Director - Strategy and Operations

Upwork ($UPWK) is the world’s work marketplace. We serve everyone from one-person startups to large, Fortune 100 enterprises with a powerful, trust-driven platform that enables companies and talent to work together in new ways that unlock their potential.

Last year, more than $3.8 billion of work was done through Upwork by skilled professionals who are gaining more control by finding work they are passionate about and innovating their careers.

We are seeking a highly driven, self-motivated individual to join our Marketing Leadership Team (MLT) as the Director of Marketing Strategy & Operations. This pivotal role offers the opportunity to work directly with our Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) and her leadership team to drive key strategic initiatives and outcomes across Upwork’s Marketing organization. As the Director of Marketing Strategy & Operations, you will own and manage programs and projects from insight through execution and measurement, designed to positively impact the entire marketing team.

If you’re excited about collaborating across marketing teams, building durable solutions, and love creative problem-solving, we want to hear from you.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership: Partner with the CMO and the Marketing Leadership Team to develop and implement strategic initiatives that drive marketing excellence and business growth, including leading annual and quarterly planning for Marketing.

• Operational Efficiency: Identify opportunities to enhance processes, tools, and systems to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the marketing organization. Lead execution, from collecting insights to communications and impact measurement.

• Team Collaboration: Champion initiatives that foster a curious and collaborative culture within Marketing, ensuring alignment and effective communication across all functions, such as developing content for all-Marketing meetings and events, and remote work best practices.

• Change Management: Lead change management efforts to ensure successful adoption of new initiatives, processes, and tools within the marketing team, such as integrating new AI tools into existing workflows.

• Resource Allocation: Oversee and optimize the allocation of resources, including budget and talent, to maximize the impact of marketing efforts. Collaborate closely with Marketing leaders and key stakeholders in Upwork’s People, Talent, and Finance organizations to ensure quality hiring, onboarding, and team growth.

• Stakeholder Management: Build strong relationships with stakeholders across Marketing and Upwork more broadly to cascade and drive top-down company initiatives.

What it takes to catch our eye

• Experience: 10+ years of experience in marketing strategy, operations, or a related field, with a proven track record of driving strategic initiatives and improving operational efficiency.

• Communication: Excellent written, verbal, and visual communication skills.

• Detail-Oriented: Demonstrated ability to maintain thoroughness, even under urgent or high-pressure circumstances.

• Leadership: Proven ability to lead and influence cross-functional teams at all levels, with strong interpersonal and emotional intelligence.

• Integrity: Operate with high integrity, applying sound reasoning in all situations. Be recognized as trustworthy, approachable, and collaborative by stakeholders and peers.

• Culture Champion: Commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive team culture and taking proactive actions to address unproductive behaviors.

• Results-Oriented: Strong focus on delivering results, even in challenging circumstances.

• Analytical Skills: Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with experience in data-driven decision-making and performance measurement.

• Prioritization & Self-Motivation: Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously, deliver results on time, and proactively communicate progress.

• Technical Skills: Proficiency in remote collaboration and AI efficiency tools, including Asana, Google Drive products, and ChatGPT Enterprise.

Come change how the world works.

At Upwork, you’ll shape talent solutions for how the world works today. We are a remote-first organization working together to create exciting remote work opportunities for a global community of professionals. While we have physical offices in San Francisco and Chicago, currently we also hire full-time employees in 19 states in the United States.

At the core of our vibrant culture are shared values that form the foundation of our organization. These values revolve around trust, risk-taking, customer focus, and excellence. Our overarching mission is to create economic opportunities so that people have better lives. We foster an environment where individuals are encouraged to bring their authentic selves to work, nurturing personal and professional growth through development opportunities, mentorship programs, and participation in Upwork Belonging Communities.

We take pride in providing exceptional benefits to our employees. These include comprehensive medical insurance coverage for both you and your family, unlimited paid time off, a 401(k) plan with matching contributions, 12 weeks of paid parental leave, and an Employee Stock Purchase Plan. To explore these benefits in detail, as well as gain insights into our company values, working principles, and the overall employee experience, we invite you to visit our Life at Upwork page.

Check out our Careers page to learn more about the employee experience.

Upwork is proudly committed to recruiting and retaining a diverse and inclusive workforce. As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we never discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical condition), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.