PodForge

Small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) across the US are struggling with a persistent talent bottleneck. They need consistent, high-quality execution for back-office and IT operations, but hiring internally is too slow, too expensive, and often unreliable. PodForge solves this by providing plug-and-play "Embedded Operations Pods." Instead of acting as a traditional staffing agency or a generic BPO, PodForge gives clients a dedicated, systemized delivery pod (IT + business ops) complete with clear SLAs, weekly governance, and rapid onboarding.

About the Role

As CEO, you will lead the charge in productizing service delivery. You'll move SMBs away from chaotic, ad-hoc hiring and into predictable, managed capacity that scales seamlessly with their growth. You will build a high-margin, highly repeatable managed service business. You'll start by defining strict playbooks for two vertical niches, deploying the first 3-person starter pods, and proving that your systematic approach to QA and SLA management beats traditional in-house hiring.

Responsibilities

• Define the Playbook: Standardize the delivery process for IT and business operations. Turn chaotic client needs into a repeatable 25-step onboarding and execution SOP.
• Close the First Sale: Pitch and close the first 2-3 SMB clients. You must personally close your first deal, driving initial revenue by proving that your systematic approach beats traditional hiring.
• Own the Revenue Engine: Drive sales and own the revenue generation engine. Build a repeatable sales pipeline while obsessively managing KPIs like time-to-ramp and gross margin.
• Hire and Ramp the Pods: Recruit the first pod leads and staff members. You will be responsible for ensuring they hit full productivity within the promised SLA window.
• Ensure SLA Adherence: Build the weekly review mechanisms that prove ROI to the client, guaranteeing replacement and continuous improvement.

Requirements

• Demonstrated experience in operations management, agency operations, or BPO leadership.
• Deep understanding of how to document, systemize, and enforce Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
• Ability to sell complex operational solutions to Founders, COOs, and Heads of Engineering.
• Comfortable interviewing, hiring, and firing rapidly to maintain pod quality.
• Strong financial acumen to manage unit economics, gross margins, and pricing tiers.

Qualifications

The ideal candidate is an "operator's operator"—someone who has likely worked as a COO, VP of Operations, or Agency Director. You thrive on turning chaos into checklists. You don't just want to manage a team; you want to build the machine that builds the teams. You are highly disciplined, data-driven, and relentlessly focused on execution and margin control.

Pay

During the 90-day 0-to-1 phase, you will receive a living stipend. Upon securing your first paying clients, you will draw a base salary from company revenue, escalating as you hit MRR milestones, alongside a significant co-founder equity stake.

Our Founders-in-Residence Program is an intensive 90-day program conducted in Princeton, NJ. During this period, A Foundery provides a stipend to support your stay. You must be willing and able to relocate to or be present in Princeton, NJ for the full 90 days.