[Hiring] Director, Chief of Staff - Enterprise Finance Planning @Lumen

Role Description

The Director, Chief of Staff serves as a strategic partner and trusted advisor to the SVP, Enterprise Finance Planning, helping translate strategic priorities into enterprise execution. This role acts as an extension of the SVP and operates at the center of Finance, Product, Sales, Technology, Operations, and Corporate Functions to drive alignment, accountability, governance, and business outcomes across the organization's most critical initiatives.

Unlike traditional Chief of Staff roles focused primarily on communications or administrative coordination, this position is responsible for driving enterprise-wide transformation efforts, improving business processes, establishing governance frameworks, facilitating cross-functional decision-making, and ensuring strategic initiatives achieve measurable results.

The ideal candidate thrives in highly ambiguous, fast-paced environments and has a demonstrated ability to influence across executive teams, build scalable operating mechanisms, and lead complex initiatives where success depends on coordination across multiple organizations.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Partnership & Executive Advisory
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to the SVP Enterprise Finance Planning on strategic priorities, organizational challenges, and enterprise initiatives.
  • Help translate business objectives into actionable plans with clear accountability and measurable outcomes.
  • Provide independent perspectives and challenge assumptions to improve decision quality.
  • Support executive decision-making through structured problem solving, business case development, and strategic analysis.
  • Act as an extension of leadership in cross-functional forums, driving alignment and execution across the organization.
• Cross-Functional Leadership & Enterprise Execution
  • Lead strategic initiatives that span Product, Sales, Technology, Operations, Finance, and Corporate Functions.
  • Act as the central integration point across stakeholders to drive clarity, alignment, and execution.
  • Facilitate decisions across organizations where responsibilities, priorities, or objectives may converge.
  • Drive accountability and follow-through on key enterprise commitments and strategic initiatives.
  • Identify risks, dependencies, and execution barriers and proactively drive resolution.
• Business Transformation & Process Excellence
  • Lead initiatives focused on simplification, operational efficiency, and scalable business processes.
  • Drive process redesign efforts across functions to eliminate inefficiencies, reduce friction, and improve organizational effectiveness.
  • Establish sustainable operating mechanisms that improve consistency, speed, accountability, and business outcomes.
  • Identify opportunities for automation, standardization, and modernization of business processes.
  • Champion continuous improvement initiatives that enhance organizational performance and execution.
• Governance, Policy & Operating Model Development
  • Lead development and implementation of governance frameworks, decision-making models, and operating principles supporting strategic initiatives.
  • Design and maintain business policies, operating procedures, and accountability frameworks that improve enterprise execution.
  • Create clear ownership structures, escalation paths, and decision rights for complex initiatives.
  • Partner with business leaders to ensure governance processes enable execution without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.
  • Drive consistency and transparency across enterprise planning and execution processes.
• Digital Business & Business Model Transformation
  • Support enterprise initiatives related to digital products, SaaS offerings, platform-based solutions, and consumption-driven business models.
  • Partner with business leaders to evaluate the organizational impacts of new business models and operating approaches.
  • Establish decision frameworks and governance processes that support digital growth and transformation.
  • Drive cross-functional readiness and execution for strategic growth initiatives.
  • Facilitate alignment between business strategy, operational execution, and organizational capabilities.
• Executive Communications & Leadership Engagement
  • Develop executive presentations, strategic narratives, Board-ready materials, business cases, and leadership communications.
  • Translate complex business issues into concise, actionable recommendations for senior leadership.
  • Facilitate executive workshops, strategy sessions, and leadership discussions.
  • Ensure alignment of messaging, priorities, and actions across senior stakeholders.
  • Support organizational communications related to transformation initiatives, governance changes, and strategic priorities.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, Technology, or related field.
• 8 years of experience in strategy, transformation, consulting, business operations, business management, program leadership, or Chief of Staff roles.
• Demonstrated success leading complex cross-functional initiatives in large matrixed organizations.
• Strong understanding of business operations, organizational effectiveness, and enterprise governance.
• Proven ability to influence executive stakeholders without direct authority.
• Exceptional problem-solving, analytical, and critical-thinking skills.
• Outstanding written, verbal, and executive communication skills.
• Experience operating effectively within high-growth, high-change, and highly ambiguous environments.
• Strong executive presence and the ability to build credibility across multiple levels of leadership.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience within telecommunications, technology, cloud, SaaS, infrastructure, digital, or platform-based businesses.
• Experience supporting enterprise transformation, operating model modernization, or strategic change initiatives.
• Consulting experience from a top-tier strategy or transformation firm preferred.
• Experience developing governance frameworks, business policies, and enterprise operating models.
• Demonstrated success leading business process improvement and organizational effectiveness initiatives.
• MBA or equivalent combination of education and relevant business leadership experience.

Compensation

• Location Based Pay Ranges:
  • $152,066 - $202,755 in states: AL, AR, AZ, FL, GA, IA, ID, IN, KS, KY, LA, ME, MO, MS, MT, ND, NE, NM, OH, OK, PA, SC, SD, TN, UT, VT, WI, WV, WY
  • $159,670 - $212,893 in states: CO, HI, MI, MN, NC, NH, NV, OR, RI
  • $167,273 - $223,031 in states: AK, CA, CT, DC, DE, IL, MA, MD, NJ, NY, TX, VA, WA

Benefits

• Lumen offers a comprehensive package featuring a broad range of Health, Life, Voluntary Lifestyle benefits and other perks that enhance your physical, mental, emotional and financial wellbeing.
• We can answer any additional questions you may have about our bonus structure (short-term incentives, long-term incentives and/or sales compensation) as you move through the selection process.