Director of Strategic Initiatives

King Ocean•Sweetwater, FL

About The Position

The Director of Strategic Initiatives is a senior cross-functional leader and trusted advisor to executive leadership, responsible for driving operational excellence, organizational infrastructure, and company-wide strategic initiatives. This role spans multiple departments — including Technology, Human Resources, Finance, Procurement, Risk and Operations — to design and implement systems, processes, and programs that strengthen resilience and position the company for sustained growth. This role is well-suited to a highly self-directed professional who is comfortable managing complexity, operating without a rigid playbook, and delivering results across multiple concurrent priorities. The Director of Strategic Operations may also provide support to other departments on an as-needed basis, including during periods of high volume, staffing transitions, or elevated business demand.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, a related field or equivalent experience
8+ years of progressive experience in operations, strategy, project management, or a related field.
Demonstrated experience leading cross-functional, company-wide initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
Exceptional organizational and project management skills, with the ability to manage multiple high-priority workstreams simultaneously.
Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities, with experience translating data into executive-level insights and recommendations.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
High degree of professional judgment, discretion, and executive presence.
Ability to build relationships and influence across departments and with ownership.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office suite
Entrepreneurial mindset with a bias toward action and continuous improvement.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree (MBA or equivalent)
Experience in the maritime, shipping, logistics, or international trade industry preferred.
Experience with ERP implementations and vendor negotiations a plus.
Bilingual English/Spanish a plus.
Familiarity with ERP systems, CRM platforms, and BI tools a plus.

Responsibilities

Lead the planning, implementation, and optimization of company-wide technology systems, including ERP platforms and related integrations.
Partner with Procurement on vendor selection, contract negotiations, and ongoing vendor relationships to ensure favorable terms and service delivery.
Direct data governance initiatives, including database maintenance, data integrity, and reporting infrastructure across departments.
Identify opportunities to leverage technology for process automation, efficiency gains, and cost reduction.
Partner with department leaders to develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive Business Continuity Plan (BCP) to ensure operational resilience during system outages or other disruptions.
Assess operational risks across departments and recommend mitigation strategies to executive leadership.
Coordinate BCP testing and cross-departmental preparedness on a regular basis.
Partner with HR leadership to develop and maintain job descriptions, compensation frameworks, and organizational documentation.
Support talent acquisition for key roles, including participation in the interview and selection process.
Advise on workforce planning, organizational structure, and employee development initiatives.
Design and oversee employee programs, including internship or rotational programs, to build internal talent pipelines.
Partner with department heads to define KPIs and develop reporting tools that provide actionable operational and financial insights.
Drive the development of dashboards and analytics to support executive decision-making across commercial, financial, and operational areas.
Conduct cost analyses and identify opportunities for improved efficiency and profitability.
Serve as a strategic advisor to ownership and executive leadership on operational, organizational, and business development matters.
Collaborate with department heads across Finance, Procurement, Operations, and Sales to align priorities and drive execution.
Provide high-level oversight of the Claims, Insurance, and Risk Management department, ensuring alignment with company risk tolerance, operational goals, and financial objectives.
Provide operational support across departments as business needs arise, including coverage during capacity gaps or high-priority situations.
Prepare executive-level reports, presentations, and recommendations on strategic initiatives and organizational performance.