Director – Strategy & Business Operations

Axelera AI is not your regular deep-tech startup. We are creating the next-generation AI platform to support anyone who wants to help advancing humanity and improve the world around us.

In just three years, we have raised a total of $120 million and have built a world-class team of 180+ employees (including 55+ PhDs with more than 40,000 citations), both remotely from 11 different countries and with offices in Belgium, Switzerland, Italy, the UK, headquartered at the High Tech Campus in Eindhoven, Netherlands.

We have also launched our Metis™ AI Platform, which achieves a 3-5x increase in efficiency and performance, and have visibility into a strong business pipeline exceeding $100 million.

Our unwavering commitment to innovation has firmly established us as a global industry pioneer.

Are you up for the challenge?

Position Overview

At Axelera AI, the Director of Strategy & Business Operations will play a pivotal role in shaping our future. This dynamic and analytical leader will partner closely with our executive team to drive forward with purpose and precision. From leading critical initiatives like OKRs and process improvements to managing cross-functional projects that unlock growth, this role will focus on building excellence into everything we do.

Reporting directly to the Chief of Staff, the Director will combine big-picture strategic thinking with hands-on execution, helping Axelera AI scale effectively and sustainably. This position offers a rare opportunity to shape strategy and drive impact at one of Europe’s top AI startups. Working closely with executives, the board, and key stakeholders, the Director will lead high-impact projects in a fast-paced, innovative environment, making it an ideal role to grow your career while contributing to the future of AI.

We are looking for someone who will thrive on solving complex challenges, take ownership from start to finish, and bring teams together to deliver real, measurable impact.

Key responsibilities:

Strategic planning:

• Drive the annual and quarterly OKR process from start to finish
• Collaborate with managers to cascade goals and ensure alignment
• Track and report on the progress of in-flight strategic initiatives
• Perform bespoke market and business analysis to improve quality of decisions

Special projects:

• Lead critical cross-functional initiatives focused on scaling the company
• Develop POCs and rollout LLM agents to drive company efficiency
• Develop project plans with clear timelines and KPIs for tracking
• Proactively identify and manage risks, implementing corrective measures
• Support stakeholder engagement on high-priority initiatives

Business operations:

• Develop and maintain company-wide KPI dashboards for internal audiences
• Conduct operational reviews to identify inefficiencies and identify improvements
• Design and implement processes to enhance operational efficiency across teams
• Improve knowledge-sharing tools and internal communication to foster alignment
• Monitor operational metrics and provide insights to drive continuous improvement.

Corporate governance:

• Assist in developing board presentations and other executive materials
• Support preparation and logistics of committees and board meetings
• Facilitate communication between the executive team, board, and key shareholders

Qualifications:

• 5+ years of experience in management consulting, strategy, business operations, venture capital, or investment banking, ideally within a high-growth technology environment.
• Strong strategic thinking and ability to articulate a clear vision.
• Exceptional skills in stakeholder management, particularly with executives
• Proven track record of leading cross-functional projects with measurable results.
• Expertise in OKR implementation, strategic planning, and business performance tracking.
• Analytical mindset, comfortable using tools like Excel, Tableau, or other BI platforms for insights.
• Passion for artificial intelligence, edge computing, and scaling technology organizations.

Location

This role will be based in the Netherlands (Amsterdam/Eindhoven office).

What We offer 

This is your chance to shape and be part of a dynamic, fast-growing, international organization. We offer an attractive compensation package, including a pension plan, extensive employee insurances and the option to get company shares. 

An open culture that supports creativity and continual innovation is awaiting you. Collaborative ownership and freedom with responsibility is characteristic for the way we act and work as a team. 

At Axelera AI, we wholeheartedly embrace equal opportunity and hold diversity in the highest regard. Our steadfast commitment is to cultivate a warm and inclusive environment that empowers and celebrates every member of our team. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds to join us in shaping the future of AI.