CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (COO)

Project Management & Operations

CompanyAVATARA DEFENCE PVT. LTD.LocationPune OR/AND Ahilyanagar, MaharashtraExperience7+ YearsEducationEx Army Officer ( Maj or Equivalent ) or MBA in OpsEmployment TypeFull-TimeFunctionProject Management & OperationsReporting ToFounder & DirectorSalary9- 12 Lakh plus per annum - NegotiableRequirementImmediate , Position closes by 25.08.2026About AVATARA DEFENCE

AVATARA DEFENCE is a defence technology company based out of New Delhi focused on developing and deploying advanced solutions in AI, AR/VR, Mixed Reality, Simulation, Robotics, Drones, Counter-Drone Systems and Defence Training Technologies for the Indian Defence ecosystem.

We are looking for an experienced and execution-oriented Chief Operating Officer (COO) to lead our project execution and operational functions and help build a scalable, process-driven organisation.

Role Overview The COO will be responsible for end-to-end project execution, operations management, team coordination, client management, resource planning, vendor management and delivery excellence.

The ideal candidate should be a strong execution leader who can translate business objectives into actionable plans, manage multiple technology projects simultaneously and ensure that projects are delivered on time, within budget and to the required quality standards.

Key Responsibilities

1. Project Management

- Lead end-to-end execution of defence technology projects from initiation to final deployment.
- Develop project plans, timelines, milestones, resource requirements and delivery schedules.
- Monitor project progress and ensure timely completion of milestones.
- Identify project risks, dependencies and bottlenecks and implement corrective actions.
- Establish project governance, review mechanisms and escalation processes.
- Ensure proper documentation, reporting and project closure.
- Manage multiple projects simultaneously across different locations.

1. Operations Management

- Build and manage efficient day-to-day operational processes.
- Establish SOPs, workflows, reporting systems and operational dashboards.
- Coordinate between technology, procurement, finance, HR, sales and project teams.
- Ensure optimum utilisation of manpower, equipment and other resources.
- Improve operational efficiency, productivity and accountability across teams.
- Develop systems that enable the company to scale without operational bottlenecks.

1. Defence Client & Stakeholder Management

- Coordinate with defence establishments, project officers, users and other stakeholders.




- Ensure smooth communication between the client and internal project teams.
- Track commitments, deliverables, inspections, demonstrations and acceptance milestones.
- Participate in project reviews and client meetings.
- Ensure timely resolution of client issues and escalations.

1. Team Leadership

- Lead project managers, operations staff and cross-functional teams.
- Define responsibilities, KPIs and performance expectations.
- Conduct regular project and operational reviews.
- Build a culture of ownership, discipline and execution.
- Identify skill gaps and coordinate training and capability development.

1. Procurement & Vendor Management

- Coordinate with procurement and supply-chain teams for timely availability of hardware, software and other project requirements.
- Monitor vendor commitments, delivery schedules and quality.
- Develop and maintain reliable vendor networks.
- Ensure procurement aligns with project budgets and timelines.

1. Financial & Commercial Control

- Work closely with the finance team to monitor project budgets and profitability.
- Track project costs, purchase commitments and cash-flow requirements.
- Monitor project-wise revenue, expenses and margins.
- Ensure projects remain commercially viable and deviations are escalated promptly.

1. Quality & Delivery

- Establish quality-control processes for project execution.
- Ensure hardware, software and integrated systems meet defined specifications.
- Coordinate testing, demonstrations, deployment and acceptance.
- Drive continuous improvement in project delivery and customer experience.

1. Business & Organisational Development

- Support the Founder/Director in developing operational and business strategies.
- Help create scalable organisational structures and processes.
- Identify opportunities to improve revenue, profitability and operational efficiency.
- Support expansion into new defence technology projects and geographies.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- On-time project delivery
- Project-wise profitability and cost control
- Client satisfaction and successful project acceptance
- Resource utilisation
- Vendor performance
- Reduction in project delays and operational bottlenecks
- Team productivity and accountability
- SOP and process implementation




- Successful execution of multiple concurrent projects
- Quality and post-deployment support performance

Candidate Profile

Mandatory Requirements

- Ex-Army officer ( Maj or equivalent ) or Management Graduate in Operations, Project Management, Business Administration or a related discipline.
- Minimum 7 years of professional experience.
- Strong experience in Project Management and Operations Management.
- Proven experience managing cross-functional teams.
- Strong planning, execution and problem-solving capabilities.
- Experience handling multiple projects simultaneously.
- Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills.
- Qualified knowledge of MS Office / Google Workspace and project-management tools.
- Willingness to travel to defence establishments, project sites and client locations as required.

Preferred Experience
- Defence & Aerospace
- Technology / IT
- AR/VR & Simulation
- AI & Robotics
- Drones / Counter-Drone Systems
- Engineering Projects
- Manufacturing / System Integration
- Defence Training & Simulation
- Similar Roles

Key Competencies Execution Excellence | Project Management | Operations Leadership | Team Management | Client Management | Strategic Thinking | Problem Solving | Vendor Management | Financial Discipline | Communication | Accountability

What We Are Looking For

We are looking for a hands-on COO, not just an administrative manager. The ideal candidate should be comfortable moving between strategy and ground-level execution, whether that means reviewing a project dashboard with the Founder, resolving a vendor issue, coordinating with a defence client, reallocating project resources or ensuring a deployment happens on schedule.

The person should have the ability to bring structure, discipline and predictability to a fast-growing defence technology organisation.

Compensation

Salary: 9 - 12 LPA onwards, negotiable depending on experience, skills, and suitability for the role.

Performance-linked incentives may also be offered based on project delivery, operational performance, profitability and organisational growth.

Location

Pune or/and Ahilyanagar, Maharashtra

Travel: Willingness to travel for client meetings, project deployments, inspections and defence establishments is essential.

How to Apply

Interested candidates may share their CV along with a brief summary of relevant project-management and operations experience to [email protected] or Whatsapp at (phone hidden)

Subject: Application Chief Operating Officer (COO) AVATARA DEFENCE

Requirement - Immediate

Position Closes by 25.08.2026

📌 Chief Operating Officer (Ahmednagar)
🏢 Avatara Technologies
📍 Ahmednagar