Associate Manager, Strategy & Operations

Job description

About Pula We are an insuretech firm that provides agriculture insurance design and execution services, specializing in index-based insurance and is backed by top-tier VC investors who have invested more than $25 million in the business. Since 2015 we have provided climate insurance to 15.4 million smallholder farmers, 41% of which were women across 19 markets in Africa and Asia who pay an average of $6.8 per season to insure their crops. So far we've unlocked over $2.22 billion of capital from local and international insurance markets for climate risks since we started in 2015 and paid out $40.8 million to our client farmers. Pula is a fast-paced company, constantly adapting to new opportunities and challenges. We are made up of a high-performance, multi-cultural team. We expect our team to value performance, results, and professionalism. At Pula, our values are: Obsessed with results: We are responsible for our future and therefore we get things done! Connect the Dots: We continuously identify different customer needs & business problems and build solutions that deliver value. Have a Can-do Attitude! We dare to do things differently to make things work. We have each others’ back: We look out for each other & we share high-quality, timely feedback that makes us better. Overall Objective The Associate Manager, Strategy & Operations will play a critical role in driving execution of the strategic priorities across the business. Sitting within the intersection of the CEO and Finance Office, this role combines strategy, operational execution, and financial analysis to ensure alignment between company goals and day-to-day delivery. The role will act as a force multiplier for the leadership team — translating strategy into execution, driving cross-functional initiatives, and ensuring high-impact projects are delivered on time and with rigor. This position is integral to scaling Pula’s operations, improving decision-making, and supporting key strategic initiatives including growth, operational efficiency, and new ventures. Key Responsibilities Strategy Office Partner closely with the senior leadership to define, refine, and track company strategy and priorities Drive execution of key strategic initiatives across business units (Insurance, Data, Consulting, Pula Re, new ventures) Prepare high-quality materials for board, investors, and leadership (strategy decks, performance reviews, decision memos) Act as a central coordination point for cross-functional initiatives, ensuring alignment and accountability Operations & Execution Lead special projects from concept to execution, including operational improvements, new market entry, and internal transformation initiatives Track and drive delivery against company OKRs and strategic milestones Identify inefficiencies and implement scalable processes across teams Strategic Finance & Decision Support Build financial models, business cases, and scenario analyses to support strategic decisions (e.g., pricing, expansion, M&A, new products) Support budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking in partnership with Finance Analyze business performance across units and geographies, identifying risks and opportunities Support capital planning, investor reporting, and fundraising/IPO readiness initiatives Governance & Performance Management Support governance processes including board and committee coordination, reporting, and follow-ups Drive accountability across teams by tracking key metrics and ensuring timely execution Establish and monitor KPIs across business units and strategic initiatives Ensure transparency and consistency in reporting across the organization Who you are Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science, Business, Finance, Economics, Engineering, or a related field; MBA preferred 8+ years of experience in strategy, consulting, investment banking, corporate strategy, or high-growth startups Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with ability to structure complex problems and drive solutions Experience in financial modeling, business case development, and strategic planning Strong understanding of operations and ability to drive execution in a fast-paced environment Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with ability to engage senior leadership High ownership mindset with a bias for action and results Ability to work across multiple geographies and functions in a dynamic, multicultural environment Experience in insurance, fintech, or emerging markets is an added advantage What Pula will bring to the table: Growth potential : At Pula, we are building systems that enable farmers worldwide to access insurance, using technology to insure these previously uninsured worldwide. We work in over 19 countries across Africa and Asia, and by 2023, have facilitated crop insurance coverage to over 5 million farmers, 40% of which are women. We are for-profit and have raised over $25 million from leading venture and institutional investors as well as developed philanthropic relationships with private foundations and bilateral donors such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and German Insure Resilience Solutions Fund that have accelerated investments in our target markets. Market Leader: Not only is the opportunity massive, but Pula is by far the market leader in its category with 11m farmers insured as of 2023. Solid: Pula has been funded by leading venture capital investors (Omidyar Network, ACCION, MercyCorps) and global philanthropic institutions (MasterCard Foundation, CGAP/World Bank as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation). Pula closed an oversubscribed $20m series B funding despite the economic downturn. Respected: Winner of the Singapore FinTech Festival 2019, Winner of The InsureTech of the Award, Africa. Featured on TED talks, The New York Times, and The Economist. Impact and creation: This is a high-impact role that offers a unique opportunity to bring the company to the next level, whilst developing new strategies, approaches, and ideas. Leadership: The founders & CEO foster a culture of transparency, respect, high performance, pragmatism, execution, and personal development. Purpose: It is rare to find a professional opportunity that offers accelerated professional development and a life purpose. Pula is going through a second phase of accelerated growth that will naturally provide professional development, whilst contributing to the financial stability of small-scale farmers in the emerging markets. Remuneration: Competitive base salary according to seniority and experience, commission on closed sales, and an employee share option plan that offers an attractive equity upside. To learn more about Pula you can visit TED Talk: Crop Insurance, an Idea Worth Seeding New York Times: He Grew up on a Farm. Now, He Helps Protect Them The Economist: The Poor, Who Most Need Insurance, Are Least Likely to Have It.