VP, Global Strategy & Operations in Sydney

Our Purpose

At Xero, we’re here to supercharge small businesses.

By making small business more efficient every day, connecting them with big business technology and empowering a community behind them, their potential is limitless.

When that happens, we’re not only helping small business, we’ll be building a stronger economy that can change the world.

Location

This role can be based in either of these locations

• San Mateo, California, USA (Hybrid)
• Australia, Melbourne, Sydney (Hybrid)

The Role

Xero’s Strategy & Operations team partners across the company to shape long-term direction, drive critical decision-making, and ensure alignment with our mission - then translate strategy into execution by enabling teams with insights, processes, and operational excellence to deliver impact at scale.

We’re hiring a 6 month fixed term VP, Global Strategy & Operations to help accelerate Xero’s next phase of transformation and growth.

This role is ideal for a high-horsepower operator and strategist who thrives in ambiguity, moves quickly, and can turn complex problems into structured action.

You’ll partner closely with senior leaders across the business and lead a small team to drive strategic initiatives, operational execution, enterprise transformation programs, and planning rhythms that improve focus, alignment, and business performance.

What you’ll do

In this role, you will

• Own a key workstream within our enterprise transformation efforts – including operational improvements and AI-enabled workflow transformations – ensuring that design decisions thoughtfully connect business outcomes with the employee experience.
• Collaborate with senior leaders throughout the lifecycle of change initiatives, from shaping design principles and operational models to hands‑on implementation and adoption.
• Partner with leaders to assess organisational health, identifying opportunities to refine structures, clarify accountability, streamline decision‑making and improve cross‑functional ways of working.
• Drive high‑impact problem solving: structure ambiguous business issues, evaluate trade‑offs, and develop data‑driven recommendations for executive decision‑making.
• Operate effectively in fast‑moving environments where priorities evolve quickly and leaders must balance short‑term execution with long‑term thinking.
• What you’ll bring

We’re looking for a strategic operator who combines strong analytical thinking, with practical execution capability and mature judgement.

• Required capabilities
• Experience supporting enterprise transformation, operating model redesign, AI enablement, or large‑scale business change
• Significant experience in strategy, operations, transformation, consulting, business management, or related leadership roles within a global technology or Saa S environment.
• Proven ability to design and lead complex cross‑functional org design and transformational projects
• Highly logical and structured thinker and communicator: crisp framing, clear storylines, and strong prioritisation.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen; comfortable evaluating trade‑offs, investments, operating performance, and business impact.
• Proven ability to influence senior executives and align diverse stakeholders in complex environments.
• Ability to operate at both strategic altitude and execution depth — comfortable in executive discussions and close to the work where needed to drive outcomes.
• Combines strong strategic and analytical capability with operational rigor and a bias for action.
• The leadership style that will win here
• High drive with calm execution: brings energy and urgency while creating clarity in ambiguous environments.
• Structured and pragmatic: balances strategic thinking with operational follow‑through.
• Collaborative influencer: builds trust quickly and works effectively across teams without relying on hierarchy.
• Curious and adaptable: learns fast, asks thoughtful questions, and adjusts approach as the business evolves.
• Team‑oriented leader: raises the bar for quality, execution, and partnership across the organization.
• Why Xero

At Xero, Strategy and Operations plays a unique role in connecting the business — shaping direction, designing the operating system that helps teams execute, and enabling impact at scale.

If you love complexity, pace, and building foundations that help a global company grow, this is a rare seat at the centre of the system.

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