Manager - Founder’s Office (Strategic Initiatives)

Picklebay · India

About Picklebay

Picklebay is one of India’s fastest-growing pickleball ecosystems, bringing together players, tournaments, infrastructure, technology, content and community.

We are building an integrated sports business across large-scale tournaments, technology platforms, pickleball facilities, infrastructure development, media and content, strategic partnerships and community-led participation.

As we prepare to expand across India and international markets, we are looking for a high-ownership professional to join the Founder’s Office and work directly with the Founder on some of the company’s most important initiatives.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a dynamic and highly execution-oriented Manager - Founder’s Office (Strategic Initiatives).

This person will work closely with the Founder across business strategy, cross-functional execution, new ventures, partnerships, business development and problem-solving.

The role is not limited to preparing presentations, conducting research or coordinating meetings. The person will be expected to take ownership of projects, bring structure to ideas, work across departments, represent management in important conversations and ensure that strategic initiatives move from discussion to execution.

The nature of the role will be varied. At different points, the person may be required to evaluate a new international market, develop the operating model for a new business vertical, negotiate with a potential facility partner, troubleshoot a client issue, coordinate the launch of a major tournament or work on a league, licensing or athlete-management opportunity.

This is an opportunity for someone who wants to work at the centre of a fast-growing sports business and contribute directly to its next phase of growth.

Key Responsibilities

Founder’s Office and Strategic Execution

• Work directly with the Founder to evaluate, prioritise and execute strategic initiatives across the company.

• Convert ideas and opportunities into structured plans, commercial proposals, operating models and clear execution roadmaps.

• Take end-to-end ownership of selected projects, from initial research and planning through stakeholder coordination and implementation.

• Prepare decision notes, business plans, presentations, financial analyses and management updates for important initiatives.

• Track key commitments, decisions and priorities emerging from the Founder’s Office and ensure timely closure.

Cross-Functional Coordination

• Work across tournaments, infrastructure, facilities, technology, TMS, content, brand, partnerships, finance, legal and operations.

• Ensure that cross-functional projects have clearly defined objectives, owners, timelines and deliverables.

• Identify execution gaps, dependencies and bottlenecks and work with the relevant teams to resolve them.

• Represent the Founder or management in selected internal reviews and project discussions.

• Establish structured reporting and follow-up mechanisms for strategically important initiatives.

Business Development and Strategic Partnerships

• Support and, where appropriate, lead conversations with landowners, venue owners, developers, investors, corporate partners, tournament organisers and other stakeholders.

• Evaluate commercial opportunities across Picklebay Facilities, infrastructure development, managed venues, tournaments, technology and partnerships.

• Develop proposals, partnership structures, commercial models and negotiation frameworks.

• Represent Picklebay professionally in external meetings and help move opportunities towards closure.

• Work with the relevant business-development and operating teams without duplicating their day-to-day responsibilities.

New Ventures and Expansion

• Support the development of new Picklebay verticals and strategic initiatives.

• Evaluate opportunities relating to international tournaments, Asian market expansion, licensing and franchising of the Picklebay brand.

• Contribute to the conceptualisation and execution of potential leagues, media properties, athlete partnerships and other sports-related ventures.

• Conduct market, competitor and commercial research to assess new opportunities.

• Develop entry strategies, business cases, operating models and implementation plans for approved initiatives.

Management-Led Problem-Solving

• Step into important client, partner or operational issues that cannot be resolved effectively at the departmental level.

• Diagnose problems, align internal and external stakeholders and drive issues towards practical resolution.

• Represent management while ensuring that accountability remains with the appropriate functional team.

• Identify recurring operational issues and recommend systemic improvements.

Special Projects

• Lead time-sensitive or confidential projects assigned by the Founder.

• Coordinate with legal, finance, technology, brand, operations and external advisors where required.

• Support fundraising, investor communication, strategic transactions or management presentations when relevant.

• Take ownership of projects that may not initially fall within a clearly defined department.

Who We Are Looking For

We are looking for someone who enjoys solving problems that do not come with instruction manuals.

The ideal candidate should be equally comfortable discussing strategy with senior stakeholders, building a commercial model, preparing a high-quality presentation, negotiating with a partner and working with an operating team to ensure on-ground execution.

This role requires maturity, judgement and executive presence, but also a willingness to work hands-on and pay attention to detail.

Experience and Qualifications

• Five to eight years of professional experience in the Founder’s Office, CEO’s Office, strategy, management consulting, business operations, growth, corporate development, business development or a related cross-functional role.

• Bachelor’s degree from a recognised institution.

• MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification is preferred but not mandatory.

• Experience working in a startup, entrepreneurial business, management-consulting firm or high-growth organisation will be strongly preferred.

• Experience in sports, consumer businesses, technology, media, entertainment, events, hospitality, real estate or lifestyle sectors will be an advantage but is not mandatory.

Skills and Capabilities

• Strong structured thinking and problem-solving ability.

• Ability to move comfortably between strategy and execution.

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

• Strong business presentation and document-creation capabilities.

• Commercial understanding and basic financial-modelling ability.

• Strong stakeholder-management and negotiation skills.

• Ability to manage multiple complex projects simultaneously.

• High attention to detail and strong follow-through.

• Ability to influence teams and stakeholders without relying solely on formal authority.

• Comfort with ambiguity, evolving priorities and fast decision-making.

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides, Excel or Google Sheets and other business-productivity tools.

• Ability to handle confidential and commercially sensitive information with discretion.

What You Will Bring

• A high degree of ownership and personal accountability.

• The ability to bring clarity and structure to unstructured situations.

• The judgement to understand when to lead, when to coordinate and when to escalate.

• The confidence to engage with senior internal and external stakeholders.

• A proactive approach and willingness to take responsibility beyond a narrowly defined job description.

• Intellectual curiosity and a genuine interest in building new businesses.

• Resilience, adaptability and a positive attitude.

Why Join Picklebay?

• Work directly with the Founder on some of the company’s most important decisions and initiatives.

• Help build one of India’s most ambitious emerging sports businesses.

• Gain exposure across tournaments, technology, infrastructure, facilities, content, partnerships and new ventures.

• Contribute to Picklebay’s expansion across India and international markets.

• Receive significant ownership, visibility and the opportunity to grow into a broader leadership role.

• Be part of the movement shaping the future of pickleball in India.

Important

This is a full-time, on-site position based in Kolkata.

Remote or hybrid working is not available for this role.

The role may require travel within India and, depending on business requirements, to international markets.

This is not an Executive Assistant or administrative-coordination position. Candidates should apply only if they are comfortable taking independent ownership of strategic and execution-focused projects.

How to Apply?

Please fill up the following google form -

or share your profile on people@picklebay.com