Director of Technology Operations and Strategy

Director of Technology Operations and Strategy

At Near, we help top talent in Latin America find remote roles with US companies. Our mission is to create better lives by fostering a remote work culture that transcends borders.

Our client is a middle-market private equity firm specializing in buyout investments in the health and wellness sector. They seek to acquire small and medium-sized businesses with attractive growth prospects and generate sustainable, long-term value through their operational expertise in the health and wellness sector, and strategic business approach working in collaboration with experienced management teams.

About the Role

The Director of Technology Operations and Strategy is an aggressive, results-driven leadership role reporting directly to the Chief Operating Officer. This position is responsible for driving transformational cost reduction and operational efficiency across our private equity portfolio through strategic technology initiatives, offshore team development, and vendor consolidation.

The role demands a proven track record in establishing and managing offshore technology teams, ruthless cost optimization, and implementing scalable technology solutions that directly impact portfolio company profitability and exit valuations.

Responsibilities

Private Equity Firm Operations

• Offshore Team Strategy: Establish, manage, and scale offshore technology teams across portfolio companies, targeting 40-60% cost reduction vs. domestic alternatives
• Vendor Consolidation: Execute aggressive vendor rationalization programs, eliminating redundancies and negotiating portfolio-wide contracts for maximum cost leverage.
• Service Streamlining: Identify and eliminate redundant technology services, implementing shared service models across portfolio companies.
• Security Governance: Implement and maintain cybersecurity frameworks while optimizing security spend through portfolio-wide solutions.
• Contract Optimization: Continuously renegotiate software service agreements, targeting 15-25% annual cost reductions through strategic sourcing

Portfolio Company Transformation (70%)

• Cost Reduction Programs: Lead technology cost-cutting initiatives targeting a minimum 20% operational expense reduction within the first 12 months.
• Offshore Implementation: Design and deploy offshore development, support, and data management teams for portfolio companies.
• Technology Due Diligence: Conduct rapid IT assessments for potential acquisitions, identifying immediate cost-saving opportunities and integration synergies.
• Data Strategy & Monetization: Build data warehousing and analytics capabilities that drive revenue growth and operational insights.
• Platform Optimization: Aggressively optimize e-commerce platforms (Shopify, etc.) for conversion rates, operational efficiency, and compliance.
• Digital Transformation: Drive technology modernization with a focus on automation, self-service, and labor cost reduction.
• Performance Turnarounds: Rapidly assess and restructure underperforming technology operations in distressed portfolio companies

Strategic Functions

• Value Creation: Execute technology-driven initiatives that directly increase portfolio company EBITDA and exit multiples
• Offshore Operations: Build and manage global technology delivery centers in low-cost regions (Eastern Europe, India, Latin America)
• Cost Analytics: Establish aggressive benchmarking and continuous cost optimization across all technology spend
• Acquisition Integration: Lead rapid technology integration of new acquisitions, targeting day-one cost synergies
• Exit Preparation: Optimize technology operations and positioning to maximize valuation at exit

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Information Technology, Computer Science, or related field; MBA strongly preferred
• 12+ years of progressive IT leadership experience with proven P&L impact
• 5+ years of experience in private equity, management consulting, or aggressive cost reduction environments
• Demonstrated success establishing and managing small offshore technology teams
• Track record of achieving 20%+ cost reductions through technology optimization
• Proven experience in vendor negotiations and contract restructuring with measurable savings
• Expert-level knowledge in data warehousing, ETL processes, and analytics platforms (Snowflake, AWS Redshift, Azure Synapse)
• Deep understanding of Shopify, Magento, and related ecosystem tools
• Experience with SOC 2, PCI DSS, GDPR, and other regulatory frameworks
• Proficiency in AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform
• API management, middleware, and system integration experience
• Deep experience building teams in India, Eastern Europe, Latin
• America, or Southeast Asia
• Proven ability to reduce technology spend while maintaining or improving service levels
• Strong financial acumen with experience managing multi-million dollar technology budgets
• M&A technology integration experience with rapid synergy realization
• Excellent communication skills with ability to drive change management across resistant organizations
• Track record of meeting aggressive cost reduction and efficiency targets

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with global service delivery models and offshore contract negotiations
• Background in private equity, investment banking, or management consulting
• Experience with ERP implementations and optimization (NetSuite, SAP, Oracle)
• Multi-language capabilities for offshore team management
• Experience in retail, e-commerce, manufacturing, or services industries
• Track record in turnaround or distressed company situations

Perks- What's in it for you

Competitive compensation in USD. Please note that the final offer may vary based on the candidate's seniority, specific skill set, and performance throughout the evaluation and interview process.

• Generous time off policy.
• Fully remote working.
• Working hours: EST working hours, flexibility might be needed to overlap with different providers in other timezones.