Senior Strategy Manager

Xero; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Boost days

Job summary

Xero's Strategy & Operations team is seeking a Senior Manager to lead the internal AI transformation and run high-impact strategic programs across the business. You will operate with both big-picture thinking and hands-on execution, scoping opportunities, building business cases, and driving design and implementation across key AI initiatives.

Based in Melbourne or Sydney in a hybrid model, you will coordinate with technical and non-technical stakeholders, align cross-functional efforts, and

Qualifications

• Experience at top-tier consulting or comparable roles in strategy/operations within a global tech or SaaS environment.
• Led complex, multi-stakeholder programs end-to-end—from problem definition to delivery.
• Structured thinking; frame ambiguous problems into credible analyses and clear recommendations.
• Background in operating model and technology transformation; exposure to AI strategy or AI-enabled ways of working.
• Demonstrates an AI builder mindset, builds AI fluency, and rapidly experiments with new approaches.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen guiding business-case development.
• Polished written and verbal communication with clear deliverables.
• Mentors others, provides candid feedback, and strengthens team capability.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic work streams supporting Xero's internal AI transformation from scoping to stabilization and adoption.
• Translate AI ambitions into clear scope, requirements and delivery plans with measurable outcomes.
• Structure ambiguous business problems into sharp questions and well-reasoned recommendations for senior audiences.
• Build business cases and apply commercial judgment to trade-offs and investment decisions.

Skills

Consulting experience

Program leadership

Structured thinking

AI strategy

AI fluency

Financial acumen

Communication skills

People development

Job description

Xero's Strategy & Operations team partners across the business to shape long term direction, drive critical decision making and translate strategy into execution. We're looking for a Senior Manager, Strategy & Operations to lead Xero's internal AI transformation and deliver high impact strategic programs across the business - someone who moves comfortably between big picture thinking and hands on delivery.

As an individual contributor, you'll scope opportunities, build business cases and drive design and implementation across some of Xero's most consequential AI initiatives, connecting the dots between company wide efforts so they add up to something cohesive. You'll coordinate across technical and non-technical stakeholders, close alignment gaps, and keep momentum going - all while building the credibility and influence to get things done without relying on authority.

The team & how they connect

The team sits at the centre of how Xero plans and executes, designing the systems that help other teams do their best work. They partner closely with leaders across the business to structure ambiguous problems into clear recommendations, then stay close to delivery to make sure those recommendations land. It's a small, tight knit group that works collaboratively across functions.

Initially, the role will focus on

• Leading strategic work streams supporting Xero's internal AI transformation, from scoping through to stabilization and adoption
• Translating AI ambitions into clear scope, requirements and delivery plans with measurable outcomes
• Structuring ambiguous business problems into sharp questions and well reasoned recommendations for senior audiences
• Building business cases and bringing commercial judgement to trade offs and investment decisions

Where and how you can work

This role is based in our Melbourne or Sydney office working in a hybrid model that combines in office collaboration with the flexibility to work from home. Our boost days bring the team together in person for connection and collaborative work, with the rest of the week flexible to suit how you work best.

Here are some of the things we're looking for, for this role

• Experience at top-tier consulting firm highly preferred; or, comparable experience in strategy, operations, transformation, and/or related roles within a global technology or SaaS environment.
• You've led complex, multi stakeholder programs end to end, from problem definition through to delivery
• Structured, rigorous thinking comes naturally to you, and you can frame ambiguous problems into credible analyses and clear recommendations
• You bring a background in operating model and technology transformation, along with experience and/or aptitude in AI strategy or AI enabled ways of working
• You model an AI builder mindset for reimagining workflows, actively building your own AI fluency, and rapidly experimenting
• Strong financial and commercial acumen underpins how you build and interrogate business cases
• Your written and verbal communication is polished and precise, with deliverables that rarely need heavy editing
• You enjoy developing others, whether that's mentoring, giving candid feedback or building team capability