Senior Director, Central Operations

About the role

You will own the end to end design and execution of the central operations function at Justworks, defining the structure, standards, and capabilities that enable the entire organization to operate at scale. You will lead the transformation and automation agenda, partnering deeply with Technology, Customer Success, Revenue, and Finance to identify, prioritize, and deploy AI and automation solutions that reshape how work gets done. You will build and lead a lean, high performing team, establishing the SOPs, controls, systems, KPI frameworks, and governance cadences that turn a high performing team into a high performing organization. You will elevate Central Operations as the strategic engine that raises the performance bar across the entire company and positions Operations as a competitive advantage for the business. You will influence across the organization, earning trust, driving adoption, and making change stick even where you do not have direct authority. You will serve as the primary Operations liaison for company wide automation and AI initiatives, ensuring that what gets built reflects operational realities and scales across functions.

Key facts

What you'll do

Define the end to end operating model for Central Operations, including operational excellence, data and KPIs, third-party systems, AI and automation transformation, and learning and development.

Lead the identification, prioritization, and deployment of AI and automation solutions that drive step change improvements in efficiency, quality, and speed across operations.

Establish the standards, systems, and capabilities that set the bar for how the organization works, from processes to tools to performance management.

Serve as the primary Operations liaison for company wide automation and AI initiatives, partnering with cross functional leaders to align on priorities and ensure scalable adoption.

Build and develop a lean, high performing Central Operations team, setting a high bar for excellence and creating an environment where people take ownership and do their best work.

Elevate Central Operations as the strategic engine that raises the performance bar across the entire organization and positions Operations as a competitive advantage for the business.

Design and implement KPI frameworks, data structures, and reporting cadences that provide clarity, accountability, and insight into operational performance.

Champion a change management muscle within the organization, focusing on how teams embrace and adopt change, not only what gets shipped.

Own the portfolio of centralized functions including operational excellence, data and KPIs, third-party systems, AI and automation transformation, and learning and development.

Partner with Technology, Customer Success, Revenue, and Finance to ensure that operational realities are reflected in transformation initiatives and that solutions scale across the business.

Build the operational backbone that enables the company to scale efficiently while maintaining consistency, compliance, and quality.

Champion the use of data and experimentation to continuously improve processes, tools, and team performance.

Act as a builder and connector, creating structure where there is none and influencing across the organization without direct authority.

Represent Justworks in the startup community, learning from and contributing to the broader ecosystem of leaders in operations and technology.

Requirements

You bring deep expertise in standards, systems, and process design, paired with the vision to imagine what operations can become and the discipline to get there.

You have built operational infrastructure before, including SOPs, controls, systems, KPI frameworks, and governance cadences.

You are a leader who thrives in ambiguity and drives change through ambiguity and complexity with conviction and clarity.

You influence across the organization, earning trust and driving adoption even where you do not have direct authority.

You are a natural connector between Operations and the partners across Technology, Customer Success, Revenue, and Finance.

You are energized by creating structure where there is not any and leading teams through significant transformation.

You have a track record of building and developing high performing teams and setting a high bar for excellence.

You are data driven, comfortable using data to inform decisions, measure progress, and communicate outcomes.

Nice to have

Experience in AI and automation transformation within a growing company.

Background in startup environments where speed and adaptability are essential.

Experience building centralized functions from the ground up.

Practical notes

Full-time position based in New York, New York.