Senior Manager, Chief of Staff

Visa•Foster City, CA

6d•Hybrid

About The Position

With data and AI being the fuel that drives our future - our strategies, policies, and business successes around data will define our future growth prospects. Unlocking the value available through the innovative use of data and AI/Machine Learning on behalf of consumers, businesses, and communities is key to our future. We at Visa have a bold vision to continue to grow and accelerate our data and AI/ML-related businesses and capabilities. Led by Visa’s Chief Data Officer, the Global Data Office coordinates high-impact, complex, company-wide projects related to enterprise data and AI business strategy, platforms and products, solutions, as well as our policy and governance. Working closely with Visa’s Chief Privacy Officer, the Technology organization, the wider data community, and the full set of Visa’s global lines of business, the Global Data Team is evolving Visa’s data-related work with momentum and enthusiasm. Driven by its commitment to trusted use of data, Visa is seeking enthusiastic leaders who are change-agents and passionate about the future of data around the world. The Chief of Staff will play a critical role in supporting the VP, Data Product, Platforms & Engineering and the Global Data Team. The Chief of Staff will serve as the right hand to the Vice President of Data Platforms & Engineering, acting as a strategic advisor and operations lead for the data platforms organization. The position will provide critical support in strategic planning, cross-functional coordination, executive communications, and operational oversight to ensure the Data teams runs efficiently and in alignment with broader business goals. This role requires a highly organized, proactive leader who can manage complex initiatives, streamline communications, and foster collaboration across engineering teams and other business units. By linking technical insights with business strategy, the Chief of Staff enables the VP to focus on vision and growth, while ensuring execution of key data platform initiatives and daily operations run smoothly. The role requires a leader who can foster collaboration across the Global Data Team and with other Business Units. Strength in linking ideas and data points together is crucial to excel in the role. Being discreet, earning and maintaining trust, as well as championing the best idea, are essential habits to thrive in the role. Acting as an advisor and facilitator, candidates who can build consensus, build networks, and work in methodical sequencing will be best equipped to manage the core duties and dynamics.

Requirements

8 or more years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor Degree or at least 5 years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 2 years of work experience with a PhD
Strong organizational and project management skills. Able to lead without authority.
Extraordinary diplomatic and interpersonal skills.
Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Confidence to edit and condense business writing. Exceptional record making and listening skills.
Ability to work independently, self-motivate, and manage multiple priorities.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite is essential. This includes: Outlook, Teams, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Ability to use latest AI tools

Nice To Haves

9 or more years of relevant work experience with a Bachelor Degree or 7 or more relevant years of experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 3 or more years of experience with a PhD
10 or more years of work experience with a Bachelor’s Degree or at least 8 years of work experience with an Advanced Degree (e.g. Masters/ MBA/JD/MD) or at least 3 years of work experience with a PhD
Proven experience in a similar role, preferably within a data-driven organization.
Proven experience in leading high-impact, complex projects within a global organization

Responsibilities

Strategic Planning & Execution: Work closely with the VP to develop and refine the data platform strategy and technical roadmaps. Translate high-level objectives into actionable plans and key results (OKRs), and track progress against these goals. Provide analysis and recommendations to guide decision-making, ensuring that data infrastructure and platform engineering initiatives align with overall business priorities.
Cross-Functional Coordination: Facilitate collaboration across the Data Platforms & Engineering teams and with other units (e.g. product, analytics, IT) to drive integrated solutions. Serve as a liaison between the data engineering group and key partners like Finance, HR, and Legal, coordinating shared initiatives and resolving roadblocks in support of the platform strategy. Lead by influence, building consensus among diverse stakeholders and leading without formal authority to achieve program objectives.
Executive Communications: Manage executive-level communications and messaging for the Data Platforms organization. Prepare briefing documents, presentations, and talking points for the VP’s key meetings and public engagements. Draft internal communications such as organizational updates, strategy announcements, quarterly town hall content, and team emails to ensure consistent and clear messaging. Act as a communications conduit for the VP, ensuring information flows effectively to and from the leadership team with minimal disruption.
Operational Oversight & Program Management: Oversee the execution of critical projects and operational routines within the Data Platforms group. Implement governance for tracking project milestones, engineering KPIs, and budget/resource utilization, intervening as necessary to keep efforts on schedule. Organize and facilitate leadership team meetings, weekly staff meetings, and quarterly business reviews – setting agendas, preparing materials, and driving follow-ups for action items. Proactively identify process improvements to streamline engineering operations and improve team productivity, leading special initiatives to implement these changes. Ensure compliance with organizational policies and promote best practices in project execution and data governance within the team.
People & Culture Enablement: Support talent and organizational initiatives for the Data Platforms team. Partner with HR on workforce planning, recruitment (e.g. for data engineers and platform specialists), and development programs (such as early career or internship pipelines) to ensure the team’s talent strategy supports its goals. Help drive positive team culture and engagement by planning team offsites, recognition programs, and follow-up on employee feedback or survey action items. Guide onboarding of new team members and ensure clarity of roles, fostering an environment where engineers and analysts can perform at their best.
Special Projects & Acting Proxy: Take ownership of ad-hoc high-impact projects and strategic analyses as needed on behalf of the VP. This may include researching emerging technologies or industry trends in data infrastructure, preparing white papers or business cases for new platform capabilities, and monitoring competitive benchmarks. Step in as a proxy for the VP in certain meetings or communications when delegated, representing the Data Platforms leadership and keeping initiatives moving forward in the VP’s absence. Use sound judgment and discretion while handling sensitive information or decisions, always championing the organization’s best interests.