Executive in Strategy and Operations

We are looking for a right-hand person for Gehtsoft’s leadership and founders. A closer, a finisher, “a last mile” pusher. A person whose feeling of accomplishment comes from getting things done—delivering what the company needs, when it needs, and with our standards of quality. We do not need creativity if it conflicts with our values and standards.

A person who can balance “red,” “orange,” and “teal” teams and people and work with them accordingly. A person who is capable of finding solutions quickly, relying not on personal experience but on a scientific basis, especially in conditions of complete uncertainty where there is no universal solution or magic pill.

We need a person who takes accountability for results—not just trying or making an effort, but committing to deliver and ensuring it truly gets done.

A person who is ready to dig in, grind, and fight for a brighter future for us all.

The person will be responsible for:

• Ensuring that strategic initiatives are getting done;
• Ensuring that day-to-day operations are efficient and reliable.
• Ensuring that all company employees adhere to the standards established within the company.

This will include (but is not limited to):

• Implementing short-term and long-term strategies that align with objectives established by CEO and founders;
• Day-to-day collaboration with project teams and department heads to ensure successful operation and continuous improvement;
• Monitoring performance and taking corrective action when necessary;
• Partnering with the CEO and Head of Sales to ensure efficient operations and long-term growth of the company;
• Overseeing operations, HR, accounting, and legal to ensure that supporting activities are aligned with short- and long-term objectives and improve operational efficiency;
• Promoting the culture and standards established by the founders and CEO on a daily basis, while being absolutely uncompromising in ensuring compliance and adherence to these standards;
• Getting things done.

Trial Period Goals (3 months):

Week 1:

• Change us as a business for the better. Think Gemba Kaizen and the new employee practices they offer. Any improvement must be based on a proper theoretical basis, be aligned with company values, and comply with company standards or improve them.
• Don't just tell us about problems—solve at least one.
• Ensure that we are a good fit for you and you are a good fit for us.

Month 1:

• Evaluate current operations, propose and implement at least one efficiency improvement that will directly affect business outcomes (based on EBM-metrics);
• Ensure that at least one key strategic initiative (priorities can be discussed with leadership) is on track, properly measured, guided, and worked on by the teams;
• On a small scale, ensure that decisions made or actions initiated on a Monday company sync meeting are getting done on a weekly basis;

Month 2:

• Continue to perform efficiency improvements that result in visible and measurable outcomes every month;
• Lead Q3 objectives and key results review meeting, and plan and establish any corrective actions necessary;

Month 3:

• Show and prove the effectiveness of corrective actions from Month 2 via direct improvement of key results to company-level objectives.

Knowledge and Skills:

• Solid, results-proven executive leadership experience;
• Understanding of a software development business;
• Excellent leadership skills, knowledge of Radical Candor, and Crucial Accountability (both approaches are company standards for leadership);
• Direct, concise, and clear communication skills;
• Ability to diagnose and fix problems and foresee potential issues;
• Ability to focus on day-to-day operations without losing sight of the long-term goals and objectives;
• Desire to thrive in a competitive environment, which promotes team-level and personal accountability for business-level outcomes, not individual actions;
• Understanding of the difference between working in simple and complicated and complex and chaotic situations (Cynefin framework, we work almost exclusively in left two quadrants);

Working Conditions (teal):

• A stressful, challenging environment where you can step up and take accountability;
• Ability to push the boundaries of your role and grow and evolve by expanding your knowledge and experience in neighboring fields (and sometimes in fields that you never worked before);
• A highly competitive environment where you can be best at something but for sure will never be best at everything;
• Transparent compensation model that reflects your outcomes and impact on the business;
• Lack of red tape, direct access to decision-makers who are driven and constantly want to improve Gehtsoft;
• Very people-oriented culture, where help is always there as long as you don’t abuse that system in your personal interests. Fool us once - shame on you, fool us twice - shame on us. We are not keen on being ashamed.
• Data-driven decision-making and meritocracy where your opinions are valued by your outcomes, not your title.
• You will be fully supported in your growth as long as your development is pushing the business forward and improves the metrics;

Working Conditions (red):

• Vacation/sick leave/holidays follow the American model.
• Each employee has 15 days off per year, which can be used at their discretion.
  • 1 day off can be used at any time; the team will have to approve two or more consequential days.
  • Each year worked adds one additional day off per year.
• Official holidays: Christmas holidays (Catholic or Orthodox, so 12/24-1/2 or 12/31-1/7), Independence Day (7/4), Thanksgiving (4th Thursday of November). Holidays can be transferred to a different time if need be. You could say that there are 20 days off a year, and only Christmas (24-25) and New Year (31-1) are holidays.
• Equipment reimbursement: A laptop is provided (to be returned if the person leaves before one year), or a $1000/year budget for personal equipment.
• Training: Internal training is provided and paid for; after training, a certain period of work commitment is required, usually at a rate of 1 month per 200 dollars spent.
• Maternity leave: For employees who have worked for more than a year, the company pays for 15 working days of paternity leave and up to 60 working days for maternity leave.
• Severance pay: For those who have worked for one year - 1 month's salary, two years - 2 months' salary, three years and beyond - 3 months' salary. The salary is paid upon contract termination, regardless of the reason for termination.