Director, Strategic Projects

The Role:
 

The Director, Strategic Projects (“DSP”) serves as a high-impact, cross-functional leader and strategic partner driving critical initiatives that advance value creation, operational excellence, and alignment with MRI’s strategic objectives. The DSP is often a “bridge” executive leadership and internal teams and may serve as a de facto chief of staff / strategy execution lead. The DSP will play a critical role in driving global and regional strategic projects that enhance business operations and contribute to our overall organizational goals. This position reports directly to the VP of Business Operations.
 

You Will:

• Strategic Project Management: Lead the design, execution, and oversight of strategic, transformational, or value-creation projects across the organization (e.g. cost optimization, growth initiatives, M&A integration, systems implementation, process transformation). Act as project sponsor or program manager: define scope, timelines, milestones, resource plans, stakeholder engagement, risk management, and governance.

• Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including senior leadership, to define project scope, objectives, and deliverables, and ensure effective communication throughout the project lifecycle. Coordinate cross-functional workstreams, ensuring alignment among teams (finance, operations, product, marketing, HR, IT) and escalation to senior leadership as needed.

• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities for process optimization and implement solutions that enhance efficiency, productivity, and scalability within business operations.

• Risk Management: Proactively identify and address potential risks and issues, developing mitigation strategies to ensure project success.

• Performance Tracking: Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track project progress and impact, providing regular updates to the VP of Business Operations and other stakeholders.

• Resource Allocation: Efficiently allocate resources, including personnel and budget, to ensure optimal project execution and successful outcomes.

• Documentation and Reporting: Maintain comprehensive project documentation and prepare detailed reports for executive review and decision-making.

• Provide executive support or “chief-of-staff” style functions as needed (e.g. agenda setting, meeting preparation, strategic planning support).

• Drive adoption of KPIs, dashboards, reporting frameworks, and data-driven decision making within the organization.

• Lead change management efforts, managing resistance, ensuring communications, training, and stakeholder buy-in.

• Mentor or manage junior team members supporting strategic initiatives or project work.

Qualifications & Experience:

• 7+ years of relevant experience (strategy consulting, corporate strategy, operations, project / program management) — ideally with exposure to private equity / portfolio operations or technology / software companies.

• Proven track record of leading and delivering complex, cross-functional projects from initiation through execution and follow-through.

• Strong analytical and quantitative skills (business case modeling, financial impact assessment, KPI development).

• Excellent communication, presentation, and stakeholder management skills, including ability to engage senior executives.

• Experience with change management, process improvement, organizational alignment, and influencing without direct authority.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment with shifting priorities.

• Familiarity with relevant tools (project management software, dashboards, data analytics / BI tools, Excel / PowerPoint).

• MBA or advanced degree is often preferred (or equivalent experience).

• Prior experience in software, technology, or enterprise SaaS / data-driven operations is a plus.

Leveling

• The role is a senior operational / strategic hire — not a purely tactical project manager, but rather a high-leverage role with visibility and broad influence.

Organizational Fit & Expectations:

• This role often operates at the intersection of strategy, operations, and execution — combining the strategic mindset of a consultant with the hands-on drive of a builder.

• The DSP is expected to exercise high judgment, discretion, and initiative. It is often a stepping-stone to executive leadership roles within the company operating ecosystem.

We’re obsessed with making this the best job you’ve ever had! 
 

We want our teams to love working here, so we’ve c