Operations Director Jobs in Santa Clara, CA
Operations Director jobs in Santa Clara are concentrated in the technology and semiconductor sectors, with hiring active across the Central Expressway corridor, the Great America Parkway business district, and Mission College Boulevard. Employers posting right now include Palo Alto Networks, NVIDIA, and ServiceNow. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Operations Director JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 494+ Operations Director jobs
It all started when engineer Fred Luddy wrote code that automated a tedious task for his coworker, Phyllis. She cried tears of joy. That moment inspired Fred to build a company that could do that for everyone—freeing people from busywork so they could focus on meaningful work. Today, ServiceNow is the AI control tower for business reinvention. Our ServiceNow AI platform brings together any AI, any data, and any workflow— helping 85% of the Fortune 500® work smarter, faster, and better. We're building an AI-native culture where technology and talent are unstoppable together. And we're just getting started.
Join us to put AI to work for people.
Job Description
The Senior Director, Strategic Operations & Transformation serves as a trusted advisor to the COO of Legal, Societal, and Global Affairs (LSGA) and is responsible for designing, operating, and continuously improving the organization's operating model.
Reporting to the COO - Legal, this leader oversees LSGA's rhythm of the business, business operations, budget and resource planning, governance processes, strategic programs, and Project Management Office (PMO). The role also serves as an internal transformation and operational excellence function, identifying opportunities to simplify processes, improve effectiveness, strengthen accountability, and help LSGA scale for the future.
Leading a small, high-performing team, this individual will help run the Office of the President & CLO, ensuring the organization operates with discipline, transparency, agility, and focus as it supports ServiceNow's next phase of growth and impact.
Lead LSGA's Operating System
- Own and evolve LSGA's annual operating cadence, including planning processes, business reviews, leadership team governance, performance management, and organizational reporting.
- Oversee budget planning, resource allocation, headcount management, vendor governance, and operational reporting across the organization.
- Partner closely with Finance, People, Digital Technology, and executive leadership to ensure strategic priorities are translated into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
- Establish scalable operating mechanisms, governance processes, dashboards, and metrics that improve transparency, accountability, and execution.
Drive Strategic Programs and PMO
- Lead the LSGA PMO and portfolio of strategic initiatives, ensuring clear prioritization, ownership, risk management, and successful execution.
- Coordinate complex cross-functional programs spanning Legal, Compliance, Ethics, Government Affairs, Corporate Affairs, Sustainability, Social Impact, and ServiceNow.org.
- Anticipate issues, remove roadblocks, and help drive alignment across the LSGA leadership team and key enterprise stakeholders.
Drive Operational Excellence and Transformation
- Lead the continuous assessment and improvement of LSGA processes, operating mechanisms, governance models, and organizational workflows.
- Conduct process mapping, organizational diagnostics, and operating model reviews to simplify work, eliminate friction, and improve organizational effectiveness.
- Identify opportunities to leverage AI, automation, data, and technology to improve productivity, visibility, and decision-making.
- Build and lead a small, high-impact Strategic Operations team that acts as an internal "SWAT team" for the organization's most critical operational challenges, transformation efforts, and emerging priorities.
- Partner with leaders across LSGA to clarify ownership, streamline processes, improve service delivery, and strengthen execution at scale.
Qualifications
12+ years of experience in strategic operations, business operations, management consulting, program leadership, transformation, or related executive operating roles.- Demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide initiatives in complex, matrixed organizations.
- Strong business and financial acumen, including budgeting, planning, and resource management.
- Exceptional program management, organizational leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
- Proven ability to influence senior executives, drive alignment, and execute through ambiguity.
- Track record of building scalable operating models, improving organizational effectiveness, and delivering measurable business impact.
What Success Looks Like
- LSGA operates through a clear, disciplined, and scalable operating model.
- Strategic priorities are translated into action, measured, and delivered consistently.
- Leaders have visibility into organizational performance, risks, and resource allocation.
- Processes are streamlined, ownership is clear, and teams spend more time on high-value work.
- The organization is continuously improving, simplifying, and modernizing how work gets done.
For positions in this location, we offer a base pay of $220,300 - $396,500, plus equity (when applicable), variable/incentive compensation and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the base pay shown is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location. We also offer health plans, including flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, matching donations, a flexible time away plan and family leave programs. Compensation is based on the geographic location in which the role is located and is subject to change based on work location.
Additional Information
Work Personas
We approach our distributed world of work with flexibility and trust. Work personas (flexible, remote, or required in office) are categories that are assigned to ServiceNow employees depending on the nature of their work and their assigned work location. Learn more here. To determine eligibility for a work persona, ServiceNow may confirm the distance between your primary residence and the closest ServiceNow office using a third-party service.
Equal Opportunity Employer
ServiceNow is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity, veteran status, or any other category protected by law. In addition, all qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with legal requirements.
Accommodations
We strive to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are unable to use this online application and need an alternative method to apply, please contact globaltalentss@servicenow.com for assistance.
Export Control Regulations
For positions requiring access to controlled technology subject to export control regulations, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), ServiceNow may be required to obtain export control approval from government authorities for certain individuals. All employment is contingent upon ServiceNow obtaining any export license or other approval that may be required by relevant export control authorities.
From Fortune. ©2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.
It all started when engineer Fred Luddy wrote code that automated a tedious task for his coworker, Phyllis. She cried tears of joy. That moment inspired Fred to build a company that could do that for everyone—freeing people from busywork so they could focus on meaningful work. Today, ServiceNow is the AI control tower for business reinvention. Our ServiceNow AI platform brings together any AI, any data, and any workflow— helping 85% of the Fortune 500® work smarter, faster, and better. We're building an AI-native culture where technology and talent are unstoppable together. And we're just getting started.
Join us to put AI to work for people.
Job Description
The Senior Director, Strategic Operations & Transformation serves as a trusted advisor to the COO of Legal, Societal, and Global Affairs (LSGA) and is responsible for designing, operating, and continuously improving the organization's operating model.
Reporting to the COO - Legal, this leader oversees LSGA's rhythm of the business, business operations, budget and resource planning, governance processes, strategic programs, and Project Management Office (PMO). The role also serves as an internal transformation and operational excellence function, identifying opportunities to simplify processes, improve effectiveness, strengthen accountability, and help LSGA scale for the future.
Leading a small, high-performing team, this individual will help run the Office of the President & CLO, ensuring the organization operates with discipline, transparency, agility, and focus as it supports ServiceNow's next phase of growth and impact.
Lead LSGA's Operating System
- Own and evolve LSGA's annual operating cadence, including planning processes, business reviews, leadership team governance, performance management, and organizational reporting.
- Oversee budget planning, resource allocation, headcount management, vendor governance, and operational reporting across the organization.
- Partner closely with Finance, People, Digital Technology, and executive leadership to ensure strategic priorities are translated into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
- Establish scalable operating mechanisms, governance processes, dashboards, and metrics that improve transparency, accountability, and execution.
Drive Strategic Programs and PMO
- Lead the LSGA PMO and portfolio of strategic initiatives, ensuring clear prioritization, ownership, risk management, and successful execution.
- Coordinate complex cross-functional programs spanning Legal, Compliance, Ethics, Government Affairs, Corporate Affairs, Sustainability, Social Impact, and ServiceNow.org.
- Anticipate issues, remove roadblocks, and help drive alignment across the LSGA leadership team and key enterprise stakeholders.
Drive Operational Excellence and Transformation
- Lead the continuous assessment and improvement of LSGA processes, operating mechanisms, governance models, and organizational workflows.
- Conduct process mapping, organizational diagnostics, and operating model reviews to simplify work, eliminate friction, and improve organizational effectiveness.
- Identify opportunities to leverage AI, automation, data, and technology to improve productivity, visibility, and decision-making.
- Build and lead a small, high-impact Strategic Operations team that acts as an internal "SWAT team" for the organization's most critical operational challenges, transformation efforts, and emerging priorities.
- Partner with leaders across LSGA to clarify ownership, streamline processes, improve service delivery, and strengthen execution at scale.
Qualifications
12+ years of experience in strategic operations, business operations, management consulting, program leadership, transformation, or related executive operating roles.- Demonstrated success leading enterprise-wide initiatives in complex, matrixed organizations.
- Strong business and financial acumen, including budgeting, planning, and resource management.
- Exceptional program management, organizational leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
- Proven ability to influence senior executives, drive alignment, and execute through ambiguity.
- Track record of building scalable operating models, improving organizational effectiveness, and delivering measurable business impact.
What Success Looks Like
- LSGA operates through a clear, disciplined, and scalable operating model.
- Strategic priorities are translated into action, measured, and delivered consistently.
- Leaders have visibility into organizational performance, risks, and resource allocation.
- Processes are streamlined, ownership is clear, and teams spend more time on high-value work.
- The organization is continuously improving, simplifying, and modernizing how work gets done.
For positions in this location, we offer a base pay of $220,300 - $396,500, plus equity (when applicable), variable/incentive compensation and benefits. Sales positions generally offer a competitive On Target Earnings (OTE) incentive compensation structure. Please note that the base pay shown is a guideline, and individual total compensation will vary based on factors such as qualifications, skill level, competencies, and work location. We also offer health plans, including flexible spending accounts, a 401(k) Plan with company match, ESPP, matching donations, a flexible time away plan and family leave programs. Compensation is based on the geographic location in which the role is located and is subject to change based on work location.
Additional Information
Work Personas
We approach our distributed world of work with flexibility and trust. Work personas (flexible, remote, or required in office) are categories that are assigned to ServiceNow employees depending on the nature of their work and their assigned work location. Learn more here. To determine eligibility for a work persona, ServiceNow may confirm the distance between your primary residence and the closest ServiceNow office using a third-party service.
Equal Opportunity Employer
ServiceNow is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, gender identity, veteran status, or any other category protected by law. In addition, all qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with legal requirements.
Accommodations
We strive to create an accessible and inclusive experience for all candidates. If you require a reasonable accommodation to complete any part of the application process, or are unable to use this online application and need an alternative method to apply, please contact globaltalentss@servicenow.com for assistance.
Export Control Regulations
For positions requiring access to controlled technology subject to export control regulations, including the U.S. Export Administration Regulations (EAR), ServiceNow may be required to obtain export control approval from government authorities for certain individuals. All employment is contingent upon ServiceNow obtaining any export license or other approval that may be required by relevant export control authorities.
From Fortune. ©2026 Fortune Media IP Limited. All rights reserved. Used under license.
See All 494+ Operations Director Jobs in Santa Clara
Find roles in Santa Clara that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Operations Director JobsOperations Director Job Market in Santa Clara
Who's Hiring
- Palo Alto Networks99
- NVIDIA66
- ServiceNow66
- Cobot33
- SiTime33
Top Industries Hiring
- Technology & Software99
- Electronics & Hardware66
- Consulting & Professional Services66
- Manufacturing33
- Agriculture & Farming33
Operations Director Jobs in Santa Clara: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get a operations director job in Santa Clara?
The strongest path into an operations director role in Santa Clara runs through the city's technology, semiconductor, and enterprise infrastructure sectors. Candidates who have managed multi-site teams, vendor relationships, or supply chain functions for hardware or software companies stand out locally. Targeting mid-size tech firms along the Great America Parkway corridor or larger employers near the Mission College district gives you the best concentration of active openings.
Which companies hire operations directors in Santa Clara?
Santa Clara operations director roles are posted by Palo Alto Networks, NVIDIA, and ServiceNow and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. The local employer base skews heavily toward semiconductor manufacturers, cloud infrastructure companies, and enterprise technology firms with significant Santa Clara campuses.
Are there remote operations director jobs in Santa Clara?
Yes, though operations director roles that involve facilities oversight, production, or on-site team management are typically on-site. About 22% of operations director openings tied to Santa Clara are remote or hybrid as of August 2026, and the remote share is highest for roles focused on business operations, vendor management, or process optimization rather than physical operations.
How can I get a operations director job in Santa Clara with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is moving into an operations manager or senior operations analyst role at one of Santa Clara's mid-size technology or semiconductor companies, then building toward director-level responsibility. Local employer types that promote from within include enterprise software firms and hardware manufacturers near the Central Expressway corridor. Demonstrating ownership of cross-functional projects and cost or efficiency outcomes closes the gap faster than tenure alone.
Which industries hire the most operations directors in Santa Clara?
Most operations director openings in Santa Clara sit in Technology & Software, Electronics & Hardware, and Consulting & Professional Services, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of August 2026. Santa Clara's role as a global center for semiconductor design and enterprise technology means demand for directors who can manage complex, high-volume operations is consistently high relative to other California cities.
Related Jobs in California
See All 494+ Operations Director Jobs in Santa Clara
Find roles in Santa Clara that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Operations Director Jobs