Director / Head of India Operations

Location: Pune, India  

Work Model: Remote for first 3–6 months, then onsite in Pune (5 days/week)  

Schedule: Initial strong overlap with U.S. hours during onboarding; long-term primarily local hours with 1–2 hours of U.S. overlap  

Start Date: As soon as possible  

Compensation: Competitive executive-level compensation, benchmarked to senior leadership roles in Pune, with performance-based growth opportunities  

ABOUT US  

We are a well-established U.S.-based company known for long-term relationships, operational excellence, and a deeply loyal team — many of whom have been with us for decades. We are expanding operations to Pune, India, as part of a founder-led initiative to grow in his hometown while maintaining the same quality standards and cultural values that define our U.S. headquarters.  

This expansion is not driven by cost reduction. Our goal is to build a high-caliber, long-term India organization that operates as a true extension of our U.S. business.

ROLE OVERVIEW  

This is a foundational leadership opportunity for an experienced, high-caliber operator to establish and lead our India presence. As Director / Head of India Operations, you will be the most senior leader in India, reporting directly to U.S.-based executive leadership and holding full responsibility for building, scaling, and managing the local organization.

You will begin with a hands-on onboarding phase as an individual contributor, working closely with U.S. leadership to deeply understand our business, culture, and operating model. Over time, the role will transition into full-site leadership, with authority over hiring, operations, performance management, and local culture.

This role requires comfort with ambiguity, strong execution skills, and the ability to balance strategic leadership with tactical problem-solving.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES  

Phase 1: Onboarding & Foundation (Remote – First 3–6 Months)  

• Develop a deep understanding of company products, workflows, and culture through close collaboration with U.S. teams  
• Operate as an individual contributor across core business functions (sales operations, marketing support, business processes)  
• Begin recruiting and interviewing initial India-based hires  
• Co-develop the India organizational structure, operating model, and playbooks with U.S. leadership  
• Establish cultural norms and expectations aligned with U.S. headquarters values  

Phase 2: India Office Leadership (Onsite – Pune)  

• Serve as the senior leader for the India office, with full accountability for local operations  
• Build and scale cross-functional teams including sales operations, marketing, data engineering, and back-office functions  
• Oversee daily operations, performance management, and employee development  
• Act as the primary escalation point for employee concerns, in coordination with U.S. leadership and local advisors, until a formal HR function is established  
• Ensure strong communication, alignment, and trust between U.S. and India teams  
• Drive operational efficiency and support company growth initiatives  

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR  

Must-Have Qualifications  

• Proven director-level or senior leadership experience in operations, general management, or business consulting  
• Demonstrated success building teams or establishing new offices or functions  
• Strong emotional intelligence and cultural awareness, particularly in cross-border environments  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English  
• Strong business judgment with a data-driven approach to decision-making  
• Comfort operating in fast-moving, ambiguous environments  
• A long-term leadership mindset with demonstrated stability and resilience  

Preferred (But Not Required)  

• Experience working closely with U.S.-based executive teams or multinational organizations  
• Familiarity with technology, data centers, hardware, or GPU-related businesses  

WHO YOU ARE  

• A growth-minded, solutions-oriented leader who sees challenges as opportunities  
• A trusted people leader and culture builder  
• Independent yet collaborative, able to execute strategic direction while operating tactically  
• Values-driven, with a strong sense of integrity, accountability, and long-term vision  
• Seeking a long-term leadership role with the opportunity to grow alongside the company  

WHY JOIN US  

This is not a typical executive role. It is an opportunity to build something lasting from the ground up, to shape the culture and operations of our India organization from day one, and to partner directly with company leadership on long-term growth. You will have meaningful autonomy, executive visibility, and the chance to leave a lasting impact on the company’s global future.