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Job Summary
The Director of Business Operations and CIO Chief of Staff serve as a strategic advisor and operational leader for the CIO organization. This role ensures alignment between IT strategy and business objectives, drives operational excellence, and fosters a high performing, engaged IT workforce. The position oversees critical functions such as IT vendor management, financial stewardship, communication strategy, IT program & portfolio management, and talent development, while acting as a trusted partner and a multiplier to the CIO in managing priorities and organizational effectiveness.
Core Competencies
- Leadership & Influence: Ability to inspire, guide, and align teams toward shared goals.
- Operational Excellence: Expertise in process optimization and governance.
- People Development: Commitment to building talent and fostering growth.
- Strategic Thinking: Connects enterprise strategy to technology and operational levers.
- Execution Excellence: Builds processes and governance; drives accountability and outcomes.
- Financial Acumen: Budgeting, cost optimization, investment analysis, and value tracking.
- Change Leadership: Influences without authority; leads through transformation and ambiguity.
- Communication: Executive storytelling; crisp synthesis; board-ready materials.
- Decision Quality: Data-driven prioritization; structured problem-solving; risk-aware judgment.
- Relationship Building: Trusted advisor; collaborative; integrates diverse perspectives.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Planning & Alignment
- Act as a trusted advisor to the CIO, managing priorities, follow-ups, and strategic initiatives.
- Serve as a liaison between the CIO and internal/external stakeholders to ensure seamless communication and execution.
- Act as an extension of the CIO in select forums and escalate decisions to unblock progress.
- Drive IT strategic planning cycles; translate CIO priorities into measurable KPIs/OKRs and operational plans.
- Manage CIO's operating rhythm (staff meetings, QBRs, performance reviews, governance forums).
- Prepare briefings, executive materials and narratives, and decision memos; ensure the CIO is equipped with data-driven insights.
- Operationalize the IT strategy, enable its successful implementation and adoption across the organization.
Program & Portfolio Management
- Strategic Alignment - Ensure IT programs and projects align with organizational goals and priorities. Drive portfolio decisions based on business value and strategic impact.
- Governance & Oversight - Establish and enforce standards, frameworks, and processes for program delivery. Monitor compliance and provide executive-level reporting.
- Resource Optimization - Manage allocation of financial, human, and technical resources across initiatives. Optimize resource utilization to maximize ROI.
- Risk Management - Identify and assess risks across programs and portfolios. Develop mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
- Performance & Benefits Realization - Track KPIs, milestones, and deliverables to ensure successful outcomes. Measure and report on benefits realization to validate business value.
Key Responsibilites Continued
IT Financial Management
- Develop and manage IT budgets, forecasts, and financial reporting.
- Monitor IT spend, identify cost-saving opportunities, and ensure alignment with business priorities.
- Partner with Finance to manage forecasts and actuals to ensure quarterly annual financial targets are met.
- Prepare and present financial dashboards and reports for CIO and leadership.
- Act as a trusted advisor on financial strategy, trends, and equip the CIO with financial insights to make informed strategic decisions.
Vendor Management
- Establish and maintain strategic relationships with IT vendors and service providers.
- Negotiate contracts, SLAs, and pricing to maximize value and minimize risk.
- Monitor vendor performance and compliance with contractual obligations.
- Manage delivery partner governance, including Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), performance surveys, and continuous process improvement initiatives to enhance service quality and alignment with business objectives.
Software Asset Management
- Implement and maintain SAM processes to ensure compliance with licensing agreements.
- Optimize software usage and reduce unnecessary costs through proactive license management.
- Conduct audits and manage renewals to mitigate compliance risks.
- Assist in vendor audit processes to ensure compliance and mitigate financial, operational, and contractual risks for IT and the organization.
- Implement and oversee IT software asset utilization across the entire portfolio, ensuring effective Software Asset Management (SAM) through the ServiceNow SAM Pro platform.
Key Responsibilites Continued
Operational Excellence
- Establish and monitor OKRs/KPIs for IT operations, ensuring efficiency and continuous improvement.
- Implement governance frameworks for IT processes, risk management, and compliance.
- Coordinate cross-functional initiatives to streamline workflows and enhance service delivery.
Communication & Engagement
- Develop internal/external communications for technology initiatives; promote transparency and recognition.
- Build a high-performing, inclusive culture across IT, drive org health, engagement, and talent programs.
- Coordinate executive hiring priorities and succession planning across key IT leadership roles.
- Develop and execute IT communication strategies to ensure clarity, transparency, and alignment across the organization.
- Lead employee engagement programs to foster a collaborative and inclusive culture.
- Manage IT Rewards and Recognition programs to celebrate achievements and reinforce organizational values.
Talent Development & People Leadership
- Drive IT team development initiatives, including training programs and career progression frameworks.
- Oversee mentorship programs to build leadership capabilities and strengthen succession planning.
- Address organizational matter ensuring alignment with HR policies and organizational culture.
Job Requirements
- 8+ years of experience in IT leadership, technology strategy, management consulting, or enterprise transformation roles.
- Proven experience in IT operations, business management, or IT leadership roles.
- Strong understanding of IT financial management, vendor governance, software asset management, financial management, corporate communication, and employee engagement.
- Exceptional communication, stakeholder management, executive presence, and highly organizational.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and influence cross-functional global teams, drive engagement, and manage complex projects without the direct reporting structure.
- Strategic thinker with a results-oriented mindset and ability to influence at all levels.
- Proficient in the everyday use of AI productivity tools (e.g., Microsoft Copilot, generative AI platforms) to streamline workflows and enhance operational efficiency.
Education
Bachelor's degree in related field of IT, Engineering or Business Operations; or equivalent combination of additional experience as stated above.
Compensation
The target salary range for this position is $190,000-245,000. The salary offered will be determined by the candidate's location, qualifications, experience, and education and may be outside of this range. Final compensation packages are competitive and in line with industry standards, reflecting a variety of factors, and include a comprehensive benefits package. This may cover Health Insurance, Life Insurance, Retirement or Pension Plans, Paid Time Off (PTO), various Leave options, Performance-Based Incentives, employee stock purchase plan, and/or restricted stocks (RSU's), with all offerings subject to regional variations and governed by local laws, regulations, and company policies. Benefits may vary by country and region, and further details will be provided as part of the recruitment process.
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We are all about helping customers turn challenges into business opportunity. It starts with bringing new thinking to age-old problems, like how to use data most effectively to run better - but also to innovate. We tailor our approach to the customer's unique needs with a combination of fresh thinking and proven approaches.
At NetApp, we embrace a hybrid working environment designed to strengthen connection, collaboration, and culture for all employees. This means that most roles will have some level of in-office and/or in-person expectations, which will be shared during the recruitment process.
Equal Opportunity Employer
NetApp is firmly committed to Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) and to compliance with all federal, state and local laws that prohibit employment discrimination based on age, race, color, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability or genetic information, pregnancy, protected veteran status, and any other protected classification.
Why You'll Thrive at NetApp
At NetApp, you won't wait for the perfect moment-you'll make it. The early planning, the extra thought, the bold idea that turns good into great: That's how our people operate and how we continue to push the boundaries of data infrastructure.
NetApp is the trusted partner for organizations transforming data into opportunity. As the only enterprise-grade storage service natively embedded in Google Cloud, AWS, and Microsoft Azure, we empower customers to run everything from traditional workloads to enterprise AI with unmatched performance, resilience, and security.
Our culture
We celebrate mold breakers, bold thinkers, and problem solvers. We reward initiative, impact, and ownership. We provide flexibility so you can balance professional ambition with your personal life. Here, differences are not just welcomed-they drive everything we do.
If you're ready to innovate, rise to the challenge, and own every moment - make your next move your best one. Apply now.
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