Director of Strategic Initiatives

Odessa Separator Inc•Odessa, TX

13h•$90,000 - $120,000

About The Position

The Director of Strategic Initiatives (DSI) serves as a trusted partner to ownership and works closely with the leadership team to ensure important initiatives move from concept to completion. This role is responsible for helping the organization maintain momentum on strategic priorities, special projects, acquisitions, growth initiatives, and operational improvements that require coordination across multiple departments. The position exists to provide direct support to the owner with communication, coordination, accountability, and execution across organizations, while allowing company leadership to remain focused on running and growing the business. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable sitting in a boardroom discussing strategy, meeting with department leaders to remove roadblocks, and personally managing projects when necessary.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, finance, operations, or a related field.
Ten (10)+ years of experience in business operations, strategic initiatives, consulting, project leadership, corporate development, or executive management.
Strong business and financial acumen.
Experience working directly with owners, founders, CEOs, or senior leadership teams.
Excellent communication and organizational skills.
Demonstrated ability to lead complex projects involving multiple stakeholders.
Ability to operate effectively in entrepreneurial and fast-moving environments.
Comfortable taking ownership of ambiguous problems.
Organized without becoming bureaucratic.
Able to balance strategic thinking with practical execution.
Direct, professional, and low-ego.
Comfortable working with strong personalities.
Naturally curious and solutions-oriented.
Willing to roll up their sleeves when needed.
Capable of earning trust throughout the organization.

Nice To Haves

Manufacturing, industrial, energy, or related industry experience preferred.
Preference will be given to local candidates within fifty (50) miles of Odessa. Relocation is not being offered.

Responsibilities

Work with ownership and the leadership team to identify and prioritize strategic initiatives.
Develop implementation plans, timelines, milestones, and accountability structures for major projects.
Track progress across initiatives and provide regular updates to leadership regarding status, risks, resource needs, and key decisions.
Help ensure important projects do not lose momentum amid day-to-day operational demands.
Serve as a central point of coordination for projects involving multiple departments.
Facilitate communication between operations, sales, engineering, finance, and other functions.
Help resolve issues that require collaboration across organizational boundaries.
Ensure commitments made during leadership meetings are documented, assigned, and followed through to completion.
Lead high-priority projects assigned by ownership.
Develop project plans and drive execution through completion.
When necessary, personally manage project workstreams rather than simply coordinating others.
Provide ownership with objective analysis, recommendations, and decision support.
Prepare materials, summaries, and action plans related to strategic initiatives.
Help leadership identify emerging issues before they become significant problems.
Assist in evaluating opportunities, investments, acquisitions, and other growth initiatives.
Identify opportunities to improve communication, decision-making, and accountability throughout the organization.
Recommend practical improvements to business processes and management systems.
Help establish simple, effective reporting mechanisms that provide visibility into key initiatives without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.