, and escalation pathways.
• Provide senior leadership with clear, decision-ready visibility into program progress, risks, dependencies, key milestones, and trade-offs.
• Drive accountability across stakeholders and external partners by establishing clear ownership, expectations, and follow-through on critical deliverables.
• Standardize program management practices, operating rhythms, and reporting frameworks to promote consistency and execution excellence.
• Proactively identify and resolve risks, obstacles, dependencies, and organizational friction points that may impact delivery.
• Escalate critical issues with actionable recommendations and mitigation strategies to enable timely decision-making.

Executive Advisory & Decision Support

• Synthesize complex information into concise recommendations, insights, and executive-level presentations.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to Executive Sponsors and senior leaders, influencing strategic decisions through data-driven insights and structured problem-solving.

Cross-Functional Integration

• Act as the primary point of coordination across functions, geographies, and external partners to drive alignment and execution.
• Resolve cross-functional and vendor-related issues, establish priorities, and ensure teams remain focused on shared objectives and outcomes.
• Foster an environment of acceptance and respect that strengthens relationships, and ensures authentic connections with colleagues, customers, and communities. 
• In addition to the essential duties mentioned above, other duties may be assigned.

Skills You Will Need

Strategic Planning & Execution: Ability to translate enterprise priorities into actionable roadmaps, orchestrate complex initiatives, and drive execution against strategic objectives.

Enterprise Program Leadership: Ability to lead large-scale, cross-functional transformation programs, establish governance structures, manage interdependencies, and ensure delivery of business outcomes.

Executive Influence & Stakeholder Management: Ability to build credibility with senior leaders, influence decisions, align diverse stakeholders, and drive accountability across internal and external partners.

Strategic Thinking & Business Acumen: Ability to connect program activities to enterprise goals, assess trade-offs, and make recommendations that create long-term business value.

Cross-Functional Leadership: Ability to coordinate work across functions, geographies, and vendors, fostering alignment, collaboration, and shared ownership of results.

Executive Communication & Storytelling: Ability to synthesize complex information into clear, concise, and compelling insights, presentations, and recommendations tailored to executive audiences.

Risk Management & Problem Solving: Ability to anticipate risks, identify barriers to execution, navigate ambiguity, and drive timely resolution of complex issues.

Program Governance & Operational Excellence: Ability to establish operating rhythms, reporting frameworks, decision-making processes, and program management disciplines that support execution excellence.

Change Management & Transformation Leadership: Ability to lead organizational transformation efforts, guide teams through change, and deliver sustainable improvements in operating effectiveness.

Vendor & Partner Management: Ability to manage external partners, align expectations, monitor performance, and ensure successful delivery of strategic commitments.

Who You Are

• Candidates with a bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience in a related field are encouraged to apply. 5+ years of experience in strategy, transformation, program leadership, or management consulting.

• This role involves performing essential job functions such as communication, collaboration, and use of office and computer systems. Responsibilities include the ability to access and review written and electronic information, and to move within the work environment and interact with workplace materials as needed to carry out job responsibilities.

• Able to work a flexible schedule based on department and company needs.

• Able to travel internationally at least once per quarter for two weeks at a time.

What We Can Offer You

Join a team where work is as rewarding as it is fun! We offer a dynamic, inclusive environment with competitive pay and benefits. Enjoy comprehensive health and wellness coverage and a 401(k) match to invest in your future. Prioritize your well-being with paid time off and eight paid holidays. Grow your career with continuous learning and leadership development. Plus, build community by joining one of our Colleague Resource Groups and make a difference through our volunteer opportunities. 

 Some additional benefits we offer include:

• Merchandise discounts

• Performance-based incentives

• Annual merit review

• Employee Assistance Program with mental health counseling and legal/financial advice

• Tuition reimbursement

Access the full menu of benefits offerings here. 

About Us

This is a great time to join Macy’s! Whether you’re helping a customer find the perfect gift, streamlining operations in one of our distribution centers, enhancing our online shopping experience, buying in-style and on-trend merchandise to outfit our customers, or designing a balloon for the Thanksgiving Day Parade, we offer unique opportunities to be part of some of the most memorable moments in people’s lives. 

Join us and help write the next chapter in our story - apply today! 

This job description is not all-inclusive. Macy's, Inc. reserves the right to amend this job description at any time. Macy's, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to a diverse and inclusive work environment.