Director, Product & Technology Operations

Synthesia

$194K — $267K *
Reno, NV 89502In-Person
Information Technology
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 10+ years in operations, program leadership or similar cross-functional roles.
  • 8+ years of people leadership with proven team development skills.
  • Experience in translating business priorities into actionable plans and measurable outcomes.
  • Demonstrated ability in building governance structures and operational standards in tech environments.
  • Strong track record in improving cross-functional execution across multiple teams.
  • Proficient in tools like Jira and Productboard for governance and scalability.
  • Ability to leverage AI tools for operational efficiency and problem-solving.

Responsibilities

  • Partner with leaders to establish priorities and improve decision-making.
  • Lead a multidisciplinary team encompassing Product, Engineering, QA, and Project Management.
  • Develop an operating model to align teams on goals and execution.
  • Set and enhance quality and engineering standards for accountability.
  • Create visibility tools such as dashboards and scorecards for leaders.
  • Clarify roles and streamline decision-making across teams for faster execution.
  • Oversee key technology initiatives with a focus on cross-team alignment.

Benefits

  • Unlimited vacation policy to encourage work-life balance.
  • Reimbursements for education and wellness to support personal development.
  • Comprehensive health insurance plans at no cost for employees.
  • Opportunities for career advancement and personal impact.
  • Participation in a Company Stock Plan to share in the company's success.
Full Job Description
In this foundational leadership role, you will build and lead Ridgeline's Product & Technology Operational Excellence function, bringing together Product Operations, Engineering and QA Operations, and Project Management into a cohesive operating model. You will partner with business and functional leaders to translate company priorities into execution plans, frame tradeoffs, strengthen quality and operating discipline, and create the visibility needed for faster, better decisions. You'll work with cutting-edge technologies and AI tools including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Glean to improve operational efficiency, decision support, knowledge sharing, and execution quality across Product and Technology.

You must be work authorized in the United States without the need for employer sponsorship.

This is a hybrid in-office position that requires a minimum of 3 days per week onsite in one of the following offices: San Ramon, CA, Reno, NV or New York, NY.

The impact you will have:
  • Partner with Product, Engineering, Quality, GTM, and company leaders to clarify priorities, frame tradeoffs, and improve decisions against Ridgeline's most important business outcomes
  • Lead a multidisciplinary Product & Technology Operational Excellence organization spanning Product Operations, Engineering and QA Operations, and Project Management
  • Build and evolve an operating model that enables Product, Engineering, and Quality leaders to align priorities, surface risks early, make effective tradeoffs, and follow through on commitments
  • Establish and mature quality, product management, and engineering operating standards that increase consistency, accountability, and execution discipline
  • Create dashboards, scorecards, and operating reviews that give leaders clear visibility into priorities, progress, risks, dependencies, and opportunities for intervention
  • Clarify roles, handoffs, decision rights, and operating forums across Product, Engineering, QA, GTM, and partner teams to reduce friction and accelerate execution
  • Oversee a portfolio of key technology initiatives with clear ownership, milestone discipline, dependency management, risk escalation, and cross-functional alignment
  • Develop leaders and team members across Product Operations, Engineering and QA Operations, and Project Management while building a high-performing, collaborative organization
  • Apply AI and automation to strengthen operating efficiency, decision support, knowledge sharing, and execution quality across Product and Technology
  • Model ownership, transparency, sound judgment, and a growth mindset while helping teams continuously improve how they work

What we look for:
  • 10+ years of experience in operations, program leadership, product operations, engineering operations, business operations, or a similarly cross-functional leadership role
  • 8+ years of people leadership experience with a track record of building, developing, and retaining high-performing teams
  • Proven success partnering with senior leaders to translate business priorities into operating plans, tradeoff decisions, and measurable execution outcomes
  • Demonstrated experience building operating models, governance structures, standards, and management systems within complex product and technology organizations
  • Strong experience improving cross-functional execution across Product, Engineering, QA, GTM, and partner teams
  • Track record of leading through influence at the executive level and aligning multiple teams around shared priorities, standards, and outcomes
  • Experience establishing or improving quality, program management, product operations, and engineering operating standards in a scaling technology organization
  • Strong familiarity with systems such as Jira and Productboard and the judgment to help teams govern and scale those tools effectively
  • Strong judgment about where standardization creates leverage and where teams need flexibility
  • Experience building metrics, dashboards, and review mechanisms that improve visibility, accountability, and decision quality
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to simplify complexity and create clarity across technical and non-technical stakeholders
  • Strong problem-solving skills, high agency, and consistent follow-through in ambiguous environments
  • Ability to balance strategic leadership with hands-on execution when the work requires it
  • Fluency with AI tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Glean and an understanding of how AI can improve operational efficiency, innovation, and productivity
  • A learning mindset and willingness to deepen expertise in cutting-edge technologies and the investment management domain

Bonus:
  • Experience in a high-growth technology environment
  • Experience in fintech, investment management, or another complex, regulated domain
  • Experience leading a center of excellence or shared operations function across multiple technical teams
  • Experience managing leaders across Product Operations, Engineering Operations, Quality Operations, or Program Management

Compensation and Benefits

The typical starting salary range for this role is: $194,000 - $267,000.

Final compensation amounts are determined by multiple factors, including candidate experience and expertise, and may vary from the amount listed above.

As an employee at Ridgeline, you'll have many opportunities for advancement in your career and can make a true impact on the product.

In addition to the base salary, Ridgeline employees can participate in our Company Stock Plan subject to the applicable Stock Option Agreement. We also offer rich benefits that reflect the kind of organization we want to be: one in which our employees feel valued and are inspired to bring their best selves to work. These include unlimited vacation, educational and wellness reimbursements, and $0 cost employee insurance plans. Please check out our Careers page for a more comprehensive overview of our perks and benefits.

#LI-Onsite

Similar Jobs

More Jobs at Synthesia

More Information Technology Jobs

Find similar Director, Product & Technology Operations jobs: