Head of Strategy: skills & capabilities the market requires
Based on 3,073 real Head of Strategy job postings, here is what companies actually require for this role today: the capabilities that define it, the hard skills named most often, the scope expected, typical experience and pay. The market leans hardest on Strategic Leadership (77%) and Executive Communication (56%).
Open the interactive Skill Check to filter by country, industry and company size.
Core capabilities for a Head of Strategy
- Strategic Leadership — required in 77% of postings
- Executive Communication — required in 56% of postings
- Cross-functional Leadership — required in 47% of postings
- Operational Excellence — required in 43% of postings
- Data & Analytics — required in 40% of postings
- Stakeholder Management — required in 39% of postings
- Risk, Security & Compliance — required in 24% of postings
Most-required hard skills
- Strategic Planning
- Data Analysis
- Project Management
- Market Analysis
- Stakeholder Management
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Financial Analysis
Leadership & soft skills
- Strategic Thinking
- Leadership
- Communication
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
Scope, experience & pay
Head of Strategy roles expect deal / M&A experience in 6% of postings, IPO or capital markets in 2%, and transformation in 21%. Typical stated experience: 10 years. Pay signal from postings (base): $190K–$235K.
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