Strategy Manager

About COFRA Holding AG

COFRA Holding AG is a family-owned group, headquartered in Switzerland, with operations in Europe, the Americas and Asia. COFRA has a diverse portfolio of investment businesses in private equity (Bregal Investments), real estate (Redevco) and asset management (Anthos Fund & Asset Management). Businesses and investments are also held in retail, clean energy and sustainable food. Through business, COFRA strives to be a force for good in the world – a mission that began over 180 years ago. Today, we actively direct our expertise, energy and capital into businesses and investments that we believe have the potential to create superior value. 

www.cofraholding.com  

Think about Strategy differently and make a real impact

A welcoming and supportive setting where you can develop and make a real difference in the world – that’s what you’ll find at COFRA. We’re a family business, geared to creating lasting value and united by an ambition to change industries and society for the better. Aspiration and entrepreneurism are encouraged and rewarded with opportunity. Teams are diverse yet close-knit. Relationships matter. People matter.

What we can achieve together

One of our greatest strengths is our people: talented, dedicated professionals who are true experts in their field, committed to the pursuit of excellence and open to new opportunities and ways of capturing them.

About the role

You will join a core team of 5-6 talented  international professionals with Strategy Consultancy and/or M&A backgrounds. As part of our team, you will work closely with our CEO, the COFRA Management Team, and the management teams of our businesses. In addition, you will engage regularly with functional teams across COFRA, based in Zug, London, and Amsterdam.

We are looking for an experienced Strategy Manager to join our team in Amsterdam, London, or Zug. This role is suited for a talented individual who is keen to apply top-tier strategy experience to real business decisions, operating with a high degree of autonomy on projects and stakeholder engagement. You will work closely with the (joint) Chief Strategy Officers, who provide strategic direction and challenge, while retaining final accountability.

Key responsibilities include:

• Project Delivery Office
  • Manage executive workflows for the COFRA Management Team and Executive Leadership Team, including rolling agendas, stakeholder briefings/communication, tracking execution of agreed action items and initiatives & meeting content preparation
  • Lead complex cross-functional and cross-business initiatives, ensuring timely execution, clear accountability, and delivery against milestones (overlap with the below)
• Shape Group Portfolio strategy development (with CSO alignment)
  • Contribute to shaping the strategic direction for the Group portfolio
  • Provide strategic input on capital allocation: Lead the 6+ year Strategic Business Planning process and evaluate investment proposals against strategic objectives
  • Set group priorities and track performance: Collaborate with Group leadership to define annual strategic priorities and translate them into measurable performance frameworks
  • Lead strategy development & delivery (with business & functional leadership) Co-develop strategies of our investment businesses, working with management teams on ‘where to play’ and ‘how to win’
  • Drive group-wide strategy development (e.g. contribute a strategic and commercial perspective to COFRA's Data, Digital / AI), in alignment with CSOs
  • Conduct (i) market research, (ii) competitor assessments, (iii) industry analysis, and (iv) identify sources of differentiation for our businesses today and in future
• Be strategic growth partner for the investment businesses
  • Partner with the businesses to support execution of their strategic priorities
  • Help identify, assess (both attractiveness and feasibility), and shape both organic and inorganic growth opportunities in line with the strategy and support prioritization

What You Bring

• 5-7+ years of experience in (Top tier) strategic consultancy, investment business, (corporate) strategy or M&A roles
• The mentality of a solid team player who’s also an independent thinker
• Desire to work in a dynamic environment along with the ability to get up to speed quickly
• Exceptional interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage confidently and effectively with senior stakeholders, including COFRA and Business management teams as well as cross-functional colleagues
• Ability to simplify complex insights in to relevant and actionable ‘so what’s’, and consecutively following through with the actions
• A robust analytical skillset including business analytical skills and comfort with Excel
• Ability to build and maintain trust and act with integrity at all times
• Ability to meet deadlines under pressure
• Excellent verbal, written, and presentation skills
• Fluency in English (written and verbal)
• Experience in investment banking, venture capital, or private equity is a plus
• Experience in data \ digital \ AI is a plus

What we offer you in return

This is a unique opportunity to work in a fast-paced and dynamic environment with an inspirational mission and ambition, and supporting the development and execution of our group-wide and investment business strategies. You will obtain a steep “consultancy-like” learning curve with a solution-focused mindset. COFRA offers notable benefits, including a competitive pension plan. Also, training and development is provided to all COFRA employees.

COFRA is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, colour, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin or disability. None of this gets in the way of hiring and retaining the best people.