VP of R&D Operations & Chief of Staff to the CTO
San Francisco, California | Engineering
Strength in Trust
OneTrust’s mission is to enable organizations to use data and AI responsibly. Our platform simplifies the collection of data with consent and preferences, automates the governance of data with integrated risk management across privacy, security, IT/tech, third-party, and AI risk, and activates the responsible use of data by applying and enforcing data policies across the entire data estate and lifecycle. OneTrust supports seamless collaboration between data teams and risk teams to drive rapid and trusted innovation. Recognized as a market pioneer and leader, OneTrust boasts over 300 patents and serves more than 14,000 customers globally, ranging from industry giants to small businesses.
The Challenge
We are seeking a Vice President of R&D Operations & Chief of Staff to the CTO to lead and scale operational excellence across our Product and Engineering organization. This is a high-impact, strategic leadership role reporting directly to the CTO, responsible for driving clarity, alignment, and execution across R&D and partner organizations. You will lead a small, high-performing team and influence a much broader group across Engineering, Product, and Go-to-Market teams.
Your Mission
You will be the operational engine and strategic partner to the CTO—driving transformation, alignment, and execution across the organization. You will:
- Drive Operational Excellence: Establish and scale best-in-class engineering operations practices. Define and track key metrics, identify hotspots, and drive continuous improvement across the SDLC.
- Empower Autonomous Squads: Build and evolve an operating model that enables small, empowered teams to make decisions quickly and deliver with agility.
- Strategic Planning & Prioritization: Develop and implement a unified strategy and prioritization framework that brings clarity to teams and alignment across the company.
- Cross-Functional Partnership: Build deep, trusted partnerships with Sales, Marketing, Customer Success, and other functions. Establish joint operating models, shared goals, and success metrics.
- Executive & Board Readiness: Provide clear, data-driven insights to executive leadership and the board on organizational health, priorities, and areas for improvement.
- Lead Through Influence: Manage a lean team to drive impact through influence across the broader R&D and GTM organizations.
Key Responsibilities
- Budget & Resource Optimization: Partner with Finance and Legal to manage budgets, optimize engineering spend, and ensure alignment with business goals.
- OKR Leadership: Drive the creation, alignment, and accountability of Engineering OKRs.
- Data-Driven Decision Making: Build frameworks, dashboards, and cadences to enable insight-driven leadership.
- Program Leadership: Lead cross-functional initiatives across Software Development, QA, Architecture, and Operations.
- Cross functional escalations: Standardize and lead escalation processes, ensuring timely resolution and closed-loop communication.
- Continuous Improvement: Define and evolve standards, metrics, and review processes to drive excellence across the SDLC.
You Are
- A systems thinker who can design and scale operating models that empower teams and drive alignment.
- A collaborative leader who builds strong relationships across functions and levels.
- A strategic operator who brings clarity, structure, and focus to complex environments.
- A data-driven decision maker who uses insights to drive action and accountability.
- A change agent who thrives in fast-paced, evolving environments.
- A trusted advisor to executives, with the ability to influence without authority.
- A clear communicator who can translate operational complexity into executive-level narratives.
Your Experience Includes
- 15+ years of leadership experience in product and engineering operations, program management, or related roles.
- 7+ years in a SaaS environment with deep understanding of modern SDLC, and product development practices
- Strong financial acumen and experience managing budgets and resource planning.
- Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and influencing at the executive level.
- Experience driving change and transformation in high-growth or scaling environments.
Extra Awesome
- Experience in a larger organization (>2,000 employees).
- Deep expertise in Lean Product Management, Enginering Excellence, DORA/SPACE, CI/CD, and modern SDLC practices.
- Prior experience as a Chief of Staff or similar strategic operations role.
- Experience preparing for presentations to boards or executive committees.
THIS IS A HYBRID ROLE WITH THE EXPECTATION EMPLOYEE WILL WORK AT LEAST THREE DAYS A WEEK IN OUR SAN FRANCISCO OR ATLANTA OFFICES
For California, Colorado, Connecticut, Nevada, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington-based candidates: the annual base pay range for this role is listed below. Within this range, individual pay is determined by several factors, including location, job-related skills, work experience, and relevant education and/or training. This role may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, equity, and/or commissions, as well as benefits.
Salary Range
Where we Work
OneTrust embraces a flexible working model. The underlying “why” for our workplace strategy is that we are intentional about the culture that we want to create together. That includes bringing teams together, in-person, throughout the year to collaborate, build connections, learn from each other, and celebrate our wins to Finish Stronger.
Each role may have specific flexible, hybrid, or in-office requirements, so we encourage you to verify the location of the role with your recruiter during your first interview.
Benefits
As an employee at OneTrust, you will be part of the OneTeam. That means you’ll receive support physically, mentally, and emotionally so that you can do your best work both in and out of the office. This includes comprehensive healthcare coverage, flexible PTO, equity stock options, annual performance bonus opportunities, retirement account support, 14+ weeks of paid parental leave, career development opportunities, company-paid privacy certification exam fees, and much more. Specific benefits differ by country. For more information, talk to your recruiter or visit onetrust.com/careers.
Resources
Check out the following to learn more about OneTrust and its people:
Your Data
You have the right to have your personal data updated or removed. You also have the right to have a copy of the information OneTrust holds about you. Further details about these rights are available on the website in our Privacy Overview. You can change your mind at any time and have your personal data removed from our database. In order to do this you must contact us and let us know you wish to be removed. The request should be made on the Data Subject Request Form.
Recruitment fraud warning: OneTrust is aware of scams involving false offers of employment with our company. The fraudulent jobs, interviews and job offers use fake websites, email addresses, group chat and text messages. Be aware that we never ask candidates for personal information, IDs or bank information during the interview process. We do not interview prospective candidates via instant message or group chat, and do not require candidates to purchase products or services, or process payments on our behalf as a condition of any employment offer. Please note that any legitimate interview availability requests will come directly from a OneTrust recruiter with an "@onetrust.com" email address. You may also receive legitimate emails from "@us.greenhouse-mail.io". Recruiters will only reach out to candidates who have applied for a role through our ATS (Greenhouse) or prospects via LinkedIn InMail. Job offers will come from a recruiter and may have a "@docusign.net" email address. For more information or if you have been targeted please reach out to askrecruiting@onetrust.com.
Our Commitment to You
When you join OneTrust you are stepping onto a launching pad — the countdown has begun. The destination? A career without boundaries working alongside a diverse and inclusive crew who is passionate about doing meaningful work. As a pioneer, your voice and expertise will help chart the direction of an entirely new category. Our commitment to putting people first starts with you. Your growth is part of the mission. Our goal is to give you the power to embark on the next phase of your uniquely, unique career.
OneTrust provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by local laws.
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