General Manager

Pareto People; Dubai; On-site; AED 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

A next-generation tech startup is seeking a General Manager to lead operational and strategic execution. The ideal candidate will have over 15 years of experience, including significant leadership roles in technology-driven environments. This role involves shaping the company's vision, driving growth strategies, and managing cross-functional teams in a dynamic startup culture focused on AI, blockchain, and cryptocurrency.

Benefits

Competitive salary with equity options

Remote-friendly flexibility

Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies

Qualifications

• 15+ years of professional experience, including 5+ years in executive roles.
• Experience in tech startups or innovation-driven organizations.
• Hands-on operational experience with P&L responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Lead operational and strategic execution across MEA markets.
• Drive regional expansion and establish operational functions.
• Ensure compliance with local laws and manage investor relations.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic Planning

Operational Excellence

Stakeholder Management

Communication

Education

MBA or MSc

Job description

About Us

One of our client is a next-generation tech startup building at the intersection of artificial intelligence, blockchain, and cryptocurrency. Their mission is to unlock new possibilities through decentralized technologies and intelligent automation. They're driven by innovation, speed, and a belief that transformative technology should be accessible, secure, and scalable.

As they enter a pivotal growth phase, they're seeking a General Manager with a strong entrepreneurial background and deep executive leadership experience to lead our operational and strategic execution.

Role Overview

We are looking for a seasoned executive with at least 15+ years of professional experience, including 5+ years in senior leadership roles (e.g., COO, SVP, GM, or similar), within the technology-driven or high-growth environments. The ideal candidate will have firsthand experience founding or scaling a startup, and deep familiarity with AI, blockchain, or crypto ecosystems.

This is a high-impact, hands-on leadership role, where you will help shape and execute the company’s vision, drive operational excellence, and lead cross-functional teams across product, technology, growth, and finance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategic Leadership & Vision Execution

• Collaborate with the founding team and board to localize and execute the company’s strategic vision across MEA markets.
• Develop tailored growth strategies aligned with economic, technological, and regulatory realities across the GCC, North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa.
• Drive regional expansion, including go-to-market plans, localization, and strategic positioning within the AI, blockchain, and crypto ecosystems.

2. Regional Operations Management

• Establish and lead operational functions across MEA, including business development, customer operations, compliance, HR, and finance.
• Set up and optimize local entities, infrastructure, and systems for regional scalability and cross-border functionality.
• Ensure operational excellence while navigating diverse regulatory frameworks in countries like the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Nigeria, and South Africa.

3. Product & Tech Strategy Alignment

• Align global product and technology roadmaps with MEA market demands, including localized use cases in DeFi, AI analytics, identity, and smart contracts.
• Partner with product, engineering, and design teams to ensure regional feedback loops inform product-market fit.
• Track region-specific tech trends (e.g., CBDCs, digital ID systems, AI in Arabic/NLP) and ensure alignment with internal capabilities.

4. Team Building & Leadership

• Recruit, develop, and lead high-performance regional teams across commercial, technical, and operational functions.
• Build a culture of ownership, agility, and innovation, ensuring alignment with global company values while respecting local norms.
• Implement regional training, career progression, and talent retention programs.

5. Financial Stewardship & Investor Relations

• Own MEA P&L and ensure sound financial governance in coordination with global finance and legal teams.
• Lead budgeting, forecasting, and cost optimization strategies across regional operations.
• Support fundraising efforts by contributing regional insights to pitch materials and engaging with MEA-based investors (e.g., sovereign wealth funds, family offices, fintech VCs).

6. Regulatory Affairs & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with local laws and regulations (e.g., ADGM, DIFC, FSRA, CMA, and relevant African regulatory bodies).
• Work closely with legal counsel to manage licensing, KYC/AML practices, crypto/token compliance, and data governance.
• Build relationships with regulators to support innovation-friendly environments for AI and blockchain adoption.

7. Market Expansion & Ecosystem Building

• Lead strategic entry and scaling efforts in key MEA markets with high growth potential.
• Establish partnerships with government innovation hubs, accelerators, universities, and enterprises to accelerate adoption.
• Represent the company at high-impact regional events (e.g., GITEX, LEAP, FinTech Abu Dhabi, Africa Tech Summit).

8. GTM Strategy, Sales & Revenue Growth

• Drive customer acquisition, channel strategy, and revenue growth through B2B, B2G, and ecosystem-based go-to-market models.
• Develop pricing and distribution strategies tailored to emerging market conditions and crypto/digital asset readiness levels.
• Identify and capitalize on use cases specific to MEA — such as remittances, cross-border payments, identity verification, or AI-driven government services.

9. Stakeholder Management & Reporting

• Provide clear, consistent communication with global leadership, investors, and regional stakeholders.
• Deliver frequent reporting on business performance, regulatory shifts, competitive landscape, and growth KPIs.
• Foster transparency and accountability across cross-functional and distributed teams.

Requirements

• 15+ years of professional experience, including 5+ years in executive leadership roles (GM, COO, SVP, or equivalent), ideally in tech startups or innovation-driven organizations.
• Proven success in building, scaling, or turning around a startup or business unit—preferably with exposure to AI, blockchain, crypto, or fintech.
• Deep understanding of business operations, product strategy, and go-to-market planning in fast-paced, early-stage environments.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire, manage, and align cross-functional teams.
• Hands-on operational experience with P&L responsibility.
• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and decision-making capabilities.
• Technical fluency or strong familiarity with AI, decentralized platforms, and Web3 technologies.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous founder or early executive team member at a successful startup.
• Experience raising capital and managing investor relationships.
• Knowledge of tokenomics, digital assets, and AI infrastructure is a strong plus.
• MBA, MSc, or technical graduate degree (not mandatory if experience is strong).

What They Offer

• Competitive salary with equity options.
• A leadership role in shaping the future of AI and blockchain innovation.
• Collaborative, mission-driven, and agile startup culture.
• Remote-friendly flexibility with global reach.
• Opportunity to work with cutting-edge technologies and visionary partners.

Note: Due to the high volume of applications we receive, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. We appreciate your understanding and thank you for your interest.