Head of Product Operations

Title Own the operating system behind one of VEL’s most important products. Overview VEL is building XRAI: the product, robotics, and AI system behind our next phase of smart physical infrastructure. We are looking for a Head of Product Operations to sit at the center of product execution, vendor coordination, roadmap delivery, proof readiness, and US rollout planning. This is a high-trust, high-ownership role working directly with the founder/CEO. The goal is simple: make XRAI move faster, with more clarity, less founder bottleneck, and stronger execution across product, partners, and deployment. This is not a note-taking role. This is a run-the-machine role. Responsibilities Keep the XRAI roadmap moving across product, design, technical, commercial, and deployment workstreams. Track milestones, owners, blockers, risks, deadlines, and weekly priorities. Coordinate external vendors, consultants, and partners so expectations are clear and deliverables land on time. Turn messy conversations into clear actions, decisions, and follow-through. Create sharper founder leverage by separating what needs CEO input from what can be solved independently. Support proof materials for customers, investors, demos, board updates, and internal decision-making. Build deployment-readiness systems for US rollout, including checklists, launch process, site-readiness tracking, and feedback loops into the roadmap. Success Criteria XRAI milestones are clear, owned, and moving. The founder is no longer the bottleneck on day-to-day execution. Vendors know exactly what is expected and are held accountable. Risks are identified early rather than discovered late. Product, deployment, and commercial priorities stay connected. Customers and investors see stronger proof of progress. The company has a repeatable operating rhythm around XRAI. Fit Highly organized, but not bureaucratic. Fast at understanding new products, markets, and technical dependencies. Comfortable working directly with founders and senior stakeholders. Strong at managing vendors, consultants, and external contributors. Able to move between strategy and execution without losing momentum. Calm under pressure and direct in communication. Comfortable with early-stage intensity, ambiguity, and pace. Outcome-driven rather than task-bound. Available for regular early-morning calls with teams in Europe and China. Experience 4-8+ years of relevant operating experience. Experience managing cross-functional workstreams, internal teams, and external partners. Strong written communication and project-management discipline. Ability to work independently without heavy supervision. US time-zone alignment. Background in product operations, startup operations, technical program management, deployment operations, consulting plus operating work, or founder’s office / chief of staff work. Nice to Have MBA or strong strategy/operations training. Startup or founder-led company experience. Product operations or technical program management experience. Experience with customer deployments, pilots, or enterprise rollouts. Experience in proptech, real estate, hospitality, robotics, AI, or hardware/software rollout. Location & Working Rhythm This is a remote, US-based role. Miami, FL is listed as the preferred location for the posting, but we are open to exceptional candidates across the US, especially in Eastern or Central time zones. The role requires strong overlap with US working hours and regular early-morning availability for coordination with teams in Europe and China. Compensation Base compensation is expected to be $110,000-$130,000, depending on experience. Equity and/or milestone-based upside may be included for the right candidate. How to Apply Send your resume or LinkedIn profile. Include a short note on why this role is interesting to you. Share one example of a messy, high-stakes project you helped organize and drive forward. We care less about perfect credentials and more about whether you can create clarity, own outcomes, and move fast. #J-18808-Ljbffr VEL