Head of Launch (Africa)
RemoteUnited States
Job Summary
Lead regulatory strategy and market de-risking across Africa by building relationships with national maritime authorities, mapping policy shifts, and ensuring compliance with local labor, customs, and spectrum requirements. Develop scalable launch playbooks, establish import and logistics frameworks, and onboard local vendors to support SmartMast deployment. Identify and convert fleet operators and port authorities into partners, negotiate space-use agreements, and oversee partner onboarding to ensure operational readiness. Recruit and mentor a cross-disciplinary team while aligning global product and engineering functions with regional needs. Serve as the primary feedback loop to leadership on maritime dynamics and localized risks. Fluency in English is required; professional proficiency in French, Arabic, Portuguese, or Swahili is preferred.
Required Qualifications
- 8+ years in senior operations, market launch, business development, or public policy roles
- Experience ideally within maritime, logistics, or other highly regulated sectors
- Deep understanding of the political, regulatory, and business diversity across Africa's coastal regions and maritime economies
- Proven track record navigating government relationships, regional maritime bodies, and public-private partnerships across multiple jurisdictions
- Demonstrated success closing complex B2B partnerships, joint ventures, or fleet agreements in emerging or frontier markets
- A bias for action
- The ability to draft a market entry plan in the morning and negotiate a stakeholder partnership in the afternoon
- Fluency in English
Desired Qualifications
- Professional proficiency in French, Arabic, Portuguese, or Swahili
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