Location:
Lisbon (on-site)
Type:
Full-time
Start Date:
Q******
Seniority:
Leadership role with strategic and hands-on operational ownership
About Ubimov
Ubimov has quickly become one of the leading TVDE operators in Portugal, growing rapidly over the past 18 months and establishing a reputation for reliability, scale, and strong operational execution. We are now entering a new phase of expansion with the ambition to build the most advanced and professionalized fleet operation in the country.
The TVDE sector remains highly inconsistent in quality, and our mission is simple: bring professionalism, efficiency, and operational excellence to an industry that needs it.
To deliver on this mission at scale, we're assembling a senior leadership team capable of building the systems, teams, and processes required for hypergrowth. As we enter this next chapter, we're hiring a Head of Operations who will architect, own, and scale the operational backbone that makes this vision possible.
The Role
The Head of Operations owns Ubimov's operational engine end-to-end. This includes the full fleet lifecycle, operational processes, maintenance, repairs, uptime management, and the systems that support scaling the fleet while ensuring that every car is operational and contributing to the business.
This is a role for a senior, highly autonomous builder: someone who can design scalable operational models from scratch while also being deeply hands-on when needed. You will shape how our fleet is managed today and how it scales in the future, build the team, and create the operational playbook that supports long-term growth.
You Will Own
1. Fleet Operations & Uptime Management
Your mission is to ensure every vehicle in the fleet is operational, compliant, and available for work as consistently as possible.
Own the full operational lifecycle of each vehicle, from acquisition to daily performance to end-of-life
Build robust processes for maintenance, inspections, repairs, insurance, accidents, breakdowns, and all activities required to keep the fleet healthy
Establish preventive maintenance programs designed to reduce interruptions and extend asset lifespan
Lead initiatives toward vertical integration in key areas (e.g., parts, maintenance capabilities, logistics) to reduce dependency, minimize downtime, and increase operational efficiency
Manage and continuously optimize partnerships with insurance companies, garages, repair shops, and all technical and operational vendors
Create and refine recovery protocols that ensure vehicles are addressed quickly and returned to operational status with minimal interruption
Define SLAs, quality standards, and performance expectations for all partners and internal teams involved in fleet upkeep
Develop forecasting models to anticipate fleet needs, replacements, scalability requirements, and operational capacity
Design and oversee Ubimov's fleet management framework: tools, systems, tracking, dispatching structure, and operational workflows to track the right KPIs to make better operational decisions.
You will build the operational infrastructure that ensures stability, reliability, and long-term scalability of a fleet growing into the thousands.
2. Operational Excellence
Design the operational model for scale, including workflows, SOPs, automations, and dashboard structures that support a growing multi-market fleet
Select, implement, and optimize the tools and systems required for fleet management, maintenance coordination, and operational performance tracking
Build real-time visibility into fleet status, downtime, and operational bottlenecks, ensuring issues are identified and addressed proactively
Use data to diagnose operational patterns, inform strategy, and prioritize improvement initiatives that increase stability and efficiency
Lead continuous optimization of cost structure, uptime performance, and operational processes, ensuring the fleet runs predictably and efficiently
Own the Ubimov Operational Playbook, designing and maintaining the standards, processes, and operating principles that will be replicated as the company expands into new markets
Set-up our new warehouse where we plan to vertically integrate by creating our own shop and maintenance programs.
3. Team Leadership & Culture
You will build and lead the operations team from the ground up.
Hire, coach, and manage the operations staff across maintenance, support, and logistics
Build a culture of ownership, autonomy, and high accountability
Roll up your sleeves and jump into the field to understand issues firsthand
Lead with clarity, accountability, and a relentless focus on solutions, not problems.
4. Cross-Functional Leadership
Collaborate with founders on strategy, scaling plans, and new market launches
Work closely with senior management to align car availability with driver demand
Provide operational insights for forecasting, financial planning, and investor reporting
Align with product/tech vendors to improve systems supporting fleet and operations
What Great Looks Like
You are:
A senior operator with meaningful experience managing large-scale operations or fleets, ideally someone who has built or scaled an asset-heavy operation from the ground up
A builder, not just a manager: you've created systems, processes, or teams from zero and know what it takes to bring structure to fast-growing environments
Comfortable operating at two altitudes:
Strategic: setting direction, planning for scale, forecasting needs, influencing decisions
Operational: going on-site, understanding bottlenecks firsthand, and stepping into execution when required
Highly autonomous, independent, and self-disciplined: you own problems end-to-end without needing oversight
Analytical and structured: you use data to diagnose issues, spot patterns, and build predictable operational engines
Someone who thrives in complex, fast-moving environments, where ambiguity is the norm and clarity must be created, not provided
Calm under pressure, decisive when facing uncertainty, and consistent in high-stakes operational decisions
Motivated by scale and quality: you want to build something big, durable, and operationally excellent
What You Bring
Required
+5 years experience in operations, fleet management, logistics, mobility, or similar industries
Proven experience managing asset-heavy operations with uptime requirements (logistics, mobility, ridesharing, fleets, rent-a-car, transportation...)
Strong process-design and systems-thinking skills
Experience working with external suppliers, repair shops, and technical partners
Ability to build and manage high-performing operational teams
Fluent in Portuguese (English is a strong plus)
Ability to work on-site in Lisbon
Nice to Have
Experience scaling operations in high-growth environments
Familiarity with fleet management tools, maintenance systems, operational CRMs and ERPs
Experience managing complex maintenance pipelines, insurance processes, or multi-vendor networks
Analytical/financial comfort with budgets, cost structures, and optimization levers
What We Offer
A fast-moving, entrepreneurial setting where your work has immediate and visible impact
The opportunity to work directly with the founders
Autonomy to build and lead your own team
Competitive senior compensation package
Generous vacation policy
Hybrid flexibility with meaningful on-the-ground presence in Lisbon