Senior Operations Lead

Careem is building the Everything App for the greater Middle East — making it easy to move around, order food and groceries, manage payments, and more. Our purpose is simple: to simplify and improve people’s lives and build an awesome organisation that inspires.
Since 2012, Careem has enabled earnings for over 2.5 million Captains, simplified the lives of more than 70 million customers, and built a platform where the region’s best talent and entrepreneurs thrive. We operate in 70+ cities across 10 countries, from Morocco to Pakistan.

We’re now entering our next chapter — one powered by AI. We’re looking for AI talent: curious problem-solvers who know how to apply AI to build tools, automate workflows, and create real impact. Whether it’s streamlining operations, enhancing customer experience, or reimagining internal systems — we want people who can make Careem work smarter and move faster.

About the teamThe Marketplace & Expansion Operations team plays a critical role in scaling Careem's footprint across new and existing markets. We focus on building efficient, localized operational engines to drive our growth and reliability. The team thrives on agility, cross-functional collaboration, and a strong ownership mindset.

About the roleAs the Captain Acquisition & Market Ops Lead, you will be the driving force behind our on-ground acquisition efforts in new cities, starting with AUH, SHJ and AL Ain. This role is central to building and managing the supply base — from onboarding third-party logistics (3PL) suppliers to ensuring captain (driver) availability and readiness. You will act as the go-to person for supplier coordination, captain onboarding, and operational ramp-up.

What you'll do

• Own and lead the full captain acquisition process on the ground across AUH, SHJ and AL Ain
• Initiate and manage onboarding conversations with 3PL partners and logistics suppliers
• Align captain supply with Careem's growth plans by ensuring 3PLs meet their commitments
• Track and enforce fulfillment targets (e.g., ensuring 20 captains are delivered if committed)
• Distribute captain swag/uniforms and coordinate training initiatives
• Build and nurture relationships with 3PL providers to establish trust and long-term collaboration
• Serve as the point of contact for resolving operational issues with suppliers and captains
• Maintain clear documentation and reporting of acquisition progress and supply health
• Manage and guide the team ensuring clear direction, accountability, and high-quality execution across all acquisition activities.
• Apply strategic thinking to anticipate gaps, optimize workflows, and proactively shape initiatives that support long-term growth.

What you'll need

• 3–5 years of experience in acquisition, logistics, or operations in a fast-moving environment (e.g., food tech, q-commerce, mobility)
• Proven track record of on-ground operations or supplier/vendor management
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills
• Intermediate Excel proficiency required; PowerPoint is a plus
• Analytical mindset with comfort handling numbers and supply metrics
• Proficiency in Hindi or Urdu preferred; Arabic not mandatory
• Ownership mindset with the ability to operate independently and thrive in ambiguity

What we’ll provide you

We offer colleagues the opportunity to drive impact in the region while they learn and grow. As a full time Careem colleague, you will be able to:

• Work and learn from great minds by joining a community of inspiring colleagues.
• Put your passion to work in a purposeful organisation dedicated to creating impact in a region with a lot of untapped potential.
• Explore new opportunities to learn and grow every day.
• Work 4 days a week in office & 1 day from home, and remotely from any country in the world for 30 days a year with unlimited vacation days per year. (If you are in an individual contributor role in tech, you will have 2 office days a week and 3 to work from home.)
• Access to healthcare benefits and fitness reimbursements for health activities including gym, health club, and training classes.