Founding Operations Officer

Job descriptionFounding Operations Officer - Surepath SystemsAbout Surepath SystemsSurepath Systems is an ambitious food delivery startup launching in Chennai, pioneering a hyperlocal approach to food delivery with plans to expand into groceries and logistics. As a board-backed venture in its early stages, we're building our first product from the ground up with a vision to create a profitable, scalable platform that serves local communities with exceptional speed and reliability.The OpportunityWe are seeking an exceptional Founding Operations Officer who will be the driving force behind transforming our board's vision into operational reality. This is not just an operations roleit's a founding leadership position where you'll build systems, processes, and teams from scratch while laying the foundation for a multi-vertical logistics platform in one of India's most dynamic markets.Compensation & BenefitsBase Salary: 15 - 18 Lakhs per annumPerformance Bonus: Up to 30-40% of base salary tied to clearly defined milestonesLocation: Chennai (Strictly on-site)Reporting: Direct reporting to Executive Directors/BoardYour Mission: First 12 MonthsPhase 1 (Months 1-6): Hyperlocal Launch in a prime area in ChennaiYour primary objective is to successfully launch Surepath's food delivery platform in a prime area (like Adyar/AnnaNagar), Chennai with these targets:Restaurant Partners: Onboard 50-75 restaurants (mix of popular chains and local favoritesDelivery Fleet: Build and manage 25-35 delivery partnersOrder Volume: Achieve 500-700 orders per week by month 6Average Delivery Time: Maintain sub-30 minute delivery window for 80%+ ordersCustomer Retention: 25-30% repeat customer rateAverage Order Value: 400-450 per orderCustomer Rating: Maintain 4.0+ platform ratingPhase 2 (Months 7-12): Scale & OptimizeExpand to 2-3 additional Chennai neighborhoodsBuild operational team to 10-15 membersEstablish unit economics: contribution margin positive at order levelDevelop playbooks for market expansionBegin groundwork for grocery verticalWhat You'll DoStrategic Execution & P&L OwnershipOwn end-to-end P&L responsibility, driving path to profitability with clear unit economics]Develop and execute go-to-market strategy for hyperlocal food delivery launchDesign and implement operational KPIs: order preparation time, delivery efficiency, customer satisfaction, partner retention, contribution marginBuild scalable processes that work at 100 to 10,000 orders/day per hyperlocal market.Operations Excellence & Process DesignArchitect core operational processes: restaurant onboarding, order management, delivery logistics, quality control, customer supportImplement real-time monitoring systems and dashboards for operational metricsDesign delivery zone mapping, route optimization, and demand forecasting modelsEstablish quality standards, SLAs, and compliance frameworks (food safety, delivery protocols)Partnership & Ecosystem BuildingSource, negotiate, and onboard restaurant partners with attractive value propositionsBuild and manage delivery partner network (direct hire and gig model)Establish vendor relationships: payment processors, cloud kitchens, packaging suppliersCreate mutually beneficial commercial terms that drive platform adoptionTeam Building & LeadershipRecruit, train, and lead operations team from 0 to 15+ members in Year 1Build high-performance culture centered on customer obsession, speed, and continuous learningDesign organizational structure for customer service, operations coordination, and partner managementMentor and develop team members; create clear growth pathsTechnology & Digital TransformationBuild a strong technology team for initial setup and on going demand of the businessCollaborate with technology partners on platform requirements and feature prioritizationDrive adoption of AI/ML for demand prediction, dynamic pricing, and route optimizationImplement data-driven decision-making frameworks across operationsLeverage automation for order management, dispatch, and customer communicationsFail Fast, Learn Faster MentalityRun rapid experiments to test hypotheses on customer acquisition, retention, pricingBuild feedback loops with customers, restaurants, and delivery partnersPivot quickly based on data; don't let perfect be the enemy of goodDocument learnings to create institutional knowledge and avoid repeated mistakesWhat You BringNon-Negotiable Requirements10+ years of progressive experience in operations, logistics, or supply chain managementDeep food delivery or logistics industry experience (minimum 5 years)P&L management experience with demonstrated ability to drive profitabilityStartup or high-growth environment experience building 0-to-1 productsTeam building experience: Built and led teams of 10+ peopleBachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field; MBA strongly preferredHighly PreferredPedigree from leading food delivery platforms (Swiggy, Zomato, Dunzo, Shadowfax, Delhivery, or equivalent)Experience launching hyperlocal delivery operations in Indian Tier 1/2 citiesBackground in building marketplace or platform businessesTrack record of achieving aggressive growth targets in competitive marketsEssential Skills & CompetenciesBusiness & Strategic AcumenBusiness-Driven Mindset: Obsessive focus on unit economics, customer lifetime value, and sustainable growth metricsStrategic Thinking: Ability to balance short-term execution with long-term visionMarket Intelligence: Deep understanding of competitive landscape and ability to identify differentiation opportunitiesFinancial Literacy: Expert in reading P&L statements, managing budgets, and driving cost optimizationDigital & AI TransformationAI/ML Adoption: Understanding of how AI can optimize delivery routes, predict demand, personalize recommendationsData Analytics: Proficiency in using data to drive decisions; comfortable with BI tools, dashboards, KPIsTech Collaboration: Ability to work effectively with engineering teams; translate business needs to technical requirements]Process Automation: Experience implementing automation to improve efficiency and reduce manual workOperational ExcellenceProcess Design: Expert in creating SOPs, workflows, and operational playbooksQuality Management: Six Sigma, Lean, or Kaizen methodology experience preferred]Logistics Optimization: Deep knowledge of last-mile delivery, route planning, fleet managementRisk Management: Proactive identification and mitigation of operational risksVendor Management: Strong negotiation skills and relationship managementLeadership & PeopleFounding Team Mentality: Hands-on, no-task-too-small attitude; willing to do whatever it takesTeam Builder: Proven ability to recruit A-players, inspire teams, and create winning cultureChange Management: Experience leading organizations through rapid transformationCollaboration: Bridge builder between business, technology, and external partners]Communication: Exceptional verbal and written communication; able to present to board confidentlyAgility & LearningFail Fast Philosophy: Comfortable with experimentation, iteration, and pivoting based on learningsLearning Agility: Voracious learner who stays current on industry trends and best practicesAdaptability: Thrives in ambiguity and rapidly changing environmentsExecution Speed: Bias for action; moves fast from analysis to implementationCustomer & Market OrientationCustomer Obsession: Deep empathy for customer pain points; relentless focus on experienceLocal Market Knowledge: Understanding of Chennai market, food culture, and consumer behaviors preferredStakeholder Management: Ability to balance needs of customers, restaurants, delivery partners, and investorsSuccess Profile: You'll Thrive Here If YouAre energized by building something from scratch in a high-stakes environmentHave a track record of achieving "impossible" targets through resourcefulness and gritLove getting into the details while maintaining strategic perspectiveView failure as data and iterate rapidly without egoAre comfortable with ambiguity and can create structure from chaosAre naturally collaborative and can influence without authorityHave strong business judgment and make high-quality decisions with incomplete informationAre passionate about technology's potential to transform traditional industriesWant equity upside and are willing to work hard to earn itAre driven by impact and building something meaningfulRole: Operations - OtherIndustry Type: Software ProductDepartment: Customer Success, Service & OperationsEmployment Type: Full Time, PermanentRole Category: Operations