Senior Manager, Strategy & Innovation

Traveltechessentialist; Dallas (TX); On-site; USD 150,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Healthcare coverage

Equity plans

Flexible time off

Job summary

Navan is seeking a Senior Manager, Strategy & Innovation to lead long-term service capacity planning and large-scale travel support projects. You will guide a global team of Capacity Strategists and Process Improvement Leads, partnering with Operations and Product leaders to build precise capacity models and optimize ROC workflows.

You will drive initiatives across leadership, project management, and technology partnerships, shaping the roadmap for AI, automation, and exception-based operations

Qualifications

• 7+ years of leadership in Operations Strategy, Project Management, or Advanced Workforce Management.
• PMP or Agile/Scrum certification is a strong plus.
• Elite storytelling to VP-level stakeholders across departments.
• Bridge ROC operations and engineering with Snowflake/BI/AI tools.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Industrial Engineering, Statistics, or related field; MBA preferred.

Responsibilities

• Direct end-to-end project management for ROC initiatives and major deployments.
• Translate workforce data into actionable travel business intelligence with CX, Sales, and AM.
• Lead capacity planning, modeling Required vs Productive FTE with shrinkage.
• Design portfolio management and tiered agent planning to meet priorities.
• Lead Process Improvement Leads for ROC, map journeys, and implement Lean/Six Sigma.
• Partner with WFM tech on AI/automation and influence the technology roadmap.

Skills

Operations Strategy

Project Management

Agile/Scrum

Executive storytelling

Data architectures

BI/AI tools

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Industrial Engineering/Statistics

MBA or advanced degree

Tools

Snowflake

ThoughtSpot

Power BI

Job description

Navan is the all-in-one super app that makes travel and expense easy so you can focus on being there, not getting there. As we scale our global footprint, we are revolutionizing not just corporate travel, but workforce management.

The Resource Orchestration Center (ROC) is the proactive, AI-powered "Enterprise Brain" of our 1,000-agent, 24/7 global travel operation. We rely on an advanced technology stack—including Genesys Cloud, Snowflake data lakes, ThoughtSpot, and AI-driven analytics—to automate administrative tasks and empower our human talent. We don't just report on what happened; we engineer outcomes to guarantee our elite service level agreements (SLAs) for our global travelers.

As the Senior Manager, Strategy & Innovation, you sit at the critical intersection of long-term service capacity planning, strategic project management, and internal operational excellence. Moving beyond standard workforce management, this role is designed for a visionary leader who will build and guide a global team consisting of Capacity Strategists and Process Improvement Leads.

You will partner directly with Operations and Product leaders to build precise service agent capacity models, drive large-scale travel support projects, and continuously map and optimize the internal workflows of the ROC team itself. Your goal is to ensure the ROC operates as a lean, exception-based intelligence hub that seamlessly supports our global travel enterprise.

What You’ll Do:

Project Management & Cross-Functional Partnering

• Direct end-to-end project management for major ROC initiatives, new service offering deployments, Crisis Management, and strategic overhauls.
• Serve as the liaison to Customer Experience, Sales, and Account Management, translating complex workforce capacity data into actionable travel business intelligence.
• Drive alignment across departments during new customer launches and travel market expansions to ensure the ROC is operationally ready to support the business.

Service Capacity Strategy & Workforce Architecture

• Lead a team of Capacity Strategists to build comprehensive service agent capacity plans based on seasonal travel trends.
• Master the complex mathematics of agent staffing by accurately modeling Required FTE vs. Productive FTE, factoring in detailed multi-variable shrinkage to ensure the agents are always appropriately staffed.
• Design and optimize the overarching portfolio management strategy, ensuring that agent tiers (Core, Designated, Dedicated, Specialty Travel) are dynamically planned for to meet shifting business priorities.

Internal ROC Process Optimization & Leadership

• Lead and develop a team of Process Improvement Leads (USA) entirely dedicated to optimizing the internal workflows, tools, and daily operating procedures of the ROC team.
• Execute detailed journey mapping for ROC analysts to identify bottlenecks, eliminate administrative waste, and establish Lean/Six Sigma methodologies within our own department.
• Oversee root-cause analysis (RCA) initiatives for internal operational misses, ensuring that systemic fixes are implemented to improve the ROC's efficiency and accuracy in supporting the travel network.

AI Ideation & Technology Partnership

• Identify internal operational friction points within the ROC and partner closely with our specialized WFM technology team to hand off requirements for new AI and automation solutions.
• Serve as a key voice in cross-functional discussions on how automation and AI integration can enhance the experience for frontline travel agents, as well as eliminate manual effort for the ROC analysts and planners.
• Champion the transition to a fully "exception-based" Command Center by ensuring ROC business needs drive the technology roadmap (e.g., Snowflake data ingestion, ThoughtSpot applications).

What We’re Looking For:

• Experience: 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in Operations Strategy, Project Management, and/or Advanced Workforce Management.
• Project & Process Management: Strong background in leading complex, cross-functional projects and journey-mapping internal department workflows. PMP or Agile/Scrum certification is a strong plus.
• Communication & Influence: Elite executive storytelling skills, with the ability to build consensus across VP-level stakeholders in disparate departments.
• Technology Partnership: Strong ability to bridge the gap between ROC business operations and technical engineering teams. Understanding of modern data architectures (Snowflake) and BI/AI tools (ThoughtSpot, Power BI) to effectively collaborate on tech roadmaps.
• Advanced Capacity Modeling: Deep understanding of short and long term forecasting and service agent capacity planning, multi-variable shrinkage modeling, and immediate to long term hiring plan architecture.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Industrial Engineering, Statistics, or a related field. MBA or advanced degree is highly preferred.

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.

Our Benefits

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.

Equal Opportunity

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.

If you need any assistance or accommodations due to a disability, you are welcome to email us at [e-mail].

Candidate Privacy Notice and Use of AI

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.

*Applies to select locations.