17 Strategic Planning Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Strategic planning managers develop, implement, and oversee an organization’s long-term goals, objectives, and strategies. In order to be successful in this role, strategic planning managers must have excellent analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

If you’re interested in becoming a strategic planning manager, you’ll need to ace a job interview. During the interview, you’ll be asked a variety of questions about your experience, skills, and knowledge. You may also be asked to provide examples of times when you’ve used your skills to solve problems or make decisions.

To help you prepare, we’ve compiled a list of sample strategic planning manager interview questions and answers.

Are you familiar with the different types of strategic planning?

This question can help the interviewer determine your level of expertise in strategic planning. Use this opportunity to highlight any experience you have with different types of strategic planning and how it helped your organization succeed.

Example: “I’ve worked with several different types of strategic planning, including SWOT analysis, environmental scanning, mission statements and vision statements. I find that each type of strategic planning is useful for a specific purpose. For example, when my team was working on our annual budget, we used SWOT analysis to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats within our company’s financials. This allowed us to make informed decisions about where we should allocate funds.”

What are some of the most important elements of a successful strategic plan?

This question can help the interviewer determine your understanding of what it takes to create a successful strategic plan. Use examples from previous experience to highlight your ability to lead and manage teams through the process of creating a strategic plan.

Example: “A successful strategic plan needs to be detailed, realistic and measurable. I find that having clear goals with specific targets is important because it allows you to measure progress throughout the planning process. It’s also important to have buy-in from all levels of management so everyone understands their role in achieving the company’s objectives. Finally, regular communication between departments and stakeholders is essential for keeping everyone informed about the progress of the strategic plan.”

How would you go about developing a new strategy for your organization?

This question can help the interviewer understand how you approach your work and what steps you take to complete it. Use examples from past experiences in which you developed a strategy for an organization or company, and explain how your process helped achieve success.

Example: “I would first assess my team’s strengths and weaknesses to determine where we need improvement. I find that this is one of the most important steps when developing a new strategy because it helps me understand what areas are performing well and which ones need more attention. From there, I would create a plan for implementing our goals and objectives by creating measurable targets and timelines for achieving them. This allows me to stay organized and ensure all aspects of the strategic plan are accounted for.”

What is your experience with developing budgets for strategic plans?

Interviewers may ask this question to learn more about your experience with financial planning and budgeting. Use your answer to highlight your ability to create budgets that are realistic, achievable and effective for the organization’s goals.

Example: “In my previous role as a strategic planning manager, I worked closely with our finance team to develop budgets for each of our strategic plans. We used these budgets to track our progress throughout the year and make adjustments when necessary. This process helped us stay on track with our objectives while also ensuring we were making smart decisions with our finances.”

Provide an example of a time when you had to change a plan due to unforeseen circumstances.

Employers ask this question to see how you adapt to change. They want to know that you can still complete your work and meet deadlines even when unexpected circumstances arise. In your answer, explain what steps you took to ensure the project stayed on track despite the changes.

Example: “In my previous role as a strategic planning manager, I had to make several adjustments to our plans due to changing client needs. One of these instances was when we were in the middle of developing a marketing plan for one company but then received an urgent request from another company asking us to develop their entire digital strategy. We immediately met with the first company to discuss the situation. After some discussion, they agreed to allow us to focus on the second company’s request while also agreeing to hire us for future projects.”

If hired, what would be your priorities during your first few months on the job?

This question helps the interviewer determine how you plan to make an impact in your new role. Prioritizing tasks is a skill that many employers look for when hiring a strategic planning manager, so give them examples of what you would do first if hired.

Example: “My top priority during my first few months on the job would be to get to know everyone and learn more about the company’s culture. I’d also want to understand the goals and objectives of the organization and create a strategy for achieving those goals. After creating a strategy, I would implement it by developing plans for each department within the organization.”

What would you do if you noticed a disconnect between different departments’ plans?

This question can help interviewers assess your ability to work with others and resolve conflicts. In your answer, you should show that you are willing to collaborate with other departments and use your problem-solving skills to find solutions.

Example: “If I noticed a disconnect between different departments’ plans, I would first try to understand the reasons for this disconnect. Then, I would meet with representatives from each department to discuss their goals and objectives. Afterward, I would create a plan that combines elements of both departments’ strategic plans while also addressing any issues or concerns raised during the meeting. This process would ensure that all parties involved were on the same page and working toward the same goal.”

How well do you work under pressure?

This question can help an interviewer determine how well you perform in a fast-paced environment. Strategic planning often requires working under pressure to meet deadlines and produce quality results. In your answer, try to explain that you are able to work effectively under pressure while still maintaining high standards for your work.

Example: “I am very comfortable working under pressure because I know it’s part of the job as a strategic planning manager. When I’m faced with a tight deadline, I always make sure to prioritize my tasks so I can complete them on time. I also find that being organized helps me manage my time more efficiently when I’m under pressure.”

Do you have any experience leading meetings?

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your leadership skills. As a strategic planning manager, you will likely lead many meetings throughout the year. In your answer, describe how you plan and run effective meetings. Share any tips or strategies that help you keep meetings organized and on schedule.

Example: “I have led several large-scale meetings in my previous role as a strategic planning manager. I find it helpful to create agendas for each meeting so everyone knows what topics we’ll discuss. I also like to use visual aids during meetings to help others understand complex ideas. For example, I once used a PowerPoint presentation to explain our company’s financial goals.”

When reviewing past plans, what would you consider a success and what would you consider a failure?

This question can help the interviewer understand your critical thinking skills and how you learn from past experiences. Use examples from previous roles to explain what went well and what didn’t, and how you would apply those lessons to this role.

Example: “In my last position as a strategic planning manager, we had a goal of increasing sales by 10% within six months. We met that goal early, but I learned that it’s important to set realistic goals that are challenging enough to motivate employees but also achievable so they don’t feel discouraged. In another instance, we were tasked with creating a plan for a new product launch. While our team was able to come up with some great ideas, we didn’t have any metrics in place to measure success or failure. Now, I always make sure to include key performance indicators when developing plans.”

We want to increase our customer base. What ideas do you have for doing so?

This question can help the interviewer understand your strategic planning skills and how you might apply them to their organization. Use examples from your experience that show your ability to create strategies for growth, including how you measure success.

Example: “I would first analyze our current customer base to see what we’re doing well and where we could improve. I’d then develop a plan to reach new customers by identifying target markets with similar interests or needs as our existing ones. For example, if we have a lot of customers who are parents, I may want to focus on reaching out to local parenting groups or organizations. We could also look at our website analytics to determine which pages aren’t getting enough traffic and find ways to make them more relevant.”

Describe your process for evaluating the success of a plan.

The interviewer may ask this question to learn more about your analytical skills and how you use them to evaluate the success of a plan. Use examples from past projects to describe how you measure success, analyze data and make decisions based on those results.

Example: “I typically start by reviewing the goals we set for ourselves at the beginning of a project. I then look at our progress reports to see if we’re meeting deadlines or making any changes to our original plans. After that, I compare our current performance against our initial projections to determine whether we’re ahead of schedule or behind it. From there, I can decide what steps we need to take to meet our goals.”

What makes you qualified for this position?

Employers ask this question to learn more about your background and how it relates to the job you’re applying for. Use your answer to highlight any relevant experience, skills or education that makes you a good fit for the role.

Example: “I have five years of strategic planning experience in my current position as a senior strategic planner. In this role, I’ve helped develop plans for several departments within our company, including marketing, sales and operations. My previous employer also promoted me twice during my time there, which shows that I’m qualified for this managerial role.”

Which industries do you have experience in?

This question can help the interviewer understand your experience level and how it applies to their company. Use this opportunity to highlight any relevant skills you have that would be beneficial in this role, such as communication or leadership abilities.

Example: “I’ve worked primarily in the technology industry for my entire career, but I also have a background in marketing and advertising. In my current position, I work with both departments to create strategies that support our goals. This has helped me develop an understanding of what each department needs from strategic planning so we can all work together more effectively.”

What do you think is the most important skill for a strategic planning manager to have?

This question can help the interviewer determine if you have the skills and abilities they’re looking for in a strategic planning manager. Use your answer to highlight one or two of the most important skills, and explain why these are so important.

Example: “I think that communication is the most important skill for a strategic planning manager to have. A strategic planning manager needs to be able to communicate with all levels of an organization, from senior management to front-line employees. I’ve found that being able to clearly and concisely convey information is essential when working with others. This skill has helped me build strong relationships with my team members and other departments.”

How often would you recommend updating strategic plans?

This question can help interviewers understand your approach to strategic planning and how often you recommend updating plans. You can answer this question by explaining the frequency of updates in your previous role, or you can explain a specific time when an update was beneficial.

Example: “I would recommend updating strategic plans at least once per year. In my last position as a strategic planning manager, we updated our plan every six months. This helped us stay on track with our goals and objectives while also allowing us to make changes if needed. I think it’s important for businesses to have regular check-ins to ensure they’re making progress toward their goals.”

There is a new technology that could drastically change the industry. How would you react to this news?

This question is a great way to see how you would react in an uncertain situation. It’s important for employers to know that you can adapt and change with the industry. In your answer, explain what steps you would take to learn more about this new technology and implement it into your strategic plan if it seems like a good fit.

Example: “I think it’s important to be open-minded when learning about new technologies. I would first do my research on the technology to understand its capabilities and limitations. Then, I would discuss the potential of implementing this technology into our strategic plan with my team. If we all agree that it could benefit our company, then I would work with my manager to create a budget for this new project.”