Director, Business Operations in Needham, Massachusetts at IDC

About the Role & Team
We are seeking a seasoned, strategic-minded Director of Business Operations to lead the operational functions of our technical organization, reporting directly to the CTO. This critical leadership role will drive operational excellence, optimize mechanisms, and foster cross-functional collaboration in support of the company's growth and objectives. A defining aspect of this role is a deep commitment to AI-powered operations. The ideal candidate will actively champion the adoption of AI and intelligent automation across the organization—identifying high-impact use cases, building AI-forward workflows, and driving measurable productivity gains. This leader will work closely with the CTO to shape the company's AI operational strategy, ensuring we leverage emerging AI capabilities to scale smarter and faster. The ideal candidate brings a proven track record in operational leadership within the technology industry, with a strong focus on driving efficiency, scalability, and innovation through both human and AI-driven capabilities.

What You’ll Do

AI Strategy & Intelligent Operations: Champion AI adoption across the organization, identifying and prioritizing high-impact use cases for AI-powered automation, decision support, and workflow optimization. Develop and execute an AI operations roadmap in partnership with the CTO, including tooling selection, change management, and capability building. Embed AI tools (e.g., generative AI, ML-driven analytics, intelligent process automation) into core operational workflows to drive measurable gains in productivity and efficiency. Track developments in the AI tooling landscape and serve as an internal advocate for experimenting with and scaling new AI capabilities. Define metrics and governance frameworks to assess the effectiveness, reliability, and ethical use of AI in operations.
Operational Excellence: Develop and implement a comprehensive operational strategy aligned with the company's overall objectives and growth plans. Lead efforts to optimize and streamline operational mechanisms across departments, leveraging AI, automation, and best practices to drive efficiency and scalability. Establish KPIs and metrics to measure operational performance, track progress, and drive continuous improvement. Help develop, audit, and report on critical SMART goals for the organization that align with company strategy and the technical organization's plans and roadmaps.
Cross-Functional Leadership: Foster collaboration and alignment across departments, working closely with executive leadership, product development, sales, finance, HR, and other key stakeholders to ensure seamless execution of business initiatives. Develop exceptional executive communication including crisp, actionable Senior Leadership and Board updates. Collaborate with finance and executive leadership to develop and manage the operational budget, monitor expenses, and identify opportunities for cost savings and efficiency improvements.
Risk, Compliance & Vendor Management: Identify potential risks to business operations and develop strategies to mitigate them, ensuring business continuity and resilience. Oversee relationships with external vendors and service providers, negotiating contracts, monitoring performance, and ensuring compliance with SLAs. Stay current on regulatory requirements and industry standards—including those specific to AI usage—ensuring compliance and recommending adjustments as necessary.

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Communication, Computer Science, or a related field; or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of operations experience at a technology company or working on technology-related initiatives.
• Demonstrated enthusiasm for and experience with AI tools in a professional context—whether deploying AI-powered automation, leveraging generative AI for productivity, or driving AI adoption initiatives.
• Proven track record managing complex, large-scale, cross-functional programs, including software product development and GTM initiatives.
• Strong knowledge of product and program management methodologies, frameworks, and tools.
• Experience handling complex tasks such as project planning, budgeting, resource allocation, risk management, and stakeholder management.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence and collaborate effectively across all levels of the organization.
• Experience developing and presenting operating models, program plans, and status updates to large audiences and senior executives.
• Strong communicator with the ability to convey complex ideas clearly and concisely, both verbally and in writing, with comfort in both business and technical discussions.
• Self-starter, adaptable and flexible, who thrives in a fast-paced, collaborative, and innovative high-growth environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills and a proactive approach to challenges, with a commitment to delivering high-quality results.

Why This Role Stands Out
At IDC, your work helps shape how the world understands technology and where it goes next. You collaborate with curious, high-caliber colleagues who value rigor, integrity, and shared success. As the premier global provider of trusted technology intelligence, IDC equips business and technology leaders with the evidence they need to make confident decisions. Our insights inform strategy, investment, and innovation across industries and regions.

Recognized by IIAR as Analyst Firm of the Year for five consecutive years, IDC sets the standard for credibility and impact. With more than 1,000 analysts worldwide and a truly global perspective, we combine deep expertise with practical relevance. Here, your ideas matter, your voice is heard, and your contributions provide the insights leaders rely on every day. It is meaningful work, backed by a culture that supports growth, collaboration, and long-term career development with a globally respected brand.

What We Offer

• 15 vacation days (prorated based on start date)
• 12 company-paid holidays
• 6 paid sick days (prorated based on start date; may vary by state)
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage
• 2 floating holidays (prorated based on start date)
• 1 volunteer day
• 401(k) company match (IDC matches 3% on the first 6% of employee contributions)
• Company-paid short-term disability
• Company-paid life insurance
  
• Company-paid parental leave
  

Compensation Transparency

At IDC, we are committed to fair and equitable pay practices. Employees are compensated equitably for their work, aligned with their skills and experience. Salary and incentive structures are determined through a rigorous process that considers experience, education, certifications, role-specific requirements, internal equity, and verified U.S. market data from an independent third-party partner.

The expected total annual compensation, depending on location and experience, is between $165,000 – $230,000, inclusive of base salary and variable compensation.

Equal Opportunity Employer

IDC is committed to providing equal employment opportunities for all qualified persons. Employment eligibility verification required. We participate in E-Verify.

IDC is currently able to employ remote workers in the following states: Arizona (AZ), California (CA), Colorado (CO), Connecticut (CT), Washington D.C. (DC), Florida (FL), Georgia (GA), Illinois (IL), Indiana (IN), Kansas (KS), Massachusetts (MA), Maryland (MD), Maine (ME), Michigan (MI), Minnesota (MN), Missouri (MO), Mississippi (MS), North Carolina (NC), New Hampshire (NH), New Jersey (NJ), New York (NY), Ohio (OH), Oregon (OR), Pennsylvania (PA), Rhode Island (RI), South Carolina (SC), Tennessee (TN), Texas (TX), Utah (UT), Virginia (VA), Vermont (VT), Washington (WA), and Wisconsin (WI).