Director, Business Operations – Process Optimization

Role Overview

• Inventory and map Nava’s core internal operations across cross-functional teams and shared services; identify the highest-impact gaps and sequence improvement work accordingly
• Design and implement improved processes that reduce manual effort, increase consistency, and produce measurable outcomes; establish and maintain a living process inventory across the org
• Own the change management required to make transformation stick: build stakeholder alignment, drive adoption of new frameworks and ways of working, and bring cross-functional teams along with clarity and conviction
• Lead the evaluation and decision-making process for where Nava should build AI-powered solutions, use external tools, or optimize human-led processes; developing a clear framework for assessing readiness, ROI, and risk; ensure tooling decisions follow process design rather than precede it
• Partner with engineering, data, and operations to translate documented processes into viable candidates for automation or AI augmentation
• Track the AI and automation solutions portfolio across the Operations function, ensuring initiatives are properly scoped, measured, and integrated into the broader operational roadmap
• Stay current on emerging AI tooling and agentic workflow capabilities; bring informed recommendations to leadership on where Nava can gain leverage
• Own central operations for the Ops & Automation function: define how work is prioritized, how decisions get made, and how initiatives are tracked from scoping through delivery
• Define the operational excellence framework Nava uses to assess and score core business processes; establish KPIs and leading indicators, and stand up measurement infrastructure to monitor performance over time
• Identify which operational functions are candidates for a shared services model; design those models including ownership, SLAs, handoff points, and governance; lead phased stand-up
• Provide process and automation support to Staffing Operations as it stabilizes and scales
• Build proactive, trusted relationships with cross-functional leaders across Delivery, People Operations, Finance, and Growth; communicate progress, roadblocks, and recommendations to the VP, Ops & Automation and senior leadership with clarity and confidence
• As the function matures, opportunity to build and lead a team as the function scales; the right person will help define what that team needs to look like

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in business operations, strategy & operations, management consulting, or a closely related field
• Demonstrated experience mapping & improving complex, cross-functional business processes from scratch in an ambiguous or high-growth environment
• Experience owning centralized operations — defining prioritization frameworks, decision-making processes, and delivery tracking
• Demonstrated ability to lead AI and automation transformation operationally: evaluate build-vs.-optimize decisions, scope work for technical partners, and drive adoption of AI-enabled ways of working
• Proven track record driving change management in an operational context: making new processes, tools, and frameworks stick across teams you do not directly own
• Experience building and implementing KPI frameworks and operational measurement systems
• Proven ability to design and stand up shared services or centralized operational models, including SLA definition, ownership structures, and governance
• Exceptional cross-functional facilitation and stakeholder alignment skills; can influence without authority across all levels of an organization
• Comfortable operating across tactical execution and strategic design within the same week

Benefits

• Health coverage — comprehensive medical, dental, and vision plans to support your overall health needs
• Insurance coverage — Nava provides disability, life, and accidental death insurance at no cost
• Time off — vacation, holidays (including Juneteenth), and floating holidays to rest and recharge
• Company holidays — enjoy 12 paid federal holidays each year on top of your regular PTO
• Annual bonus — when Nava meets its goals, eligible employees receive a performance-based annual bonus
• Parental leave — paid time off for new parents, plus weekly meals delivered to your home
• Wellness program — full platform offering physical, mental, & emotional health resources & support tools
• Virtual care — see doctors online with no copay through UnitedHealthcare’s virtual visit program
• Sabbatical leave — earn extended unpaid leave after continuous service for personal growth or rest
• 401(k) match — Nava matches 4% of your salary to support your retirement savings plan
• Flexible work — remote-first environment with flexibility built around your schedule and responsibilities
• Home office setup — company laptop & setup assistance provided via Staples for remote work needs
• Utility support — monthly reimbursement to help offset eligible home office utility expenses
• Learning opportunities — internal training programs and resources to help grow your professional skills
• Development opportunities — LinkedIn Learning access & an annual allowance for courses, tuition, & certs
• Referral bonus — get rewarded when you refer great people who join the Nava team
• Commuter benefits — pre-tax commuter programs to support in-office travel when applicable
• Supportive culture — A collaborative and remote-friendly team environment where people genuinely care