Director of Planning and Performance

Career Guide

A Director of Planning and Performance leads how an organization sets goals, plans work, tracks results, and improves execution. The role connects strategy to day to day delivery by building clear plans, measurable targets, and regular performance reviews that help leaders make better decisions.

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Key Responsibilities

Lead annual and quarterly planning cycles across teams
Translate company goals into team level objectives and measurable targets
Set up performance dashboards and reporting routines
Run performance review meetings and follow ups with leaders
Identify performance risks and recommend corrective actions
Align budgets and resources to priority work
Create and maintain planning templates and operating rhythms
Partner with Finance to forecast results and track variances
Improve processes to reduce delays and increase delivery reliability
Coach leaders on goal setting, prioritization, and accountability
Ensure consistent use of key performance indicators across teams
Communicate progress and insights to executives and stakeholders

Top Skills for Success

Strategic Planning

Performance Management

Goal Setting

Program Management

Stakeholder Management

Executive Communication

Data Literacy

Dashboard Development

Financial Forecasting

Budget Management

Process Improvement

Change Management

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Vice President of Strategy Vice President of Operations Chief of Staff Head of Business Operations Vice President of Business Planning

Transition Opportunities

Corporate Strategy Director Operations Director Finance Director Business Intelligence Director Transformation Director

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

Executive StorytellingForecasting AccuracyMetric DesignPlanning FacilitationCross functional InfluenceSystems Thinking

Development SuggestionsStrengthen planning leadership by running a full planning cycle end to end, improving one executive dashboard that leaders actively use, and partnering closely with Finance to tighten forecasting. Practice turning complex data into a simple narrative with clear decisions, owners, and deadlines.

Market Intelligence Report

Director of Planning and Performance is part of the Business Operations category.Explore our market intelligence report to see how AI and hiring demand are shifting for these roles.

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Salary & Demand

Median Salary Range

Entry Level120,000 to 160,000 USD

Mid Level160,000 to 210,000 USD

Senior Level210,000 to 280,000 USD

Growth Trend

Steady growth. Demand remains strong as organizations focus on measurable outcomes, cost control, and faster execution, especially in technology, healthcare, financial services, and large nonprofits.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

AmazonMicrosoftGoogleSalesforceJPMorgan ChaseUnitedHealth GroupKaiser PermanentePfizerWalmartAccentureDeloitteBoeing

Industry Sectors

TechnologyHealthcareFinancial ServicesRetailManufacturingConsultingGovernmentNonprofit

Recommended Next Steps

Build a one page planning and performance framework for your organization

Audit current metrics and remove those that do not drive decisions

Create a monthly performance review cadence with clear owners and actions

Develop a simple executive dashboard with a small set of core metrics

Take ownership of forecasting for one business area and track accuracy over time

Document and improve one planning process to reduce cycle time and rework

Collect examples of measurable impact for your resume and interview stories