Strategic Operations Manager - COS

Strategic Operations Manager (CoS)

Location: Bangalore | Reports to: CEO

The Opportunity

Be the CEO's strategic right-hand and the company's operational backbone. You will own execution rigor, priority alignment, cross-functional coordination, and strategic initiatives. You're the person who makes sure the ambitious vision doesn't get lost in the chaos of rapid scaling.

The Challenge

RDA is transforming from a project-centric services company to a product-led platform company. This requires:

• Ruthless prioritization: We have 1000 things to do; which 5 move the needle?
• Cross-functional coordination: Align BD deals with engineering capacity, product strategy with customer needs
• Execution rigor: Turn strategic initiatives into quarterly OKRs and daily work
• Culture of accountability: Ensure every team knows their goals and how they contribute
• Rapid iteration: Learn fast, adjust quickly, scale what works

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Execution (40%)

• Own quarterly planning: Translate CEO vision into OKRs and KPIs for all teams
• Drive board readiness: Prepare quarterly business reviews, financial forecasts, strategic updates
• Lead strategic initiatives: Product transformation, office expansion, vertical entry, partnerships
• Define and track success metrics: Revenue, NPS, attrition, engineering velocity, etc.
• Facilitate quarterly business planning and 12-month roadmap alignment

Operational Coordination (35%)

• Own the org's operating cadence: monthly all-hands, quarterly reviews
• Facilitate cross-functional committees: Deal closure, capacity planning, pod steering
• Manage calendar and bandwidth for CEO (protect focus time)
• Coordinate between CEO, VP Engineering, VP Product, VP Sales/BD
• Track and escalate blockers: Budget, hiring, legal, policy implementation

Initiative Management (15%)

• Own high-impact projects: compliance certifications, brand refresh, etc.
• Project management: Timeline, stakeholders, dependencies, risk mitigation
• Own culture initiatives: Off-sites, team building, communication
• Drive policy implementation: NDAs, onboarding, documentation, processes

Insights & Analysis (10%)

• Maintain strategic dashboard: Revenue, headcount, capacity utilization, NPS, attrition
• Conduct strategic analysis: Market sizing, competitive landscape, partnership opportunities
• Synthesize insights from all teams and present to leadership
• Identify trends, risks, and opportunities early

What We're Looking For

Core Competencies

• 5+ years as Chief of Staff, VP Operations, or equivalent executive role
• Strategic thinking: You can see how disparate pieces fit together; you think systematically
• Execution excellence: You sweat the details while keeping the big picture in view
• Cross-functional fluency: You understand sales, engineering, product, ops, and finance
• Communication: You're clear, concise, and can translate strategy into action
• Relationship building: You have credibility across all teams; people trust and follow you
• Comfort with ambiguity: You operate in early-stage chaos; you create order without rigidity

Proven Track Record

• Scaled a team or organization significantly (10→50+)
• Experience in operations, strategy, or similar cross-functional leadership
• Track record of driving through OKR-based planning
• Experience in tech/product companies (you understand velocity and iteration)

Culture Fit (Non-Negotiable)

• Mission-driven: You care about the mission, not just the role
• High agency: You own outcomes, take initiative, don't wait for permission
• Intellectual rigor: You ask hard questions, challenge assumptions, dig into data
• Inclusive: You listen to all voices; you're not a yes-man
• Humble: You learn fast, admit mistakes, iterate on your approach

Compensation & Expectations

• Base + Performance Incentives + Equity (significant equity due to leverage)
• 45-50 hour weeks (executive-level workload; on-call for urgent matters)
• Quarterly off-sites, professional development, executive coaching
• Board-level visibility and strategy influence