Senior Director, Strategic Initiatives & Execution (Office of the CEO)

About the company

Visual Defence is a global leader in AI powered software for transportation and infrastructure. Our flagship platform, CityRover, automates the detection of issues such as potholes, and collects timely information about infrastructure, assets, and other data that impacts public safety and service quality.

We help cities and public agencies improve safety, efficiency, and operational awareness through innovative, data driven technology. With a rapidly growing global presence, Visual Defence is shaping the future of smart city operations.

To learn more about Visual Defence, CityRover, and our products and services, visit our website at visualdefence.com.

About the Role

Visual Defence is seeking an accomplished, hands on senior business leader to work directly with the CEO in driving strategic priorities, improving organizational performance, and overseeing complex business and operational initiatives.

This is a senior leadership position intended for an individual with substantial experience managing business operations, leading multidisciplinary teams, and taking direct accountability for organizational results.

The successful candidate will serve as a trusted partner to the CEO, providing executive level judgment, independent problem solving, and the ability to translate strategic decisions into measurable business outcomes.

This is not primarily an advisory or project coordination role. The successful candidate must be comfortable assuming direct operational responsibility, making difficult decisions, directing people, and driving execution across the organization, while also taking a leading role in identifying, evaluating, selecting, and implementing the business software, systems, and technologies needed to improve operational efficiency and support the company’s continued growth and scalability.The Ideal Candidate

We are looking for an experienced business operator who has already demonstrated the ability to lead people, manage complex operations, make difficult business decisions, and deliver meaningful organizational results.

The ideal candidate combines executive level strategic thinking with a practical, hands on approach and is equally comfortable working directly with the CEO and taking responsibility for day to day execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Work directly with the CEO to establish and execute strategic and operational priorities.
• Assume ownership of complex business challenges, from initial assessment through resolution and implementation.
• Lead cross functional initiatives involving multiple departments, senior managers, and stakeholders.
• Directly oversee designated departments, business functions, or operational teams as assigned.
• Evaluate organizational structures, management effectiveness, staffing requirements, and operational performance.
• Lead the evaluation, selection, and implementation of business software and technology solutions, including CRM, ERP, HR, and project management systems to support business growth and scalability.
• Identify inefficiencies, operational risks, and opportunities for measurable improvement.
• Develop and implement performance management systems, KPIs, accountability structures, and operational processes.
• Provide leadership, coaching, and performance oversight to managers and employees.
• Participate in senior level recruitment, organizational restructuring, and resource allocation decisions.
• Support financial planning, budgeting, and operational performance reviews.
• Resolve escalated operational, organizational, and customer related issues.
• Ensure strategic initiatives are completed within established timelines and deliver measurable results.
• Act independently within delegated authority while maintaining close alignment with the CEO.

Required Qualifications

• Extensive senior level business leadership experience, preferably within a technology, software, SaaS, or technology enabled services organization.
• Demonstrated experience in a senior executive or operating leadership role with significant responsibility for organizational or business unit performance.
• Previous experience as a CEO, President, COO, General Manager, founder, or comparable senior operating executive is strongly preferred.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary teams and managing managers across multiple business functions.
• Experience implementing enterprise wide systems such as ERP, CRM, or other business management platforms.
• Demonstrated accountability for business performance, budgets, staffing decisions, operational execution, and organizational effectiveness.
• Experience managing complex business operations within an organization or business unit of meaningful scale, ideally involving 50–200+ employees.
• Demonstrated success implementing significant operational improvements, organizational changes, or business transformation initiatives.
• Strong financial and commercial judgment, including experience evaluating business performance and resource allocation.
• Proven ability to operate independently, make sound decisions under uncertainty, and deliver results with limited supervision.
• Strong understanding of technology driven business operations and the ability to work effectively with technical and non technical teams.
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to establish credibility and work effectively with experienced senior managers and executives.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience reporting directly to executive leadership such as CEO, President, or Board of Directors.
• Previous responsibility for multiple departments or a significant business unit.
• Experience in a growing or evolving technology organization.
• Experience leading organizational restructuring, operational transformation, or business integration.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, Information Technology, Computer Science, Engineering, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience.

In addition to the base salary, the position offers an incentive plan based on individual performance.