Partner Operations Manager

Mecka AI is carving out a niche in the fast-evolving world of embodied AI and robotics, focusing on the critical infrastructure needed to fuel large-scale data capture. As they look to scale their operations, they are seeking a Partner Operations Manager to act as the backbone for their regional teams. This role is built for a professional who thrives on streamlining complex workflows and ensuring that regional leads can focus on business development without being bogged down by administrative friction.

About the role

This position is designed to be the central nervous system for Mecka’s partner ecosystem. You will be responsible for creating, refining, and enforcing the operational standards that allow the organisation to scale its data capture efforts. By managing the end-to-end lifecycle of partner engagement—from the initial onboarding phase through to daily performance monitoring—you will directly influence the quality and volume of data being fed into their AI systems. Because this is a remote role, the ideal candidate must be a self-starter who can maintain clear, consistent communication across various time zones.

What you’ll do

The core of this position is operational excellence. You will be expected to build a robust "playbook" that automates and simplifies repetitive tasks, ensuring that all partners are working within a standardized framework. Your daily functions will include:

• **Deal Administration:** Managing the preparation of proposals and formal agreements, ensuring that all contractual records—such as rates, volumes, and expiration dates—are accurate and easily accessible.
• **Onboarding and Enablement:** Facilitating the technical setup for new partners, including platform configuration, device distribution, and comprehensive training on capture standards.
• **Hardware Lifecycle Management:** Overseeing the logistics of physical devices, including tracking inventory, managing replacements, and processing returns.
• **Partner Relations:** Acting as the primary point of contact for external partners and managing the support communication channels to resolve issues quickly.
• **Performance Tracking and Finance:** Monitoring output quality and volume while managing the reconciliation and processing of partner payments.

What they’re looking for

Mecka is looking for someone with 3 to 5 years of experience in partner or vendor operations. Candidates who have worked in high-growth marketplace environments, BPO sectors, or delivery logistics companies will be particularly well-suited for the pace of this role.

Key attributes they value include:

• **Process Architecture:** A knack for building and improving checklists, tools, and workflows to eliminate inefficiency.
• **Execution Focus:** A demonstrated track record of managing multiple partner launches simultaneously, even when working across different global time zones.
• **AI Literacy:** A comfortable working knowledge of AI-driven tools used for data analysis and automating partner communications.
• **Resilience:** The ability to remain calm and methodical when dealing with operational bottlenecks or unforeseen hardware challenges.

In the South African market, roles focused on partner operations within the tech and robotics space are increasingly sought after, particularly as local companies integrate more deeply into global supply chains. A position of this nature, especially with a remote, international-facing employer like Mecka, typically commands a competitive salary reflecting the seniority of the responsibilities involved. For professionals in the local BPO or logistics sectors looking to pivot into AI-enabled operational roles, this position offers a clear path toward gaining specialized expertise in global data infrastructure, which is a rapidly expanding field of employment.

• Experience: 3 to 5+ years in partner or vendor operations, ideally at a high-growth marketplace, BPO, or delivery company.
• Execution: Proven record of managing multiple partner launches across time zones.
• Organization: Highly organized and detail-oriented.
• AI fluency: Familiarity with AI tools for data analysis and partner communications.
• Problem solving: Practical problem-solver who stays calm under pressure.
• Relationships: Strong interpersonal skills.
• Agency: High degree of initiative and comfort with ambiguity.