Director Strategy, Operations & Transformation

apply; New Jersey; On-site; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

ADP is seeking a Director, Strategy, Operations & Transformation to partner with GPT executives, drive strategic initiatives, and streamline operations across the global product portfolio.

The role demands leading cross-functional programs, shaping long-term direction, and delivering actionable insights to senior leadership within a large, complex organization.

Qualifications

• 6–8+ years of progressive experience in strategy, operations, transformation in technology-driven organizations.
• 3–5 years of management consulting or equivalent corporate strategy experience.
• Proven success leading and influencing large-scale cross-functional strategic programs.
• Experience producing executive-level materials and presenting strategic recommendations.
• Strong problem-solving, analytical skills and data-driven decision making.

Responsibilities

• Support development and execution of GPT’s multi-year strategy and annual priorities.
• Lead workstreams within GPT-wide strategic initiatives and transformation programs.
• Manage project scopes, milestones, KPIs, and delivery plans.
• Facilitate cross-functional alignment and ensure successful implementation.
• Improve operating rhythms, dashboards, and decision-making processes.
• Produce high-quality executive briefs, business cases, and program updates.

Skills

Strategy development

Operations management

Transformation programs

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication

Executive briefing

Business acumen

Cross-functional collaboration

Cloud knowledge

AI tools knowledge

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business or technology-related field

MBA strongly preferred

Tools

Cloud platforms

AI tools

Job description

ADP is hiring a Director, Strategy, Operations & Transformation, in our Global Product and Technology (GPT) Organization. In this high-impact role, you will serve as a trusted partner to our executive leadership team, driving strategic initiatives, streamlining operations, and ensuring alignment across ADP’s global product portfolio. This is a unique opportunity to work at the intersection of strategy and execution, shaping how we plan, prioritize, and operate at scale.

About Global Product and Technology group:

ADP’s GPT organization is the engine of ADP’s digital and innovation agenda. GPT brings together three core pillars:

• Product Excellence including Product Management, Product Development, and AI
• Technology Excellence including Enterprise Technology, Platforms, Architecture, and Infrastructure
• Breakthrough Innovation including Data Solutions, Ventures, Innovation Labs, and Marketplace

Together, these groups define how ADP imagines, builds, operates, and evolves the products and platforms used by millions of clients and workers worldwide.

About the Strategy, Operations and Transformation (SOT) Group:

The SOT organization sits at the center of GPT’s operating model and serves as the connective tissue across its diverse portfolio. Our mission is to shape GPT’s long-term strategic direction, strengthen operational excellence, accelerate execution velocity, and lead enterprise-level transformation initiatives that reinforce ADP’s digital edge.

We partner across Product, Technology, and Breakthrough Innovation to align strategy with delivery, simplify how work gets done, improve transparency, reduce friction, and enable GPT to build faster and innovate more consistently.

What We Do:

The SOT group works closely with GPT Executive Leadership, Corporate Strategy, Finance, Product, Engineering, Data Solutions, Innovation Labs, Ventures, and Marketplace teams to:

• Define GPT’s multi-year strategic ambition and annual priorities
• Lead GPT-wide strategic initiatives and transformation programs
• Improve operational clarity, efficiency, transparency, and execution discipline
• Prepare and manage updates for the Executive Committee (XCOM) and ADP Board of Directors
• Partner to drive and help orchestrate the annual GPT Product Planning process and cycle
• Craft and shape key executive leadership presentations and updates and communicate the GPT vision and story
• Enable data-driven decision-making through insights, KPIs, analytics, and performance frameworks
• Build governance systems, operating rhythms, and execution mechanisms that scale across GPT
• Support the enhancement of existing products and the pursuit of new growth through innovation, partnerships, and ventures activity
• Partner with colleagues across GPT and overall ADP to generate insights and improve cross-functional collaboration

Every member of the Strategy, Operations and Transformation group plays a pivotal role in helping GPT and ADP simplify, accelerate, and lead

What You’ll Do:

The Director is a strategic operator within GPT’s SOT group, responsible for supporting GPT’s long-term strategy, leading key workstreams, and driving operational improvements. This role works cross-functionally to analyze complex challenges, develop actionable insights, and deliver programs that enhance efficiency, alignment, and execution quality.

Strategy and Analysis

• Support development and execution of GPT’s multi-year strategy and annual priorities.
• Conduct market, competitive, and internal performance research and analysis.
• Develop executive-ready insights, narratives, and presentations.
• Contribute to shaping GPT’s future-of-work vision and strategic direction.

Transformation Delivery

• Lead workstreams within GPT-wide strategic initiatives and transformation programs.
• Manage project scopes, milestones, KPIs, and delivery plans.
• Identify operational challenges and propose structured solutions.
• Facilitate cross-functional alignment and ensure successful implementation.

Operational Excellence

• Improve operating rhythms, reporting, and decision-making processes.
• Build dashboards, KPIs, scorecards, and operational insights for leadership.
• Identify inefficiencies and recommend workflow and process improvements.
• Strengthen coordination across Product, Technology, Data Solutions, Ventures, Innovation Labs, and Marketplace teams.

Collaboration and Communication

• Partner closely with leaders across GPT and corporate functions to ensure alignment.
• Produce high-quality executive briefs, business cases, and program updates.
• Influence without authority to drive clarity and alignment across diverse teams.
• Proactively elevate risks, dependencies, and barriers.

To Succeed In This Role:

• 6–8+ years of progressive experience in strategy, operations, transformation, or related fields within technology-driven organizations.
• At least 3–5 years of management consulting experience (MBB, Big Four, or equivalent strategy boutique), or significant experience in a corporate strategy or internal strategy function within a large, complex organization.
• Demonstrated success leading and influencing others in large-scale, cross-functional strategic programs and driving enterprise-wide transformation.
• Proven experience leading and developing high-performing teams, setting priorities, and delivering measurable business outcomes.
• Exceptional problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to structure ambiguity, synthesize complex data, and generate insights-driven recommendations.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building capabilities, with the ability to influence senior leaders and drive alignment across executive, technical, and operational teams.
• Significant senior leadership exposure, including preparing executive-level materials, presenting strategic recommendations, and facilitating decision-making forums.
• Deep expertise in operational excellence, governance frameworks, and data-driven performance management.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to craft compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
• Strong business acumen with an understanding of the intersection between strategy, operations, and technology.
• Bachelor’s degree in a business or technology-related field (e.g., Business, Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems); MBA strongly preferred
• Preference for candidate with knowledge and prior experience with cloud, AI tools, and use in transformation / operations, and the technology vendor ecosystem