What We Are Looking For:
Blackpanda seeks to hire a Chief Operations Officer (COO) capable of leading day-to-day operations across all departments with a focus on optimizing operational efficiency. The COO will be responsible for translating strategic decisions into actionable operational plans, ensuring that the company’s operations align with its strategic goals.
The ideal candidate will have startup experience, particularly in early-stage companies from Series A to C, and a strong background in cybersecurity technology or services. Prior experience as a technology leader such as CIO, CISO, or CTO is highly desirable. The COO will be the true #2 in the company, with all vertical leadership reporting directly to them.
Responsibilities & Duties:
- Operational Leadership: Oversee daily operations across all departments, ensuring efficiency, discipline, and adherence to SOPs, policies, and decision-making protocols. You set the expectations and ensure people are living up to them.
- Strategic Execution: Advise on strategic decision-making and ensure the successful translation of these decisions into action across all departments.
- Team Management: Lead and manage a growing company of approximately 50 people, fostering a collaborative environment while ensuring that tasks are executed efficiently
- Operational Efficiency: Implement process improvements and optimize resource allocation to enhance operational efficiency. You’ll optimize the company for the delivery of our goals.
- Collaboration with CEO: Work closely with the CEO, providing operational support while allowing the CEO to focus on strategic business development, marketing, and investor relations.
- Performance Metrics: Drive the achievement of key performance metrics related to operational efficiency, team productivity, and company growth.
Qualifications & Experience:
- Startup Experience: Proven experience in early-stage companies, particularly from Series A to C, with a hands-on approach to managing operations in a similar-sized company (approx. 50 people).
- Cybersecurity Expertise: Deep experience in cybersecurity technology or services, with a strong understanding of operational leadership within this domain.
- Technical Background: Prior experience as a technology leader such as a CIO, CISO, or CTO, or similar., with the ability to oversee and manage technical teams.
- Execution-Driven Leadership: A results-driven leader with an enforcer-type personality, capable of ensuring operational efficiency and discipline across all departments.
- Operational Autonomy: Ability to operate with significant autonomy, making critical operational decisions while keeping the CEO informed and aligned with the company’s strategic direction.
- Cultural Fit: Ability to foster a collaborative environment while ensuring that operational tasks are executed effectively and on time.
Performance Metrics:
- Operational Efficiency: Achieve a specific percentage increase in overall operational efficiency (e.g., reduce operational costs by 15% within the first year).
- Process Implementation: Get the company aligned and driving in the same direction together within 6 months by setting standards and expectations, with a high adherence rate across all departments.
- Team Performance: Improve team productivity and collaboration, measured by key performance indicators specific to each department.
- Strategic Execution: Successfully execute strategic initiatives, translating them into actionable tasks with measurable outcomes, and meeting project milestones.
- Operational Autonomy: Establish and maintain a high level of operational autonomy, allowing the CEO to focus on high-level strategy and external relations.
- Company Growth: Support company growth objectives, ensuring operational scalability as the company expands.
- Financial Management: Ensure the company meets or exceeds its financial performance targets in close coordination with the CFO.
- Cultural Integration: Foster a results-driven culture that emphasizes accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
