Director of Strategy & Operations

Job description

Via is hiring a **Director of Strategy & Operations** to lead part of our West Coast portfolio. This is a significant regional P&L leadership role: you will start out by directly managing markets and a team of Field Operations Managers, then quickly grow to manage a team of General Managers and Operations Managers. You will be responsible for setting and executing regional operating strategy, and ensuring safe, reliable, high-quality service across a large, fast-growing, and increasingly complex book of business. The West region is in high-growth mode—launching new markets, expanding existing contracts, and standing up new service types. We need a seasoned operator who can lead through scale and ambiguity, develop strong frontline leaders, and partner effectively with transit agency stakeholders, commercial teams, and Via central functions. **What You’ll Do:** **Regional leadership & people management** - Lead, coach, and develop a team set clear expectations, cadence, and accountability - Run a consistent regional operating rhythm - Build leadership depth: hire, promote, and performance-manage regional talent; - Foster a culture of safety, compliance, operational excellence, and partner trust across the region **P&L and performance ownership** - Own regional P&L outcomes in partnership with Finance and market GMs: revenue hours/rides, cost per ride, labor productivity, and margin improvement - Set regional targets and be accountable to KPIs (service reliability, on-time performance, seat availability, safety, driver staffing, vehicle readiness, and customer experience) - Drive root-cause problem solving on underperforming markets; escalate risks early with clear mitigation plans - Partner on annual and quarterly operating plans, staffing models, and scenario planning for growth **Regional strategy & growth** - Translate regional priorities into actionable market strategies - Lead the region through new service types and operating models - Prioritize resources across markets during launch surges, staffing constraints, and partner-critical periods - Represent Operations in regional strategy discussions with Commercial, Service Design, Product, and Partner Success **Partner & stakeholder management** - Serve as a senior operational counterpart to agency leadership on high-stakes markets - Build trust through transparent performance reporting, proactive communication, and credible remediation when service misses occur - Navigate complex regulatory and contractual environments **Cross-functional leadership** - Partner with Commercial, Enablement, Service Design, Remix, Safety, Fleet, HR, and Finance to align ops capacity with growth and product roadmap - Influence technology and process adoption to improve regional efficiency and visibility - Contribute to company-wide ops priorities **Who You Are:** - Proven experience in an operational leadership role, ideally with P&L responsibility. - Demonstrated ability to develop and execute business strategies successfully. - Track record leading high-growth or transformation environments—scaling teams, launching new lines of business, or integrating acquisitions/service expansions - Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, capable of working with and influencing stakeholders at all levels. - Analytical and problem-solving skills, you don’t accept the status quo and are always looking for creative solutions - Strong comfort working in a fast paced environment, operating in ambiguity, managing multiple tasks simultaneously, and taking on responsibility - Operational fluency across people-intensive, regulated, 24/7 businesses; comfort with labor planning, safety culture, and compliance - 10+ years of experience, ideally with a combination of consulting and operating experience - Hold a Bachelor’s Degree with a record of exceptional academic and professional achievement - Willingness to travel extensively across the West Coast (~25%, higher during launch periods) **Compensation and Benefits:** - Final salary will be determined by the candidate’s experience, knowledge, and skills. Salary reflected does not include equity or variable pay, where applicable - Salary Range: $180-$220k / year + attractive RSU package - We are proud to offer a generous and comprehensive benefits package, including free medical plans and 401K matching. Ready to join the ride? *Via is an equal opportunity employer.*