Director of Strategy & Operations
Via · San Francisco, Los Angeles, Seattle · $180,000–$220,000 (stated in the posting)
Via is hiring a Director of Strategy & Operations to lead part of our West Coast portfolio. This is a significant regional P&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.
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.
What You’ll Do:
Regional leadership & people management
- Lead, coach, and develop a team set clear expectations, cadence, and accountability
- Run a consistent regional operating rhythm
- Build leadership depth: hire, promote, and performance-manage regional talent;
- Foster a culture of safety, compliance, operational excellence, and partner trust across the region
P&L and performance ownership
- Own regional P&L outcomes in partnership with Finance and market GMs: revenue hours/rides, cost per ride, labor productivity, and margin improvement
- Set regional targets and be accountable to KPIs (service reliability, on-time performance, seat availability, safety, driver staffing, vehicle readiness, and customer experience)
- Drive root-cause problem solving on underperforming markets; escalate risks early with clear mitigation plans
- Partner on annual and quarterly operating plans, staffing models, and scenario planning for growth
Regional strategy & growth
- Translate regional priorities into actionable market strategies
- Lead the region through new service types and operating models
- Prioritize resources across markets during launch surges, staffing constraints, and partner-critical periods
- Represent Operations in regional strategy discussions with Commercial, Service Design, Product, and Partner Success
Partner & stakeholder management
- Serve as a senior operational counterpart to agency leadership on high-stakes markets
- Build trust through transparent performance reporting, proactive communication, and credible remediation when service misses occur
- Navigate complex regulatory and contractual environments
Cross-functional leadership
- Partner with Commercial, Enablement, Service Design, Remix, Safety, Fleet, HR, and Finance to align ops capacity with growth and product roadmap
- Influence technology and process adoption to improve regional efficiency and visibility
- Contribute to company-wide ops priorities
Who You Are:
- Proven experience in an operational leadership role, ideally with P&L responsibility.
- Demonstrated ability to develop and execute business strategies successfully.
- Track record leading high-growth or transformation environments—scaling teams, launching new lines of business, or integrating acquisitions/service expansions
- Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, capable of working with and influencing stakeholders at all levels.
- Analytical and problem-solving skills, you don’t accept the status quo and are always looking for creative solutions
- Strong comfort working in a fast paced environment, operating in ambiguity, managing multiple tasks simultaneously, and taking on responsibility
- Operational fluency across people-intensive, regulated, 24/7 businesses; comfort with labor planning, safety culture, and compliance
- 10+ years of experience, ideally with a combination of consulting and operating experience
- Hold a Bachelor’s Degree with a record of exceptional academic and professional achievement
- Willingness to travel extensively across the West Coast (~25%, higher during launch periods)
Compensation and Benefits:
- Final salary will be determined by the candidate’s experience, knowledge, and skills. Salary reflected does not include equity or variable pay, where applicable
- Salary Range: $180-$220k / year + attractive RSU package
- We are proud to offer a generous and comprehensive benefits package, including free medical plans and 401K matching.
Ready to join the ride?
Via is an equal opportunity employer.