Operating Partner Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Role: Director, PCJ Integrated Operations & Agility Team: People, Culture & Justice Scope: Business Leader, M5 Years of Experience: 10+ years Location: Ventura, CA (Hybrid) Reports To: Chief People & Culture Officer and Global Head of Justice & Belonging

Overview The Director, PCJ Integrated Operations & Agility is responsible for building and leading the operational engine that enables PCJ to function as a connected, adaptive, and future-ready organization. In this role, you’ll serve as a strategic operating partner to the Chief People & Culture Officer and Global Head of Justice & Belonging, helping translate vision into execution while continuously improving how the function works, collaborates, prioritizes, and delivers impact. The Director, PCJ Integrated Operations & Agility is responsible for building and leading the operational engine that enables PCJ to function as a connected, adaptive, and future-ready organization. This role serves as a strategic operating partner to the Chief People & Culture Officer and Global Head of Justice & Belonging, helping translate vision into execution while continuously improving how the function works, collaborates, prioritizes, and delivers impact. The Director leads portfolio management, operating effectiveness, business integration, and modernization efforts across PCJ. They create the governance, planning rhythms, decision-making frameworks, technology-enabled solutions, and organizational practices that help the function operate with greater clarity, discipline, agility, and efficiency. This role combines strategic thinking, organizational effectiveness, portfolio leadership, operational excellence, and technology enablement to help PCJ evolve from a collection of strong individual teams into a highly integrated and agile function capable of delivering greater value to the business.

Lead Integrated Portfolio Management & Execution Own and maintain the integrated PCJ roadmap across strategic initiatives, operational priorities, and people technology investments. Create visibility into work across the function and ensure alignment between teams, priorities, and resources. Facilitate prioritization, sequencing, dependency management, and tradeoff decisions. Lead quarterly planning, portfolio reviews, execution rhythms, and backlog management practices. Establish portfolio management disciplines that improve focus, accountability, transparency, and delivery outcomes. Monitor progress and provide leaders with actionable insights that support informed decision‑making.

Drive Operating Effectiveness & Organizational Agility Partner closely with the Chief People & Culture Officer and the PCBP supporting PCJ to continuously improve how the function operates. Assess organizational effectiveness, governance structures, workflows, decision‑making processes, and operating practices. Identify opportunities to reduce complexity, increase capacity, improve collaboration, and eliminate friction across teams. Design and implement modern, scalable ways of working that increase effectiveness and responsiveness. Evolve the operating model to support changing business and workforce needs. Strengthen organizational agility through continuous improvement and adaptive planning practices.

Lead Technology, AI & Modernization Efforts Identify opportunities to leverage technology, automation, AI, and emerging solutions to improve efficiency and effectiveness. Partner with People Technology teams to enhance workflows, processes, and employee experiences. Evaluate and implement technology‑enabled solutions that improve productivity, scalability, and collaboration. Help leaders and teams translate emerging technologies into practical, human‑centered improvements. Champion modern work practices that support agility, innovation, and operational excellence.

Integrate Strategy, Risk & Operations Connect business priorities, workforce initiatives, operational realities, compliance requirements, and risk considerations into planning and decision‑making processes. Surface operational risks, dependencies, resource constraints, and organizational impacts across the portfolio. Create governance practices that promote accountability, transparency, and sustainable execution. Support leadership teams in making informed decisions regarding priorities, investments, and organizational change. Ensure operational excellence while maintaining alignment with business objectives and cultural priorities.

Build and Lead the Capability Establish and lead the Integrated Operations & Agility function. Develop scalable operating practices, planning frameworks, governance structures, and management systems. Create a culture of continuous improvement, experimentation, and disciplined execution. Build strong partnerships across PCJ and the broader organization to drive alignment and shared accountability. Develop team capabilities that support operational excellence, portfolio management, and organizational agility. Conduct your work in alignment with Patagonia’s Leadership Expectations – Leading Business principles: Build People + Teams, Drive Results, Demonstrate Good Judgement, Champion Vision + Purpose.

They will create the systems, governance, and operating practices that allow PCJ to focus on the highest‑value work while continuously improving how the function operates. The successful leader will help PCJ become: More connected across teams and initiatives. More aligned in priorities and resource allocation. More agile in responding to changing business needs. More disciplined in execution and decision‑making. More effective in how work flows across the organization. More capable of leveraging technology, automation, and AI. More scalable, efficient, future‑ready.

Strategic operator who excels at translating vision into action. Builder who is energized by creating capabilities, systems, and structures from the ground up. Trusted advisor who can effectively influence leaders at all levels. Naturally collaborative with a strong orientation toward partnership and collective success. Comfortable navigating ambiguity and leading through change. Pragmatic, adaptable, and highly focused on impact. Human‑centered thinker who balances operational excellence with employee experience.

10+ years of progressive experience in business operations, organizational effectiveness, transformation, portfolio management, strategy execution, consulting, HR operations, or a related discipline. Proven success leading enterprise‑wide planning, governance, operating model, or transformation initiatives. Experience partnering with senior executives to improve organizational effectiveness and operational performance. Demonstrated ability to lead complex cross‑functional initiatives and influence without direct authority. Experience implementing scalable operating systems, planning frameworks, or portfolio management practices. Deep expertise in organizational effectiveness, operating models, governance, and business operations. Strong portfolio management and strategic execution capabilities. Exceptional systems‑thinking skills with the ability to understand organizational interdependencies. Strong facilitation, stakeholder management, and executive communication skills. Excellent problem‑solving, prioritization, and decision‑making abilities. Experience leveraging data, analytics, technology, and AI to improve organizational performance. Ability to balance long‑term transformation with immediate operational needs.

Hiring Range: $180,000 - $210,000 USD Annual

Patagonia offers a comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, retirement and leave of absence plans. Benefit plans may vary slightly depending on the nature of your employment.

This position is Hybrid, with a standard schedule of Tuesday - Thursday on‑site and remote work on other days. Occasional additional office visits may be required for team events or critical meetings.

Regular status, full‑time and part‑time employees must have been in their current role for at least 120 Days before applying for a new position. Seasonal Fixed‑Term, Fixed‑Term, Flex and employees serving in an EDP position are welcome to apply for a regular‑status position at any time. However, in evaluating applications we will consider time‑in‑role, remaining contract duration, business impact, and projected start‑date. If selected for the role, the employee may be asked to fulfill the duration of their fixed‑term or EDP before moving into the new position. Employees must be in Good Standing — defined as no written warnings, performance improvement plans (PIPs), or other documented disciplinary action in the last 12 months. Other considerations: In addition to the information provided in the application itself, the company may consider other relevant information and factors, including but not limited to prior performance reviews, work metrics, assessments, manager and/or customer feedback, current work‑site location, and overall business impact. Standards vary by department and role.

It is the responsibility of every employee to contribute to a positive, inclusive work environment through cooperative and professional interactions with co‑workers, customers and vendors.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other factors prohibited by law.

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