Director of Business Operations
As Petal grows, we expect that the volume of issues and updates will overwhelm, becoming more difficult to pinpoint critical levers. In addition, as the organization expands, our practices and processes will continuously require new solutions. Therefore, we are looking to build a Business Operations function with the goal of proactively and deftly navigating our internal teams to achieve our business aspirations. This includes identifying and solving key cross-functional business challenges; leading large-scale program management; handling internal company communications related to business objectives, and delivering objective analyses and insights that drive decisions.
We are seeking an entrepreneurial leader to build this function from its foundations. This is yours to fully scope out and execute, initially on your own and, later, with a small team that you’d be responsible for attracting and hiring. The ideal candidate would have already worked in a high-performing Business Ops functions at larger-scale startups and knows what “great” looks like, yet be adaptable to Petal’s current size and scope. We’re also looking for someone who is highly strategic, analytical and structured, has strong EQ, and also can execute flawlessly. In other words: a builder.
Key Responsibilities
- Own Petal’s OKR and annual planning processes, running them with the Leadership Team and Finance, while also continuously evolving the process to match the needs of the business. Develop the systems to ensure goals are cascaded down and well-understood through functions, squads, and other teams.
- Develop and maintain a dashboard of key company-level and functional/squad-level KPIs, and use this dashboard to track outcomes (metrics) and progress (pace against plans). Partner with Finance and Analytics to standardize and distribute the key operating metrics for the business; help determine “what matters” and when data is signaling issues or opportunities for the company.
- Compose and run company-wide communications about progress against goals, obstacles, etc. These comms should be multi-directional, with the goal to keep the team aligned on status and what their role is in any necessary resolution.
- Work with functions and Leadership Team to proactively and reactively address emerging issues; as patterns and risk points arise, proactively come up with lasting solutions and mobilize resources to remove blockers to hitting our business priorities.
- Prepare for and run the weekly Operating Team meeting and other meetings/programs to facilitate swift and effective issue resolution across the company.
- Over time and as the business increases in complexity, build and manage internal systems and tools. Create, continuously improve, and curate project management systems, data dashboards, communication, and knowledge management functions.
- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, including role-modeling and proselytizing retros and documentation of lessons learned.
- We expect this role to evolve as the business grows, so the above are just what we expect to be true in the first 12-18 months of the role.
Characteristics of a successful candidate
- 10+ years of professional experience, including tenures at a top-tier management consulting firm and senior Business Operations roles at 500+-member tech startups. MBA and financial services experience are pluses.
- Intrinsic smarts and problem-solving versatility. Exudes objectivity and good judgement; able to parse through details and arrive quickly at the big picture. We need someone who has the wherewithal and resourcefulness to research, network, and propose well thought-out solutions to new problems.
- Strong self- and project-management, drive, and organization. Gets things done, on time, with high quality and no excuses. Executes with conviction and good judgment with limited guidance; needs minimal direction in an ambiguous context to take action and then adapt quickly.
- Is a natural leader who influences peers without authority. Builds trust quickly, and brings others along. Highly effective in interpersonal dynamics; can ascertain motives and speak multiple functional languages.
- Highly effective zooming in and zooming out. Can be strategic/big picture and detail-oriented. Visualizes paths forward, seeing each potential obstacle and plans around them in advance. Is highly process-oriented, yet focuses on simplicity and can clearly answer the “why”.
- Superior communication skills, verbal and written. Demonstrates excellent and nuanced word choice, understands how to motivate the audience to action, keeps people updated before they know they need an update, an attentive listener. Great executive presence.
- Quantitative and analytical. Gravitates towards speaking and thinking in terms of numbers and impact on business metrics. Is highly proficient at Excel; doesn't require help to run the numbers. Proficiency in SQL is a major plus.
- Scrappy and resourceful. Thrives in a world of limited resources, willing to fill the gaps, no task is too small.
- Positivity, empathy, and unflappability. Believes in the mission and potential of Petal.
For our California employment information privacy statement, please click here.