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 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. 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.