Sr Manager, Deployment Operations

Skydio•San Mateo, CA

1d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Sr Manager, Deployment Operations is a strategic project leader who drives deployment velocity through business program design, cross-functional initiatives, and operational systems innovation. This role partners directly with the VP of Field & Professional Services to design and launch customer-facing deployment services, internal operating systems, and strategic initiatives that enable our field teams to deploy enterprise drone systems faster and more effectively. You'll operate at the intersection of strategy and execution—translating operational challenges into scalable business solutions, designing programs that accelerate customer deployments, and building the internal infrastructure (forecasting models, pipeline management systems, operational processes) that enables our deployment organization to scale. Everything you do will be rooted in delivering value for our customers - defense, public safety, and critical infrastructure organizations that depend on reliable drone operations in high-stakes scenarios.

Requirements

6-8+ years in strategic operations, program management, or business operations
3+ years in hardware deployment, field operations, or enterprise B2B operations
Proven track record designing and launching business programs or service offerings
Experience driving cross-functional initiatives in high-growth environments
Exceptional strategic thinking and business judgment—ability to deeply understand problems before jumping to solutions
Strong analytical skills with ability to build financial models and business cases
Proven ability to design operating systems, forecasting models, and management frameworks
Experience influencing without authority in matrixed organizations—comfortable with direct, candid communication
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Systems thinker who designs scalable, pragmatic solutions that deliver customer value
Understanding of field operations, deployment processes, and service delivery
Familiarity with CRM systems, data analysis tools, and project management platforms
Ability to quickly learn technical concepts and translate into business language
Experience with operational forecasting and pipeline management
Thrives in fast-paced, ambiguous environments with urgency to make progress daily
Comfortable working independently with minimal oversight while staying close to field reality and operational details
Strategic partner mentality—anticipates needs and develops proactive solutions
Bias for action with structured approach to execution
Direct and curious in handling conflict—engages openly rather than complaining through back-channels
Comfortable covering gaps and helping mature organizational capabilities when you see opportunities
Commitment to continuous improvement and team-first mindset

Nice To Haves

Defense, aerospace, hardware, or enterprise technology background preferred
Management consulting or business process optimization experience (strategy/operations consulting, Big 4, boutique firms)
Experience building new capabilities from scratch—launched service offerings, business lines, or operational functions in 0→1 environment

Responsibilities

Lead strategic initiatives that increase deployment velocity and improve customer experience
Design customer-facing deployment services and program offerings
Own project lifecycle from concept to stakeholder alignment to launch support. Success is measured by customer outcomes, not task completion
Drive adoption of strategic programs across field teams and cross-functional partners
Build business cases and measure impact of strategic initiatives
Design internal operating systems for deployment forecasting, pipeline management, and performance tracking
Build operational frameworks and management systems that enable scalable field operations
Develop process improvements that reduce deployment cycle time
Create analytical frameworks and reporting infrastructure for operational decision-making
Document operational best practices and standard frameworks
Conduct research and analysis to inform VP's strategic decisions
Develop scenario analyses for capacity planning and resource allocation
Prepare executive materials, business reviews, and strategic presentations
Build decision frameworks and analytical tools that accelerate strategic choices
Support business case development for new service offerings
Coordinate strategic initiatives across Sales, Product, Engineering, Operations, and Customer Success
Facilitate alignment between functions on deployment priorities and programs
Partner with internal teams on service design, customer programs, and operational improvements
Drive accountability through influence and relationship building