Job Summary
- As our first COO, you will be the cornerstone of our scaling efforts. You will translate our ambitious vision into a repeatable, efficient, and scalable operational reality.
- You will own the company's internal systems, processes, and cross-functional execution, enabling the CEO to focus on long-term strategy, vision, and external relationships.
- This is a high-impact role for a leader who thrives in dynamic environments, excels at building from the ground up, and is passionate about turning strategy into results.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Execution & Scaling (40%):
- Partner with the CEO and leadership team to operationalize the company’s strategic plan, establishing clear objectives, key results (OKRs), and accountability metrics.
- Design, implement, and continuously optimize core company-wide processes (e.g., GTM operations, product launch cycles, customer onboarding) to support hyper-growth.
- Lead the selection and implementation of scalable business systems (e-Commerce, ERP, Biometrics, CRM, PHC, Analytics and others) to improve visibility, efficiency, and decision- making.
- Own the company’s operational and financial KPIs, including gross margin, operational efficiency, and CAC/LTV, driving continuous improvement.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Integration (30%):
- Act as the chief integrator, ensuring seamless collaboration and alignment between Engineering, Product, Sales, Marketing, and Customer Success teams.
- Directly manage and scale the "execution" functions of the business, which may include Customer Success, Support, Business Operations, People/HR, IT, and Workplace.
- Establish and run the company’s operating rhythm (e.g., quarterly planning, weekly leadership meetings, metric reviews) to maintain focus, agility, and accountability.
- Resolve cross-functional bottlenecks and champion a culture of data-driven decision-making and continuous improvement.
Team & Culture Building (20%):
- Lead, mentor, and grow the operational leadership team, fostering a high-performance culture.
- Partner with the Head of People to scale company culture, talent development, and retention strategies during rapid growth.
- Build and mentor a high-performing Business Operations team to serve as internal consultants driving strategic projects.
Special Projects & Risk Management (10%):
- Lead key strategic initiatives such as international expansion, M&A integration, or new business line launches.
- Identify, assess, and mitigate operational, security, and compliance risks.
- Serve as a trusted advisor and strategic partner to the CEO, acting as a key member of the executive team.
Qualifications & Experience
Must-Haves:
- 10+ years of operational leadership experience, with at least 5+ years in an executive role (COO, VP Operations, SVP) at a high-growth B2B or B2C tech company.
- Proven track record of scaling a tech company or any company from ~NGN500M to NGN1BN+ in ARR (or similar growth metric), including building processes and systems from the ground up.
- Deep expertise in operational domains: GTM operations, financial planning & analysis, business systems, and customer lifecycle management.
- Exceptional analytical and problem-solving skills, with a data-obsessed approach to decision- making.
- Demonstrated success as a "silo-breaker," with exceptional ability to lead through influence and build alignment across all company functions.
- Strong people leader with experience building, mentoring, and scaling high-performing teams.
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or a related field; MBA is a plus.
Ideal Profile:
- Operator-Entrepreneur Mindset: You are a builder who is equally comfortable with high-level strategy and diving into tactical details. You thrive in ambiguity and create structure.
- Influential Leader: You lead with empathy, clarity, and authority. You are a coach, not just a commander.
- Systems Thinker: You see the whole business as an interconnected system and optimize for the entire company's success, not just departmental wins.
- Adaptable & Resilient: You excel in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment and can pivot operations quickly in response to market feedback.
What We Offer
- A mission-driven company with a transformative product and significant market traction.
- Competitive salary, meaningful equity stake (after defined years of service, min 5yrs), and comprehensive benefits.
- A culture of ownership, innovation, and direct impact.
- The opportunity to build the operational playbook for a future market leader.