I’m looking for an experienced hands-on coach / mentor to support me as I ramp into my first people manager role.
I recently started as a Director of Business Operations at a Fortune 100 company and am in my first month in-role. This is my first formal management position, in a high-visibility, demanding environment within finance and business operations.
This is not motivational coaching or generic career advice. I’m looking for very practical, applied guidance that adapts week-to-week as my real-world situation evolves.
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High-Level Objectives
The core objectives for this role are to help me:
• Bring structure to and enhance the budget process
(planning cadence, roles & responsibilities, decision points, inputs/outputs, governance)
• Play a guiding role in AI direction for finance
(intake processes, prioritization, guardrails, success criteria, and operating models)
Secondarily, this role will support my growth as a first-time manager, including:
• Running effective 1:1s and staff meetings
• Delegation and expectation-setting
• Team structure and sequencing work over time
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What I’m Looking For
I’m seeking someone who can act as a thinking partner and operator, helping me:
• Translate ambiguity into clear weekly priorities
• Build simple systems, matrices, and frameworks that actually get used
• Pressure-test decisions before I make them
• Develop weekly game plans that are realistic within demanding work hours
• Help draft starting visuals, outlines, or frameworks that I can refine and execute
• Offer grounded judgment across finance, business operations, and team leadership
AI experience is a plus—especially in finance or operations—but practical leadership and operating judgment matter most.
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Engagement Structure
• 90–120 minutes per week
• Friday afternoons (Pacific Time)
• Hourly engagement (target ~$50/hr; flexible for the right fit)
• Ongoing, week-to-week collaboration
I will bring real, current situations each session; we’ll work through them together.
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Ideal Background
You may be a good fit if you have experience in several of the following:
• Business operations, finance, FP&A, or transformation roles
• Budgeting, planning, or operating cadence design
• Managing and growing small to mid-sized teams
• Working in complex, matrixed organizations
• Coaching or mentoring operators or leaders (formal or informal)
• Applying judgment under ambiguity—not just frameworks
Former operators, finance leaders, program leaders, or senior consultants who have actually run things are strongly preferred.
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Confidentiality & NDA
I will work at a high level and avoid sharing sensitive or proprietary information.
That said, the right candidate must be willing to sign a simple NDA / confidentiality agreement (or CDA) covering:
• Non-disclosure of company-specific information
• No reuse or sharing of context discussed
This will be lightweight and reasonable—no legal complexity.
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What This Is Not
• Not executive life coaching
• Not resume or interview prep
• Not academic or theoretical leadership training
• Not therapy-style coaching
This is applied, practical, in-the-moment leadership and operations support.
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To Apply
Please include:
1. A brief summary of your relevant operating and leadership experience
2. Examples of how you’ve supported leaders with:
• First-time management
• Business operations or finance complexity
3. Your coaching style (direct, structured, conversational, etc.)
4. Your availability on Friday afternoons (Pacific Time)