Senior Strategy & Operations Manager

Preply; España; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Preply is seeking a Senior Strategy & Operations Manager to own transformational projects across the company, from retention improvements to expanding beyond languages. Based in Barcelona or London, you will lead cross-functional teams with a data-driven, AI-enabled approach.

Reporting to the Director of Strategy & Operations, you will translate strategy into actionable roadmaps and present insights to the executive team, driving measurable business outcomes and growth.

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in strategy, operations, or leading cross-functional strategic initiatives.
• Proven track record owning strategic projects from scope to delivery.
• Strong commercial acumen in marketplace dynamics, monetization, and growth.
• Exceptional analytical thinking and ability to structure ambiguous problems.
• Outstanding ability to influence across functions and build buy-in.
• Excellent executive presence and communication, written and verbal.
• Experience using AI to accelerate analysis and strategy work.

Responsibilities

• Own strategic transformation projects end-to-end, typically 3–12 months, with measurable impact.
• Lead cross-functional teams to define strategy and drive accountability to outcomes.
• Translate ambiguity into clear scopes and action plans with measurable business outcomes.
• Prepare data-backed narratives for leadership and the board.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional leadership

Executive communication

AI fluency

Stakeholder management

Tools

AI tools

Job description

We power people's progress. At Preply, we're all about creating life-changing learning experiences. We help people discover the magic of the perfect tutor, craft a personalised learning journey, and stay motivated to keep growing. Our approach is human-led, tech-enabled - and it's creating real impact.

We've just reached unicorn status with a $150M Series D, accelerating our vision to transform education through human-led, AI-enhanced learning. Today, 100,000+ tutors teach 90+ languages to learners in 180 countries - and we're only getting started. As a category-defining company, we're shaping what the future of learning looks like at global scale.

Every Preply lesson sparks change, fuels ambition, and drives progress that matters. Joining Preply means helping define the future of education at global scale, and building something that truly matters for millions of people, every day.

Meet the team

We're building a central Strategy team at the heart of Preply, driving clarity, focus, and disciplined execution across the company.

Reporting directly to our Director of Strategy & Operations, the Strategy team will work with the executive team to define company direction, shape strategic priorities, and lead the cross-functional initiatives that turn strategy into measurable business outcomes.

As Preply scales globally and prepares for its next growth chapter, we're looking for Senior Strategy & Operations Managers to own strategic transformation projects - from improving customer retention and lifetime value to expanding beyond languages into new learning categories. You'll work on projects that have genuine impact across the entire business.

What you'll be doing

1. 
   

   Strategic Initiatives & Transformation
   Own strategic transformation projects end-to-end, typically spanning 3-12 months, with real business impact across the company.

   
   

   Lead cross-functional teams to define strategy, scope workstreams, and drive accountability to outcomes. Examples include improving customer retention and reducing churn, growing customer lifetime value through better monetization and engagement, and evaluating new market segments and product offerings as we expand beyond languages.

   
   

   Conduct data-driven analysis and market research to identify growth opportunities, diagnose root causes of business challenges, and recommend new strategic directions.

   
   

   Assess and prioritize market opportunities, potential partnerships, or M&A targets based on strategic fit and business impact.

   
   


2. 
   

   Cross-Functional Leadership & Execution
   Influence senior leaders without formal authority - navigating competing priorities, building shared ownership, and driving decisions rather than endless discussion.

   
   

   Coordinate complex initiatives across product, marketing, operations, and other functions - managing stakeholder alignment and proactively flagging and resolving risks.

   
   

   Translate ambiguity into clear scopes and action plans. Manage parallel workstreams while maintaining focus on measurable business outcomes, not just activity.

   
   


3. 
   

   Executive Communication & Insight
   Produce clear, data-backed narratives for leadership and the board - tailoring messaging for different audiences (CEO vs. functional leads) and communicating complex ideas with precision.

   
   

   Present findings and recommendations with both confidence and presence - you're a thought partner in the room, not just a presenter of decks.

   
   

What you need to succeed

• 7+ years of experience in strategy, operations, or leading cross-functional strategic initiatives - ideally in high-growth tech or marketplace environments.


• Proven track record owning strategic projects or transformation initiatives from scope to delivery - not just planning or analysis.


• Strong commercial acumen - understanding of marketplace dynamics, business models, monetization, and growth mechanics. Ability to connect strategy to financial outcomes.


• Exceptional strategic and analytical thinking - structures ambiguous problems with frameworks, prioritizes ruthlessly based on strategic logic, connects insights to business outcomes.


• Outstanding ability to influence across functions - can challenge upward constructively, build buy-in without authority, and manage competing stakeholder interests diplomatically.


• Excellent executive presence and communication - comfortable presenting complex ideas with clarity and presence in high-stakes forums. Written and verbal communication are equally strong.


• AI fluency - You actively use AI to accelerate analysis, research, and strategic work. You can name specific tools and articulate how they've changed your approach.


• Action-oriented and resourceful - You're comfortable navigating ambiguity and moving with imperfect information. You drive decisions, not just discussions.


• Attention to detail and strong organizational skills - You deliver polished work and follow through on commitments without being asked.

Based in Barcelona or London, with a preference for Barcelona.

Why you'll love it at Preply:

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