SlipstreamJobs tracks this role from the company's public career site. Apply directly on the employer's site.
As Strategy Director for People Strategy & Operations at Xero, you will shape and drive the strategic and operational priorities that translate the company's people strategy into coordinated, organisation-wide outcomes. You will report to the General Manager, People Operations (who also serves as Chief of Staff to the CEO) and be a key contributor to People team leadership discussions, bringing a whole-of-business perspective to consequential decisions about how Xero invests in its people.
Your remit is broad and deliberately varied: from process and system redesign to capability building, organisational change and board paper writing. You will lead a portfolio of complex and often ambiguous initiatives, connecting the dots across People teams to ensure strategy, priorities and OKRs align coherently. As a senior individual contributor, you will lift capability around you through coaching, challenge and expertise, shaping how the function operates, not just what it delivers.
The People Strategy & Operations team partners across the broader People function to shape long-term direction, build the function's operating model and translate strategy into execution. You will work closely with senior and executive leaders across Xero, structuring ambiguous problems into clear recommendations and staying close to delivery to ensure those recommendations land.
Initial focus areas include: shaping and leading a portfolio of strategic initiatives spanning process redesign, culture, governance and capability building across the People team; developing strategic narratives and analysis for Xero's Executive Leadership Team to clarify complex topics and align decision-making; evolving the operating model and operating rhythm for the People team to drive better prioritisation, faster decisions and clearer accountability; and reimagining critical People processes and ways of working, embedding best practice and using technology, data and AI to create scalable solutions.
The role is based in Sydney, Australia, working in a hybrid model combining in-office collaboration with flexibility to work from home. Boost days bring the team together in person for connection and collaborative work, with the rest of the week flexible.
QUALIFICATIONS & REQUIREMENTS:
- Background in consulting, strategy and operations, or transformation, ideally in a complex technology or SaaS organisation
- Deep expertise in structured problem solving that identifies problems beyond the original brief and coaches others to think the same way
- Sharp analytical instincts: ability to navigate varied data sources, surface non-obvious insights and use them to shape strategic decisions
- Ability to build trusted relationships with senior leaders and manage tension to create alignment across organisational boundaries
- Experience leading cross-functional portfolios or strategic initiatives with broad organisational impact, adapting through ambiguity
- Track record of lifting capability of those around you through coaching, challenge and expertise
