Manager Strategy & Operations Jobs in Lenexa, KS

Holganix is building a next-generation platform at the intersection of soil health, data intelligence, and environmental markets. As the company scales across its Ag, HGX, and Horizons platforms, the Strategy function plays a central role in shaping priorities, partnerships, and long-term value creation.

The Chief of Staff to the Chief Strategy Officer (CSO) is a senior, high-trust role designed to extend the effectiveness, focus, and execution capacity of the CSO. This individual will operate as a strategic partner and execution leader—ensuring that priorities are clear, initiatives are advancing, and the CSO’s time and attention are deployed against the highest-impact opportunities.

This role requires someone capable of managing both complex strategic workstreams and the operating rhythm of a senior executive, with the judgment and presence to represent the CSO internally and externally.

The Chief of Staff will act as a strategic operator and executive integrator, responsible for:

• Maximizing the effectiveness of the CSO by structuring priorities, managing time, and driving follow-through
• Translating thoughts into execution across key initiatives, partnerships, and cross-functional efforts
• Ensuring alignment and accountability across leadership and business units
• Anticipating challenges and opportunities before they fully surface
• Operating independently in high-stakes, fast-moving environments

This role is on-site in our Kansas City, MO office with travel required. Remote candidates will not be considered.

Key Responsibilities

1. Executive Management & Operating Cadence

• Own and optimize the CSO’s operating rhythm, including calendar, travel, and strategic priorities
• Ensure disciplined preparation for all meetings and engagements, including briefing materials, objectives, and desired outcomes
• Drive follow-through by capturing decisions, assigning ownership, and ensuring accountability
• Actively manage competing priorities, ensuring the CSO remains focused on highest-value work

2. Strategic Initiative Leadership

• Lead and drive execution of critical strategic initiatives across Holganix platforms (Ag, HGX, Horizons)
• Establish and maintain clear project structures, timelines, and success metrics
• Identify risks, remove bottlenecks, and ensure consistent forward progress
• Prepare executive-level analyses, memos, and decision frameworks

3. Cross-Functional Alignment & Leadership

• Serve as a central coordination point across executive leadership and key functional teams
• Drive alignment across strategy, operations, science, sales, and sustainability initiatives
• Facilitate high-quality communication and ensure clarity across complex, multi-stakeholder efforts
• Represent the CSO in internal discussions with credibility and authority

4. External Engagement & Representation

• Support and participate in high-level external engagements, including partners, investors, and policy stakeholders
• Prepare the CSO for external meetings, events, and engagements
• Represent the Strategy function in select external interactions when appropriate

5. Proactive Problem Solving & Opportunity Identification

• Identify emerging risks, gaps, and opportunities across the business
• Independently drive solutions to complex, ambiguous challenges
• Bring structured thinking, sound judgment, and a bias toward action
• Operate with foresight—anticipating needs and positioning the organization ahead of them

6. Culture & Leadership Leverage

• Reinforce a culture of accountability, ownership, and high performance
• Act as a trusted partner to leadership, helping elevate organizational effectiveness
• Model strong communication, follow-through, and professionalism

What Success Looks Like

• The CSO’s time is consistently aligned with the highest-impact opportunities
• Strategic initiatives move forward with clarity, speed, and accountability
• Cross-functional alignment improves, with fewer gaps and delays
• External engagements are well-prepared and highly effective
• The organization experiences increased clarity, coordination, and execution discipline

Why This Role Matters

This role is central to scaling the strategic capacity of Holganix. The right individual will not only increase the effectiveness of the CSO but will also play a key role in ensuring that strategy translates into measurable impact across the business.

Core Capabilities

• Exceptional ability to manage and prioritize across multiple high-stakes initiatives
• Strong project management discipline combined with strategic thinking
• Ability to manage senior stakeholders and operate with executive presence
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• High emotional intelligence and strong relationship-building ability
• Independent operator with strong judgment and attention to detail

Experience

• 6–12+ years of experience in strategy, consulting, operations, project management or a senior Chief of Staff role
• Proven track record of managing complex initiatives and working closely with senior executives
• Experience in high-performance environments (e.g., consulting, high-growth companies, or similarly demanding settings)
• Exposure to agriculture, sustainability, climate, or adjacent sectors is a plus

Personal Attributes

• Highly organized, disciplined, and execution-oriented
• Proactive, anticipatory, and solutions-focused
• Comfortable operating in fast-paced, ambiguous environments
• Trusted, discreet, and reliable
• Strong sense of ownership and accountability