Director of Operations

Key Responsibilities Lead recruiting for all Philippine engineering roles from entry to senior level. Assess candidates on culture fit and behavioral alignment with Rocket's core values. Curiosity, Initiative, Follow Through, and Growth — not on technical aptitude. Technical assessment is owned by engineering leadership. Build and sustain a talent pipeline to support growth from 30 to 40+ engineers. Partner with the HR Manager on offer structures, onboarding, and Philippine labor law compliance. Serve as the primary cultural anchor for 30+ engineers across experience levels. Motivate, influence, and retain entry-level, junior, and senior developers through direct presence and relationship, not through hierarchy. Identify team morale and engagement issues early and resolve them before they affect delivery or retention. Maintain a working environment aligned with Rocket's values and the expectations of a US-headquartered professional services firm. Provide leadership and decision-making support to the HR Manager and Finance Manager, who handle execution of their respective functions. Maintain oversight of payroll, benefits, compliance, and facilities for a 40+ person engineering office. Ensure operational infrastructure scales appropriately as the team grows. Maintain visibility into project delivery performance across Manila-based engineering teams. Collaborate with the CIO to make decisions on team augmentation, restructuring, or resource allocation when delivery optimization is required. This is a strategic oversight function, not day-to-day project management. Project delivery accountability sits with engineering leadership. Represent Rocket Partners professionally in client-facing and business development contexts. Interface with CTOs, CMOs, and CEOs of client and prospect organizations on behalf of Rocket. Support APAC business development initiatives by leveraging the Manila office presence for regional engagement and RFP participation. Required Experience and Qualifications 8 or more years of progressive leadership experience, with at least 3 years in a general management, country management, or office leadership role. Prior experience in at least one of the following: offshore technology delivery center management, BPO operations leadership, technology consulting, or enterprise SaaS operations. Demonstrated track record of building and scaling teams in a high-growth technology environment. Meaningful professional exposure to western executive stakeholders — US, UK, or Australian — including direct interfacing at the C-suite level. Proven ability to recruit for culture and behavioral fit, not just technical credentials. Working knowledge of Philippine labor law, HR compliance, and local business regulations. Strong command of business financials at the office or cost-center level. Availability to work second shift hours: 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM Philippine time. This schedule aligns with US business hours and is a firm requirement of the role. Work-from-home flexibility of 1 to 2 days per week is available at the Director’s discretion.