The full-time position based in Mumbai with the WhatsApp partnerships team will report directly to the COO of the company
WhatsApp, for the first time, is looking for a full-time hire in India, to lead its business strategy and products including the newly introduced feature of peer to peer payments.
The position based in Mumbai with the WhatsApp partnerships team will report directly to the Facebook-owned instant messaging giant’s Chief Operating Officer in California.
“This is a senior leadership position that requires product experience as well as a track record of success leading partnerships and business development in India. This leader will need to build a close partnership with product and engineering teams to influence direction and to effectively represent WhatsApp’s long-term strategy,” the advertisement for the position read.
The candidate WhatsApp is seeking should be a heavy user of Whatsapp products. Apart from that, he or she needs to have over 15 years of experience in product-driven companies and more than five years of experience with payment technology in India.
WhatsApp also seeks exceptional communication and presentation skills, experience working in start-up environments and business development experience negotiating complex deals in the candidates. Among academic qualifications, the company expects the candidates to have either BS or MS in Engineering/Sciences/Business.
“You should be equally comfortable working with product and engineering leaders as you are building relationships and negotiating with partners. You should also expect to handle day-to-day operations to support your team’s efforts with key partners in market, develop and execute on strategic partner initiatives and build relationships with other key constituents in market and within Facebook,” the advertisement further reads.
India is the biggest market for WhatsApp with over 200 million monthly user base in the country. Hence, it is practical now that a permanent country head is stationed to look after its interests in the country.