Deployments Lead
Our client is an early-stage AI startup, spun out of Stanford research, building the infrastructure layer for supply chain agents: AI that monitors supplier data, surfaces the insights operators miss, and executes procurement and planning workflows autonomously. They deploy directly into the operations of Fortune 500 manufacturers and large government organizations, some of the most complex environments in the physical economy. Traction is real: one early manufacturing customer has already grown its contract 8x from the initial scope, and the platform is live in production at scale.The roleThis is the founding Deployments Lead, a true 0-to-1 build. You will own the entire pre- and post-sales deployment motion and turn messy, high-stakes enterprise engagements into a repeatable, scalable framework, working side by side with the founding team.What you'll do• Own the full deployment lifecycle, from discovery and scoping through pilot, go-live, and expansion, across Fortune 500 manufacturers and large enterprises• Build the deployment function from scratch: the methodology, playbooks, and templates that make every future implementation faster• Run pre-sales independently, spinning up custom demos, integrating customer data, and scoping pilots without hand-holding• Drive account expansion post-launch by finding the highest-ROI upsell opportunities inside existing manufacturing customers• Partner directly with the CEO and CTO as a thought partner, translating complex supply chain workflows into engineering prioritiesWhat we're looking for• 10 to 20 years leading full-lifecycle supply chain or procurement software deployments, at platforms like Palantir, SAP, Blue Yonder, o9, Kinaxis, Celonis, Coupa, or Anaplan, or ex-MBB / Tier 2 consulting with a deep supply chain or manufacturing practice• Deep functional fluency in procurement (S2P, sourcing, spend) and/or planning (S&OP/IBP, demand and supply, inventory optimization), down to the data layer• Proven ownership of the full pre-sales cycle: discovery, demo creation, customer data integration, and pilot scoping• A track record of expanding enterprise accounts post-deployment• Executive presence to hold the room with VP-level supply chain and IT stakeholders at multi-billion-dollar manufacturersBonus points• Experience deploying into Fortune 500 manufacturers or large government organizations specifically• You have made the jump from consulting or delivery into an in-house or startup ownership role before• Comfort building demos and handling technical, pre-sales integration workCompensation and benefits• Base salary $195K to $330K, depending on experience• Meaningful equity: low single-digit percentages, starting around 0.5%Location and work model• On-site 5 days a week in San Francisco (Financial District), with regular travel for customer deployments• Visa sponsorship is not available for this role; open to transfers and relocation