Director, Strategy and Operations

Career Guide

A Director of Strategy and Operations sets direction for how a business unit grows and improves, then builds the plans, routines, and teams to deliver results. The role combines strategic planning with day to day execution, often partnering closely with executives and cross functional leaders.

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Key Responsibilities

Define strategic priorities and annual goals with senior leadership
Build multi quarter operating plans and track progress against milestones
Lead cross functional programs that improve growth, cost, or customer outcomes
Create decision frameworks for resource allocation and investment choices
Establish performance metrics and review cadences for business health
Identify operational bottlenecks and redesign processes to improve speed and quality
Own executive reporting, narrative updates, and business reviews
Drive change management and adoption of new ways of working
Develop and coach managers and program leads

Top Skills for Success

Strategic Planning

Program Leadership

Operational Excellence

Stakeholder Management

Executive Communication

Data Analysis

Financial Modeling

Budget Management

Process Design

Change Management

Vendor Management

People Leadership

Career Progression

Can Lead To

Strategy and Operations Senior Manager

Chief of Staff

Business Operations Director

Program Director

Operations Director

Transition Opportunities

Vice President of Strategy

Vice President of Operations

General Manager

Chief Operating Officer

Head of Business Operations

Common Skill Gaps

Often Missing Skills

P and L OwnershipAdvanced Financial ForecastingEnterprise Change LeadershipOperations ScalingOrg DesignRisk Management

Development SuggestionsSeek ownership of a high impact business problem with clear metrics, lead a cross functional program end to end, and strengthen finance skills through forecasting and investment cases. Build credibility by improving a core process and showing measurable results.

Market Intelligence Report

Director, Strategy and Operations 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 LevelUSD 150,000 to 190,000

Mid LevelUSD 190,000 to 240,000

Senior LevelUSD 240,000 to 320,000

Growth Trend

Steady demand, especially in technology, healthcare, financial services, and high growth mid market companies that need tighter execution and clearer priorities.

Companies Hiring

Major Employers

AmazonGoogleMicrosoftSalesforceAppleMetaNetflixUberAirbnbWalmartJPMorgan ChaseUnitedHealth Group

Industry Sectors

TechnologyEcommerceFinancial ServicesHealthcareConsumer GoodsManufacturingProfessional ServicesLogisticsMedia

Recommended Next Steps

Build a portfolio of 3 to 5 outcomes with metrics that show business impact

Create an operating plan example that includes goals, initiatives, owners, and cadence

Strengthen finance skills with a forecasting model and a business case write up

Practice executive updates using short written narratives and clear visuals

Target roles aligned to a function you can influence quickly such as revenue operations or business operations

Network with leaders in operations and strategy and ask about the top two priorities they need solved