Senior Strategy Manager

K1 Industries; Sydney; Hybrid; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Xero's Strategy & Operations team is seeking a Senior Manager to lead the internal AI transformation and deliver high-impact strategic programs. You will move between big-picture strategy and hands-on delivery, scoping opportunities, building business cases and driving design across AI initiatives.

As an individual contributor, you’ll coordinate with senior stakeholders, translate ambitions into measurable plans, and structure ambiguous problems into clear recommendations.

Qualifications

• Experience leading multi-stakeholder programs from definition to delivery.
• Background in operating models and technology transformation.
• Experience or strong aptitude in AI strategy and AI-enabled ways of working.
• Ability to build business cases and exercise commercial judgment.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic work streams for internal AI transformation from scoping to adoption.
• Translate AI ambitions into clear scope, requirements and delivery plans.
• Structure ambiguous problems into sharp questions and credible recommendations.
• Build business cases and assess investment trade-offs with commercial judgement.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Program management

Stakeholder management

AI strategy

Financial acumen

Communication

Mentoring/leadership

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

At Xero, we hire based on your skills, passion, and the unique perspective you can bring to enhance our culture and team.