Director Strategic Operations

ROLE SUMMARY The Director of Strategic Operations serves as the connective tissue between organizational strategic priorities and the cross-functional execution required to bring them to life — translating leadership’s intent into structured plans, driving high-stakes initiatives from concept to launch, and serving as a trusted extension of the Chief Strategy & Product Officer across partnerships, strategy, and organizational alignment. The role is inherently ambiguous and highly cross-functional. The Director of Strategic Operations will operate without a fixed playbook and without positional authority, building alignment through influence, credibility, and rigor rather than direct reporting lines. This role runs strategic partnerships end-to-end, from contract negotiation through post-execution relationship management, and functions as the de facto source of truth during fast-moving, high-visibility initiatives. The Director of Strategic Operations will embody the confidence to voice an independent point of view – someone who will challenge assumptions, hold senior leaders accountable to commitments, and surface roadblocks candidly and proactively. This requires diplomacy and expert communication and relationship building skills. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Cross-Functional Program LeadershipOversee a portfolio of concurrent strategic initiatives spanning near term execution to long-term planning providing consistent progress against defined outcomesSupport enterprise integration initiatives (e.g., shared services planning and integration priorities), coordinating across functions and business units to drive alignment and momentumProactively identify scope, ownership, and timeline misalignment before it becomes a critical path risk - facilitating structured alignment sessions among senior stakeholdersBuild and maintain the central project plan, timeline, and decision log that serve as the single source of truth across fast-evolving initiativesPrepare agendas for leadership meetings, ensuring the right topics and stakeholders are surfaced and prioritizedMaintain open lines of communication with sister businesses across Exclusive Collective, coordinating cross-portfolio initiatives as needed Communication & Presentation DevelopmentTranslate loose ideas, research & analysis, and cross-functional working sessions into polished, executive-ready decks — the primary output format for the team's strategic workCapture live working sessions into clear summaries and presentation materialsMaintain a high bar for visual and narrative craft across all presentation materials, adapting tone and format to the audience Research & Strategic AnalysisSupport the Chief Strategy & Product Officer with research into hospitality trends, competitive dynamics, and future-facing industry concepts to inform strategic decision-makingLeverage AI tools to accelerate research, synthesis, and content development across the team's workstreams Strategic PartnershipsLead end-to-end negotiation and launch of strategic partnerships (e.g., private membership clubs, complementary luxury brands), internal and external teams through contract execution and go-to-marketOwn partner relationship management post-launch, ensuring commitments are met and the partnership continues to deliver value on both sides Documentation & Decision GovernanceMaintain living documentation (project plans, decision logs, policy briefs) with rigorous version control and a clear audit trailBuild lightweight but durable frameworks to bring order to ambiguous, fast-moving initiatives Independent Judgment & Constructive AccountabilityServe as a candid, trusted advisor to the Chief Strategy & Product Officer and broader executive team — willing to voice a dissenting view or challenge a prevailing assumption when the situation calls for itProactively name roadblocks — including interpersonal or performance-related ones — with tact and discretion, ensuring issues are addressed before they compoundExercise sound judgment in balancing respect for executive authority with the obligation to speak up when meaningful strategic or operational risk is identifiedOperate as a “trusted challenger” — fully aligned with leadership's goals, but never simply agreeable for the sake of consensus WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKEBrings structure to ambiguity — comfortable being handed a half-formed, rapidly changing initiative and building the framework, timeline, and documentation that makes it executableFacilitates decisive outcomes — skilled at forcing vague discussion into concrete decisions rather than letting meetings end without resolutionTrusted extension of the Chief Strategy & Product Officer — represents the Chief Strategy & Product Officer's priorities accurately and tactfully across functions and with external partnersComposed under pressure — when cross-functional alignment breaks down, responds by building better tools rather than escalating frictionUncompromising on craft — insists on polished, on-brand, professional materials even under tight deadlinesDirect, transparent, and appropriately assertive — flags inconsistencies, conflicting information, or unresolved risk explicitly, and is comfortable respectfully pushing back on senior leaders rather than deferring by defaultHolds the room accountable — willing to name when a commitment has slipped, a decision has stalled, or an individual, regardless of seniority, is becoming a blocker, and to do so in a way that preserves trust and relationshipsDirect and transparent — flags inconsistencies, conflicting information, or unresolved risk explicitly rather than letting it pass silentlyCross-functional fluency — equally comfortable in a Finance margin conversation, a Legal compliance review, and a partner negotiationDiscreet with sensitive information — trusted with material nonpublic information and board-level context QUALIFICATIONS7+ years of experience supporting senior executives in a Director of Strategic Operations, Chief of Staff, or similar leadership capacity.Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional initiatives involving internal and external groups, and Executive stakeholdersExecutive presence and confidence: proven ability to constructively challenge senior leaders, hold stakeholders accountable, and voice an independent point of view — balanced with the interpersonal skill to do so without damaging trust or relationshipsExceptional organizational, project management, and documentation skillsExecutive presence and experience communicating directly with senior leadershipAdvanced proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, and Word; experience building and maintaining trackers, decision logs, and executive-ready presentationsAdvanced deck and presentation design skills, with a strong sense of visual and narrative craftStrong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate strategic complexity into clear, concise materialsFluency with AI tools for research, analysis, and content development — this role requires significant, active use of AI as part of daily workflow