Director, Strategy & Operations (Office of the CIO)

Navan; New York (NY); On-site; USD 167,000 - 372,000; Full time

Job summary

Navan is seeking a Strategy & Operations Leader to partner directly with the CIO. Based in New York, this role will own the definition and execution of the CIO department strategy, drive operational cadence, manage budgets and programs, and establish enterprise IT governance.

Beyond traditional IT strategy, the position will scale pragmatic AI initiatives, ensuring AI tools align with Navan’s technology vision, cost structures, and business goals.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in Strategy & Operations or similar roles working with senior technology leadership (CIO/CTO/VP of IT).
• Proven ability to build, document, and execute enterprise IT strategies and multi-year roadmaps.
• Pragmatic understanding of AI, governance, and cost considerations for enterprise adoption.
• Financial and analytical competency in IT budgets, vendor contracts, headcount planning, and resource allocation.
• Structured governance, policy frameworks, and portfolio tracking in fast-paced environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication to synthesize complex technology into executive materials.

Responsibilities

• Lead the CIO Department Strategy and multi-year IT roadmap.
• Oversee IT governance, policies, safe data usage, and cost control.
• Manage budgets, vendor portfolios, software licensing, and cloud costs.
• Set OKRs/KPIs and drive cross-functional IT programs from kickoff to delivery.
• Draft executive narratives and decks for Boards and leadership.

Skills

Strategy & Ops

CIO collaboration

Budget management

Program management

IT governance

AI governance

Roadmapping

Executive communications

Analytical thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Job description

Director, Strategy & Operations (Office of the CIO)

Location: New York, NY

Department: Business Technology

Navan is looking for aStrategy & Operations Leader to partner directly with the CIO. In this pivotal strategic role, you will act as the operational force multiplier for the IT and Technology organization, owning the definition and execution of the CIO department strategy, driving operational cadence, managing budgets and program portfolios, and establishing enterprise IT governance frameworks.

In addition to traditional IT strategy and operations, this role supports pragmatically scaled AIinitiatives, ensuring AI tools and modernizations are aligned directly with the overarching technology vision, cost structures, and business goals.

What You’ll Do

• CIO Department Strategy: Lead the creation, iteration, and execution of the long-term CIO Department Strategy, ensuring IT capabilities, infrastructure, and team structures directly enable Navan’s broader business strategy.
• Strategic Alignment & Roadmapping: Partner with IT and business leaders to build, communicate, and track a cohesive multi-year IT roadmap that incorporates core modernization, cloud infrastructure, enterprise security, and practical AI application.
• Executive Communications: Draft high-impact narratives and decks for the Board of Directors, executive leadership, and company town halls to communicate the CIO department strategy, delivery milestones, and business ROI.
• Trusted Advisor: Act as a strategic partner to the CIO, providing structured insights, operational metrics, and decision-support materials on critical technology investments and organizational design.

Department Operations, Governance & Policies

• CIO Office Cadence: Direct the operational flow of the CIO team, setting agendas for leadership staff meetings, tracking cross-functional dependencies, and driving accountability against strategic goals.
• IT & AI Governance: Oversee the development of pragmatic IT policies, including safe data usage, information security operational guidelines, and responsible AI usage standards.
• Budget & Cost Control: Manage the department’s operating and capital budgets ($OPEX/$CAPEX), vendor portfolios, software licensing, and cloud costs to optimize spend in alignment with departmental strategy.

Execution & Program Delivery

• Goal Setting & Metrics (OKRs): Translate the overarching CIO strategy into measurable quarterly and annual team OKRs; establish clear KPIs for system reliability, project velocity, and enterprise tool adoption.
• Cross-Functional Program Management: Drive high-priority strategic IT programs from kickoff through execution, collaborating with Security, Engineering, Legal, Finance, and Business Operations.
• Operational Excellence: Continuously evaluate the departmental operating model, identifying bottlenecks and leading process improvement initiatives to elevate overall IT execution.

What We’re Looking For

• Relevant Experience: 5+ years in Strategy & Operations, Chief of Staff, IT Program Management, or Management Consulting, working directly with senior technology leadership (CIO/CTO/VP of IT).
• Strategic Capability: Proven track record of helping build, document, and execute enterprise IT strategies and multi-year technology roadmaps.
• Core IT & Business Tech Acumen: Practical understanding of enterprise IT architectures, cloud/SaaS vendor ecosystems, software development lifecycles, and modern workforce tools.
• Pragmatic AI Understanding: Balanced familiarity with corporate AI use cases, automation capabilities, and the governance/cost considerations associated with enterprise AI adoption.
• Financial & Analytical Competency: Demonstrated experience managing IT operational budgets, vendor contract evaluations, headcount planning, and resource allocation.
• Structured Governance Focus: Experience framing clear, enforceable policies, program frameworks, and portfolio tracking mechanisms in fast-paced environments.
• Communication & EQ: Clear, concise written and verbal communication skills with a proven ability to synthesize complex technology strategies into clear executive materials.

The posted pay range represents theanticipatedlow and high end of the compensation for this position and is subject to change based on business need. For roles with on-target-earnings (OTE), the pay range includes both base salary and target incentive compensation. Target incentive compensation for some roles may include a ramping draw period. Compensation is higher for those who exceed targets. Candidates may receive more information from the recruiter.

Pay Range

$167,400 — $372,000 USD

About Navan

Navan (Nasdaq: NAVN) is the global AI-powered business travel and expense platform that makes travel easy for frequent travelers. From finding flights and hotels, to automating expense reconciliation, with 24/7 support along the way, Navan delivers an intuitive experience travelers love and finance teams rely on. See how Navan customers benefit and learn more at navan.com .

Culture of Excellence

Our team is our competitive edge — a high-performance group of smart, driven people committed to winning together. This dedication to excellence is why we’ve been recognized as a Best Place to Work by Built In (2023–2026), a G2 Best Global Software Company (2025–2026), Forbes Cloud 100 (2022–2025), and CNBC Disruptor 50 (2022–2025). At Navan, we provide an environment where top talent excels, offering the autonomy and fast-paced trajectory needed to build a defining career and do the best work of your life.

Navan offers a comprehensive benefits program designed to support your well-being, financial security, and life outside of work. Our benefits, thoughtfully tailored by country to meet local needs, include healthcare coverage, insurance offerings, and wellness resources for you and your family.

We support long-term financial growth through retirement savings programs and opportunities to participate in our equity plans, so you can share in Navan’s success. To promote balance, we offer flexible time off, country-specific holidays, and paid parental leave for all new parents. Additional benefits include connectivity and commuting support*, mental health resources, and exclusive travel-related perks. Wherever you’re based, our benefits evolve with you.

Workplace Policy

Navan believes in the value of in-person connections, whether that’s sitting down to have lunch with one another, taking a walking 1:1, or collaborating in a room together. The connections forged through face-to-face interactions improve company culture and drive business results. Navan invests in global office spaces — in the U.S., Europe, and Asia, among others — that feel welcoming. In-office perks such as company-provided lunches and happy hours create a strong team environment to help you do your best work. Our employees work from the office four days a week. Please expect this policy for all roles that are tied to an office.

Navan is an equal opportunity employer. We make all employment decisions based solely on merit. We provide equal employment opportunity to all applicants and employees without discrimination on the bases of race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. We prohibit any such discrimination or harassment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including hiring.

Accommodations

Navan complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as amended by the ADA Amendments Act, and all applicable state or local law. Navan will reasonably accommodate qualified individuals with a disability in connection with applications for employment as required by law.

As part of the recruitment process, certain personal data may be processed using automated tools, including tools that use AI. For details on how Navan collects and uses your personal data, please review Navan's Candidate Privacy Notice here .

Job Search Best Practices

We have been made aware of recruitment scams involving fraudulent attempts to lure job seekers into sending money or personal information in return for fake job offers or coerce them into purchasing equipment by electronic funds transfer (Zelle, Venmo, etc.) Legitimate Navan recruiters will never ask for money in any recruitment or onboarding activities. All available job openings at Navan will be posted on Navan’s website and all Navan recruiters will be reachable through an email address ending in “@navan.com” or “@navan.tech” or "@talent.navan.com".