Global Operations Manager

About this role

Northwood is a modern space infrastructure company bringing the benefits of space to the masses through advanced communications technology. We are building a global network of phased array ground stations that enable real-time, reliable communication for satellite missions such as national security, global connectivity, and disaster response. With a vertically integrated approach, Northwood designs, builds, and rapidly deploys scalable systems that power the next generation of space missions. If you like solving complex challenges and seeing your work deployed around the world with real impact, Northwood is the place to do it.

Role:

As the Global Operations Manager, you will lead complex, cross-functional initiatives required to deploy Northwood’s infrastructure and communications capabilities in new countries around the globe. You will work across commercial, financial, and regulatory domains to evaluate opportunities, manage costs and timelines, negotiate agreements, secure necessary approvals, and coordinate execution across internal and external stakeholders.

You will engage directly with infrastructure providers, government agencies, regulators, consultants, internal engineering teams, and business leaders. This is an execution-heavy role for someone who can quickly understand unfamiliar problems, build structure from ambiguity, and drive international projects from initial evaluation through deployment and operation. You will be the tip of spear for Northwood’s expansion abroad.

Responsibilities:

- Develop a strong understanding of the commercial, operational, regulatory, tax, import/export, and licensing requirements associated with entering new markets.

- Build and execute market-entry plans that balance speed, cost, risk, technical requirements, and long-term scalability.

- Negotiate commercial agreements with infrastructure providers, consultants, landlords, telecommunications partners, and other critical vendors.

- Build and maintain models and forecasting tools to track network growth, deployment costs, operating performance, risks, and key decisions.

- Coordinate closely with engineering, finance, legal, supply chain, business development, and site operations teams to establish goals, timelines, and ownership.

- Support import/export, customs, local entity, vendor onboarding, and other operational requirements associated with international deployments.

- Represent Northwood in discussions with government agencies, regulators, ministries, and international partners.

- Create repeatable processes that allow Northwood to enter and operate in new markets more quickly over time.

Basic Qualifications:

- Bachelor’s degree in business, finance, economics, international relations, engineering, operations, or related field.

- 3+ years of experience in operations, strategy, finance, business development, consulting, market expansion, or a similarly cross-functional role.

- Demonstrated ability to independently execute complex projects involving multiple stakeholders and tight timelines.

- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.

- Willingness to travel domestically and internationally as needed.

Preferred Experience:

- Experience supporting international expansion, infrastructure deployment, supply chain, telecommunications, aerospace, energy, or another highly regulated industry.

- Experience negotiating complex commercial contracts and managing external partners.

- Experience engaging with government agencies, regulators, or international organizations.

- Strong project management skills, including the ability to establish plans, track dependencies, identify blockers, and drive decisions.

- Experience building and managing datasets or analytical tools using Excel, SQL, Power BI, Tableau, Python, or similar tools.

- Extreme bias to action.

- Proficiency in one or more languages in addition to English.

Additional Information:

If you need a reasonable accommodation as part of your application for employment or interviews with us, please let us know.

To conform to U.S. Government space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) you must be a U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State.

Northwood Space is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Northwood Space is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

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