Strategy & Operations Lead

Strategy And Operations Lead

We are seeking an entrepreneurial Strategy and Operations Lead to spearhead the formation and growth of our Segment & Vertical Expansion team. This role is crucial in our expansion from local and state parks & recreation to adjacent resident services. This individual will be responsible for researching new verticals, building GTM strategies to break in, securing those early wins, and building a playbook to scale efforts.

The candidate must reside in New York or be able to commute to New York City to work out of our office at least 3x a week. Travel for this role is anticipated to be up to 25%. The candidate must be willing and able to travel as necessary for conferences and customer meetings.

Responsibilities include conducting in-depth market research to identify opportunities and develop a thesis for Kaizen's positioning, backed by data. Map out competitive offerings and current technology gaps in the market. Transition market insights into a practical GTM plan for breaking in. Execute early GTM plan, secure our early wins, and build playbook for a sales team. Drive pre-sale activities, including product demonstrations and proposal development. Become deeply familiar with regulatory, compliance, and procurement requirements. Partner with the design team to build wireframes and mockups for prospective customers and RFP opportunities. Map out product functionality and customer requirements to existing product and modules. Build and nurture relationships with state agencies, city leaders, lobbyists, and advocacy groups relevant to each vertical. Regularly attend conferences and trade shows to meet customers where they are and build market intel.

Qualifications include 5+ years of experience in strategy, operations, or product management roles, preferably in B2G or B2B SaaS companies. Experience and willingness to leverage a suite of AI tools to amplify efforts. Proven track record of successfully launching new products or entering new markets. Strong understanding of government technology landscape and procurement processes. Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills. Outstanding communication and presentation abilities. Experience working in fast-paced, high-growth startup environments. Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities effectively. Passionate about civic technology and improving government services.