Varaha - Lead - Strategy & Operations

Company Introduction :Varaha is a leading climate tech venture focused on nature-based solutions such as regenerative agriculture, ARR, and biochar projects that support smallholder land stewards at scale. In our second year of operation we are removing and avoiding more than 1 Million tons of CO2 and distributing the majority of the revenues to more than 100,000 smallholder land stewards in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. Our in-house best in class MRV technology includes a bio-geo-chemical model for soil carbon, remote sensing and machine learning and uses soil samples for calibration. Backed by leading global investors, our founding and management team comes with a stellar track record of successfully scaling projects and products to millions of smallholder land stewards at leading agri- and tech businesses. Position :- Strategy & Operations LeadAbout the role: Varaha is seeking a seasoned professional for the role of Strategy & Operations Lead. In this key position, you will be instrumental in shaping and executing operational strategies to drive the success of Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) projects. The primary focus will be on effective team management, strategic planning, and ensuring the seamless execution of initiatives aligned with Varaha's overarching goals. This role is a great fit for someone with core competencies in program management and operational excellence at scale, combined with proven practical business acumen. Prior experience in smallholder fields/value chain is desirable but not mandatory.Responsibilities :- Develop and drive operational strategies aligned with organizational goals and objectives- Manage multiple field teams ensuring effective execution, timeline adherence, and project objective achievement.- Build resilient partnerships with key field stakeholders across the entire value chain (inputs procurement, ground implementation and monitoring)- Implement operational improvements for efficiency and cost/resource optimization.- Drive and monitor all ground activities related to NBS projects ensuring effective day-to-day operations and prompt challenge management- Act as a central point of coordination between field staff, senior management, and external stakeholders- Own rollout planning across new regions, ensuring coordination across multiple internal and external stakeholders- Develop and monitor operational KPIs and unit economics across project types, geographies, and channels (e.g., farmer count, cost per enrolment, retention, delivery risk- Build and manage standardized payment structures for farmers, FPOs, field partners, and delivery agencies- Coordinate with Finance & Legal to ensure timely, rule-based, and audit-compliant payment disbursement- Lead recruitment and selection for field staff-Develop and drive comprehensive training programs for team skill developmentQualifications :- 8-12 years of experience in strategic planning, operations and program management- Strong educational pedigree in Business, Operations, or a related field- Proven track record in scaling operations while ensuring compliance with organization targets- Strong optimization acumen: analyze and maximize project economics- Experience working with distributed networks and end-to-end supply chains - Comfort with compliance, reporting, and handling large disbursement flows- Strong team management and leadership skills- Excellent written and verbal communication abilities- Willingness to travel and work in the field as needed- Passion for climate action, impact at scale, and solving real-world problems- Prior experience with smallholder value chains is a plus (e.g., field teams, rural partners)What we offer ?- Join a small, ambitious, and international team and enjoy the following benefits: - Competitive salary and benefits package (ESOP)- Key role in shaping a fast-growing climate tech startup - Support for learning & professional development - A culture of undogmatic, unbureaucratic creativity and collaboration Please note this job description is not designed to contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.Varaha is an Equal Opportunity Employer. This company does not discriminate in employment and personnel practices based on race, sex, age, handicap, religion, national origin or any other basis prohibited by applicable law. Hiring, transferring and promotion practices are performed without regard to the above listed items. (ref:iimjobs.com)