VP of R&D Operations & Chief of Staff to the CTO

Strength in Trust 

OneTrust’s mission is to enable organizations to use data and AI responsibly. Our platform simplifies the collection of data with consent and preferences, automates the governance of data with integrated risk management across privacy, security, IT/tech, third-party, and AI risk, and activates the responsible use of data by applying and enforcing data policies across the entire data estate and lifecycle. OneTrust supports seamless collaboration between data teams and risk teams to drive rapid and trusted innovation. Recognized as a market pioneer and leader, OneTrust boasts over 300 patents and serves more than 14,000 customers globally, ranging from industry giants to small businesses.

The Challenge

We are seeking a Vice President of R&D Operations & Chief of Staff to the CTO to lead and scale operational excellence across our Product and Engineering organization. This is a high-impact, strategic leadership role reporting directly to the CTO, responsible for driving clarity, alignment, and execution across R&D and partner organizations. You will lead a small, high-performing team and influence a much broader group across Engineering, Product, and Go-to-Market teams.

Your Mission

You will be the operational engine and strategic partner to the CTO—driving transformation, alignment, and execution across the organization. You will:

• Drive Operational Excellence: Establish and scale best-in-class engineering operations practices. Define and track key metrics, identify hotspots, and drive continuous improvement across the SDLC.
• Empower Autonomous Squads: Build and evolve an operating model that enables small, empowered teams to make decisions quickly and deliver with agility.
• Strategic Planning & Prioritization: Develop and implement a unified strategy and prioritization framework that brings clarity to teams and alignment across the company.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Build deep, trusted partnerships with Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, and other functions. Establish joint operating models, shared goals, and success metrics.
• Executive & Board Readiness: Provide clear, data-driven insights to executive leadership and the board on organizational health, priorities, and areas for improvement.
• Lead Through Influence: Manage a lean team to drive impact through influence across the broader R&D and GTM organizations.

Key Responsibilities

• Budget & Resource Optimization: Partner with Finance and Legal to manage budgets, optimize engineering spend, and ensure alignment with business goals.
• OKR Leadership: Drive the creation, alignment, and accountability of Engineering OKRs.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Build frameworks, dashboards, and cadences to enable insight-driven leadership.
• Program Leadership: Lead cross-functional initiatives across Software Development, QA, Architecture, and Operations.
• Cross functional escalations: Standardize and lead escalation processes, ensuring timely resolution and closed-loop communication.
• Continuous Improvement: Define and evolve standards, metrics, and review processes to drive excellence across the SDLC.

You Are

• A systems thinker who can design and scale operating models that empower teams and drive alignment.
• A collaborative leader who builds strong relationships across functions and levels.
• A strategic operator who brings clarity, structure, and focus to complex environments.
• A data-driven decision maker who uses insights to drive action and accountability.
• A change agent who thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments.
• A trusted advisor to executives, with the ability to influence without authority.
• A clear communicator who can translate operational complexity into executive-level narratives.

Your Experience Includes

• 15+ years of leadership experience in product and engineering operations, program management, or related roles.
• 7+ years in a SaaS environment with deep understanding of modern SDLC, and product development practices
• Strong financial acumen and experience managing budgets and resource planning.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and influencing at the executive level.
• Experience driving change and transformation in high-growth or scaling environments.

Extra Awesome