VP of Strategy and Operations

About the role

The Vice President of Strategy and Operations will be responsible for defining the long-term strategic direction of Lightning AI and ensuring the rigorous execution of that vision across the entire organization. This senior leader will own the development and maintenance of the global strategic plan, translating high-level ambitions into actionable roadmaps that drive sustainable growth. They will act as a key strategic partner to the CEO and the executive leadership team, challenging assumptions and identifying new avenues for market expansion and operational excellence. The role requires deep ownership of cross-functional initiatives that cut across the entire business to solve complex problems and unlock scale. This leader will establish the narrative and metrics that align the company towards common goals, ensuring that all efforts contribute to the overarching business strategy. They will be the primary driver for process standardization and operationalization as the company transitions from early-stage validation to large-scale execution. This position demands comfort with ambiguity and the ability to lead through influence in a fast-moving, high-growth technology environment. The Vice President of Strategy and Operations will ultimately be accountable for the health and trajectory of the business, ensuring that Lightning AI achieves its mission with precision and discipline.

Key facts

What you'll do

• Architect the enterprise strategic plan by conducting market research, competitive analysis, and scenario planning to define Lightning AI's future positioning.
• Partner with the CEO and executive leadership to set annual priorities, evaluate growth paths, and make evidence-based decisions on resource allocation.
• Establish a robust system for monitoring key business metrics, providing data-driven analysis and executive dashboards to support leadership decision-making.
• Lead high-impact cross-functional projects that bridge Product, Sales, Engineering, Finance, and Customer Success to remove bottlenecks and streamline workflows.
• Develop and own the operational playbooks that align departments around company objectives, increasing scalability, predictability, and overall business performance.
• Drive the identification and validation of new revenue opportunities and operational efficiencies through rigorous analysis of business data and market trends.
• Serve as the central point for process optimization, defining standards and best practices that enhance productivity and consistency across the organization.
• Collaborate with Finance to build and manage the operational budget, ensuring that strategic initiatives are delivered on time and within financial constraints.
• Act as the primary liaison with enterprise customers to gather feedback and translate insights into improvements in go-to-market strategy and product development.
• Mentor and develop junior strategy and operations professionals, fostering a culture of analytical rigor, ownership, and continuous improvement.
• Lead the development of sales enablement materials and strategic frameworks that equip the revenue team to win complex deals.
• Partner with the Revenue Enablement team to design training programs and coaching initiatives that elevate the organization's commercial capabilities.
• Define and implement the governance structure for strategic initiatives, ensuring clear ownership, timelines, and accountability for results.
• Proactively identify operational risks and develop mitigation strategies to protect the company's growth trajectory and financial health.
• Champion a culture of data-informed decision-making, ensuring that all strategic choices are grounded in facts and validated through experimentation.

Requirements

• Proven experience in strategic planning and operational leadership within a high-growth technology company.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze complex business data and translate insights into actionable strategies for executive leadership.
• Extensive experience managing cross-functional alignment and driving execution across diverse teams in a fast-paced environment.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Economics, Finance, or a related field; an advanced degree is strongly preferred.
• A minimum of 8 years of progressive experience in strategy, operations, or a related role, with at least 3 years in a leadership capacity.
• Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with fluency in data analysis, financial modeling, and business metrics.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and persuade at all levels of the organization.
• Proven track record of building and maintaining stakeholder relationships with executives, investors, and cross-functional partners.

Nice to have

• Background in AI, cloud infrastructure, developer tools, data platforms, MLOps, or enterprise SaaS.
• Experience building enablement programs from the ground up at a startup.
• Familiarity with enterprise sales methodologies such as MEDDIC, MEDDPICC, Command of the Message, or Force Management.
• Experience supporting partner, channel, or solutions engineering enablement.

Practical notes

Total rewards include a discretionary bonus, equity, and comprehensive benefits. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, 401(k) matching, unlimited PTO, paid parental leave, professional development allowance, wellness and work-from-home stipends, and a four-week paid sabbatical after four years. The company observes a two-week winter break and provides complimentary in-office meals. Lightning AI is an equal opportunity employer.