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)
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 doIn 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.
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 SaaS 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.
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.
Xero Sydney, New South Wales, AUS Office
Our office is in the heart of the Sydney CBD with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. We're just over by Wynyard Park so it's easy to get to.
