About the job Operations & Strategy Manager
Operations & Strategy Manager (ADG)
ADG, a leading innovation and venture design consultancy, is seeking a Operations & Strategy Manager to join our multidisciplinary global team of designers, strategists, and technologists. This role will begin as a 6 month full-time contract with potential for promotion to a permanent full-time role. Preferably located within San Francisco, offering the opportunity to join the CEO and leadership team in driving the vision, mission, and growth of the consultancy.
Position Overview:
As the Operations & Strategy Manager/Chief of Staff, you will provide critical support to the CEO and leadership team in strategic planning, business development, day-to-day management, and team leadership. This role requires a unique blend of leadership, operational excellence, and design thinking acumen. The ideal candidate is someone who aspires to be a design leader and executive, is passionate about fostering a culture of innovation, and is capable of driving transformative initiatives.
Your Responsibilities:
Strategic Planning and Execution:
Collaborate with the CEO & leadership team to develop and execute the overall strategic plan for the consultancy, including growth, business development, client services, recruitment, process design, and new venture development.
Drive the implementation of key initiatives, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, while executing at the highest level.
Operational Excellence:
Streamline and optimize operational processes to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
Implement best practices for distributed, remote teams to ensure seamless cross-functional collaboration. Manage client projects as required, while balancing your workload as a key driver of transformative internal initiatives.
Project Management:
Develop detailed plans for each project role to ensure smooth progress, intervening proactively when issues arise. Oversee the tooling/tech stack, plan on-sites, and ensure high-quality work from the project team. Maintain a clear understanding of project scope and timeline for on-time, high-quality deliverables.
Lead scoping meetings, facilitate kickoffs, and conduct client check-ins to ensure project success. Strategically align client needs with the design team's work, contributing to overall client satisfaction within ADG's design program.
Team Leadership and Development:
Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and excellence within the organization, recognizing the unique challenges of a distributed, remote team of high-performing designers, strategists, and technologists.
Design Leadership:
Advocate for design thinking principles and methodologies across the organization, including foresight, systems thinking, transformational strategy, and global change leadership.
Collaborate with the design team to elevate the quality and impact of our consultancy's creative outputs, including more than just decks but services, products, and new systems that redefine contemporary society.
Executive Support:
Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and other executives, providing critical insights and support in decision-making. Work closely with the CEO in-person where possible as a strategic thought partner with a close eye to continuous execution.
Manage special projects and initiatives on behalf of the executive team.
Stakeholder Engagement:
Build and maintain strong relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
Represent the consultancy in industry events, fostering partnerships and business development opportunities.
Financial Management:
Work closely with the finance team to monitor and manage budgets, ensuring financial sustainability and growth.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Design, Business, or a related field.
Proven project management skills, overseeing design projects from inception to delivery.
Expertise in developing and implementing efficient design processes and systems to ensure cohesive coordination across cross-functional teams.
Proficient in project management and collaboration tools.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, enabling effective collaboration with diverse stakeholders and cross-functional teams.
Familiarity with design, UX, and design thinking methodologies.
Resourceful in managing budgets, timelines, and project resources.
Proactive and solutions-oriented mindset with the ability to navigate and resolve challenges in a dynamic design environment.
Awareness of emerging trends and technologies in design and design operations.
Passion for leading edge ventures.
Benefits:
Competitive Compensation: Enjoy a competitive salary that reflects your skills, experience, and dedication.
Professional Development: Access to ongoing professional development opportunities, workshops, and training sessions to enhance your skills and advance your career, including working directly with the CEO and leadership team.
Flexible Work Arrangements: We understand the importance of work-life balance. Benefit from flexible work arrangements to support your personal and professional commitments, including access to co-working space and setting your own schedule where fixed engagements allow.
Career Growth Opportunities: As a member of our team, you'll have the chance to take on new challenges, expand your responsibilities, and advance your career within the consultancy. Aiming to launch your own studio / agency or lead a global design team? Consider this opportunity your pathway.
Diversity and Inclusion: Join a team that values diversity and inclusion. We believe in creating an inclusive workplace that welcomes and appreciates everyone's unique perspectives and contributions, with team members across North America and worldwide.
Mission-Driven Culture: Be part of a mission-driven culture that is dedicated to making a real impact in the world through venture design and innovation.
Working Environment:
Based in San Francisco: Work primarily from SF with some planned days for company collaboration or onsites. If you desire, you can work flexibly from other locations a couple weeks a year.
Pacific Time Office Hours: As the team is partly remote, we maintain Pacific Time office hours, ensuring alignment with our design and client teams.
Flexible Schedule: Enjoy the flexibility to manage your work schedule outside fixed meetings, supporting work-life balance.
International Collaboration: Occasional off-hours meetings with various international stakeholders.
Why ADG:
ADG is a next-generation innovation and design consultancy. We build ventures that reinvent the world. We partner with leading institutions, corporations, government agencies, venture capital firms and ambitious startups to bring concepts to market. More than forward-thinking, our work reimagines the future through balancing user needs, systems-thinking and business strategy.
Join Us:
Ready to drive transformative initiatives and be a key player in a cutting-edge consultancy? Join our team and contribute to redefining the landscape of venture building and the business of design.