Strategy & Operations Lead

Navan is looking for a Strategy & Operations Lead to partner directly with the Chief Information Officer (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 AI initiatives, 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 & Leadership

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.

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.