Strategic Operations Analyst

Here at Appian, our values of Intensity and Excellence define who we are. We set high standards and live up to them, ensuring that everything we do is done with care and quality. We approach every challenge with ambition and commitment, holding ourselves and each other accountable to achieve the best results. When you join Appian, you’ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to accomplishing hard things, together. As the Strategic Operations Analyst, you are the connective tissue of the Business Technology (BT) department, reporting directly to the VP of BT. Operating at the intersection of technical execution and corporate strategy, your mission is to transform high-level vision into operational reality. You will serve as an accelerator for the BT department, enabling the VP to scale their impact by driving project accountability, optimizing departmental governance, and ensuring the technical roadmap is mathematically and strategically aligned with the company’s rapid growth. This role requires translating technical milestones into business value for executive stakeholders and removing operational friction to ensure that rapid growth does not lead to process debt, ultimately guaranteeing that all BT resources move the needle on the company’s Annual Operating Plan. This role is based at our ​h​eadquarters in ​McLean, Virginia. Appian was built on a culture of in-person collaboration, which we believe is a key driver of our mission to be the best. Employees hired for this position are expected to be in the office 5 days a week to foster that culture and ensure we continue to thrive through shared ideas and teamwork. We believe being in the office provides more opportunities to come together and celebrate working with the exceptional people across Appian. Key Responsibilities Lead complex, cross-functional projects that require a blend of technical fluency and business acumen. Drive projects to completion by managing stakeholders across all levels of the organization. Apply a numerical lens to project success. Define and track KPIs/SLAs to measure the ROI of BT initiatives and the efficiency of departmental output. Draft strategic documents, initiative plans, and operational plans. Prepare and refine executive presentations for the VP. Act as a filter and facilitator, helping the VP prioritize initiatives to ensure the roadmap stays aligned with broader business goals. Coordinate leadership meetings and department-wide "All Hands." Set rigorous agendas and track action items across technical workstreams to ensure nothing falls through the cracks. Provide oversight and management of vendor contracts, ensuring favorable terms and alignment with the BT budget and procurement standards. Take the lead in organizing departmental events, offsites, and major meetings that foster a high-performance culture. Serve as a primary point of contact for inter-departmental inquiries, ensuring the BT brand is professional, responsive, and strategic. Qualifications & Skills 5+ years of experience in Project Management, Business Operations, or Chief of Staff roles, preferably within a high-growth SaaS or technology environment. Proven ability to draft strategy documents and contribute to long-term resource planning. Highly comfortable with data; able to build dashboards or models to track project health and departmental performance. Exceptional writing and presentation skills; ability to distill complex technical concepts into clear updates for non-technical executives. Experience navigating the ambiguity of a fast-growing company and the ability to pivot priorities as business needs evolve. Tools and Resources Training and Development: During onboarding, we focus on equipping new hires with the skills and knowledge for success through department-specific training. Continuous learning is a central focus at Appian, with dedicated mentorship and the First-Friend program being widely utilized resources for new hires. Growth Opportunities: Appian prov