Director of Strategy & Operations at Via

<p>Via is hiring a<strong> Director of Strategy &amp; Operations </strong>to lead part of our West Coast portfolio. This is a significant regional P&amp;L leadership role: you will start out by directly managing markets and a team of Field Operations Managers, then quickly grow to manage a team of General Managers and Operations Managers. You will be responsible for setting and executing regional operating strategy, and ensuring safe, reliable, high-quality service across a large, fast-growing, and increasingly complex book of business.</p> <p>The West region is in high-growth mode—launching new markets, expanding existing contracts, and standing up new service types. We need a seasoned operator who can lead through scale and ambiguity, develop strong frontline leaders, and partner effectively with transit agency stakeholders, commercial teams, and Via central functions.</p> <p><strong>What You’ll Do:</strong></p> <p><strong>Regional leadership &amp; people management</strong></p> <ul> <li>Lead, coach, and develop a team set clear expectations, cadence, and accountability</li> <li>Run a consistent regional operating rhythm&nbsp;</li> <li>Build leadership depth: hire, promote, and performance-manage regional talent;</li> <li>Foster a culture of safety, compliance, operational excellence, and partner trust across the region</li> </ul> <p><strong>P&amp;L and performance ownership</strong></p> <ul> <li>Own regional P&amp;L outcomes in partnership with Finance and market GMs: revenue hours/rides, cost per ride, labor productivity, and margin improvement</li> <li>Set regional targets and be accountable to KPIs (service reliability, on-time performance, seat availability, safety, driver staffing, vehicle readiness, and customer experience)</li> <li>Drive root-cause problem solving on underperforming markets; escalate risks early with clear mitigation plans</li> <li>Partner on annual and quarterly operating plans, staffing models, and scenario planning for growth</li> </ul> <p><strong>Regional strategy &amp; growth</strong></p> <ul> <li>Translate regional priorities into actionable market strategies&nbsp;</li> <li>Lead the region through new service types and operating models</li> <li>Prioritize resources across markets during launch surges, staffing constraints, and partner-critical periods</li> <li>Represent Operations in regional strategy discussions with Commercial, Service Design, Product, and Partner Success</li> </ul> <p><strong>Partner &amp; stakeholder management</strong></p> <ul> <li>Serve as a senior operational counterpart to agency leadership on high-stakes markets</li> <li>Build trust through transparent performance reporting, proactive communication, and credible remediation when service misses occur</li> <li>Navigate complex regulatory and contractual environments&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p><strong>Cross-functional leadership</strong></p> <ul> <li>Partner with Commercial, Enablement, Service Design, Remix, Safety, Fleet, HR, and Finance to align ops capacity with growth and product roadmap</li> <li>Influence technology and process adoption to improve regional efficiency and visibility</li> <li>Contribute to company-wide ops priorities&nbsp;&nbsp;</li> </ul> <p><strong>Who You Are:</strong></p> <ul> <li>Proven experience in an operational leadership role, ideally with P&amp;L responsibility.</li> <li>Demonstrated ability to develop and execute business strategies successfully.</li> <li>Track record leading high-growth or transformation environments—scaling teams, launching new lines of business, or integrating acquisitions/service expansions</li> <li>Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, capable of working with and influencing stakeholders at all levels.</li> <li>Analytical and problem-solving skills, you don’t accept the status quo and are always looking for creative solutions</li> <li>Strong comfort working in a fast paced environment, operating in ambiguity, managing multiple tasks simultaneously, and taking on responsibility</li> <li>Operational fluency across people-intensive, regulated, 24/7 businesses; comfort with labor planning, safety culture, and compliance</li> <li>10+ years of experience, ideally with a combination of consulting and operating experience&nbsp;</li> <li>Hold a Bachelor’s Degree with a record of exceptional academic and professional achievement</li> <li>Willingness to travel extensively across the West Coast (~25%, higher during launch periods)</li> </ul> <p><strong>Compensation and Benefits:&nbsp;</strong></p> <ul> <li>Final salary will be determined by the candidate’s experience, knowledge, and skills. Salary reflected does not include equity or variable pay, where applicable</li> <li>Salary Range: $180-$220k / year + attractive RSU package</li> <li>We are proud to offer a generous and comprehensive benefits package, including free medical plans and 401K matching.</li> </ul> <p>Ready to join the ride?&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Via is an equal opportunity employer.</em></p>