About Pula
We are an insuretech firm that provides agriculture insurance design and execution services, specialising in index based insurance and are backed by top tier VC investors who have invested more than $25 million in the business. Since 2015 we have provided climate insurance to 15.4 million smallholder farmers, 41% of which were women across 19 markets in Africa and Asia who pay an average of $6.8 per season to insure their crops. So far we've unlocked over $2.22 billion of capital from local and international insurance markets for climate risks since we started in 2015 and paid out $40.8 million to our client farmers.
Pula is a fast-paced space, constantly adapting to new opportunities and challenges and we are made up of a high-performance, multi-cultural team. We expect our team to value performance, results and professionalism.
At Pula, our values are:
- Obsessed with results: We are responsible for our future and therefore we get things done!
- Connect the Dots: We continuously identify different customer needs & business problems and build solutions that deliver value.
- Have a Can do Attitude! We dare to do things differently to make things work.
- We have each others’ back: We look out for each other & we share high quality, timely feedback that makes us better.
Who you are:
Your background is only a bonus to what we are looking for. If you have a knack for helping leaders achieve sharp gains in productivity and impact, commitment to our mission and embrace a constantly changing portfolio of projects, then you will excel at this role!
You will need to have:
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Project Management Expertise: Strong background and experience in project management methodologies, tools, and techniques, including Agile, Scrum, Kanban, or other relevant frameworks. Certification such as Project Management Professional (PMP) or Agile Certified Practitioner (PMI-ACP) could be beneficial. With at least 5 to 7 years of experience
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Analytical Skills: Ability to analyze complex data, identify patterns, trends, and insights, and use them to inform decision-making, resource allocation, and risk management.
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Strategic Thinking: Capacity to understand the organization's strategic objectives and align project activities to support those goals effectively.
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Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills to convey complex information clearly and concisely, facilitate discussions, and build consensus among diverse stakeholders.
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Leadership Abilities: Strong leadership skills to inspire and motivate teams, foster collaboration, and drive results in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
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Problem-Solving Skills: Aptitude for identifying problems, generating innovative solutions, and implementing effective strategies to overcome challenges and achieve project objectives.
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Time Management: Exceptional ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines, and maintain a high level of productivity under pressure.
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Attention to Detail: Meticulous attention to detail to ensure accuracy and quality in all project deliverables, documentation, and communications.
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Decision-Making: Sound judgment and decision-making skills, including the ability to evaluate risks, weigh alternatives, and make timely, well-informed decisions.
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Adaptability: Flexibility and adaptability to navigate uncertainty, adapt to changing circumstances, and adjust project plans as needed to achieve desired outcomes.
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Collaboration and Relationship Building: Strong interpersonal skills to build trust, forge productive relationships with stakeholders at all levels of the organization, and foster a culture of teamwork and cooperation.
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Continuous Learning: Commitment to ongoing professional development, staying updated on industry trends, emerging best practices, and new technologies relevant to project management and organizational effectiveness.
What you will be doing:
As Chief of Staff, you will be at the heart of our organization, serving as a strategic partner to our leadership team. Your role will be multifaceted, encompassing elements of project management, operational excellence, and executive support. You'll be the right hand to our CEO, helping to shape and execute our strategic vision while ensuring alignment across all departments.
But your impact won't stop there. At Pula, we believe in the power of diversity and inclusion to drive innovation and growth. As Chief of Staff, you'll play a pivotal role in fostering a culture of belonging and empowerment within our organization. You'll champion diversity initiatives, mentorship programs, and leadership development opportunities to ensure that every member of our team has the chance to thrive and succeed.
But perhaps most importantly, you'll be a catalyst for change. You'll challenge the status quo, push boundaries, and drive us to new heights of excellence. Your passion, drive, and relentless pursuit of greatness will inspire those around you to do the same, creating a ripple effect of positive change that will be felt throughout our organization and beyond.
Basic Responsibilities
Strategic Planning: Collaborating with the CEO or top executives to develop, refine, and execute the organization's strategic initiatives and long-term goals.
Executive Support: Providing direct support to the CEO or other top executives, which may include managing their schedule, correspondence, and other administrative tasks to ensure their time is optimized and priorities are met.
Interdepartmental Coordination: Serving as a bridge between different departments or teams within the organization, ensuring alignment of goals, facilitating communication, and fostering collaboration.
Decision Support: Providing analysis, insights, and recommendations to support key decision-making processes within the organization, often based on data, research, and market trends.
Project Management: Overseeing and coordinating various projects and initiatives, ensuring they stay on track, meet deadlines, and achieve desired outcomes.
Policy Development and Implementation: Working with senior leadership to develop and implement organizational policies, procedures, and guidelines to ensure consistency and compliance across the organization.
Communication and Stakeholder Management: Managing internal and external communications on behalf of senior leadership, including drafting speeches, presentations, and other materials, as well as representing the organization to key stakeholders.
Change Management: Leading or supporting change initiatives within the organization, helping to navigate transitions, overcome resistance, and ensure successful implementation of new processes or strategies.
Team Leadership and Development: Building and leading a high-performing team, providing guidance, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to staff members.
Crisis Management: Assisting senior leadership in preparing for and responding to crises or emergencies, maintaining calm and effective communication, and implementing contingency plans as needed.
Budgeting and Financial Management: Collaborating with finance and other departments to develop and manage budgets, track spending, and ensure financial accountability and sustainability.
Performance Monitoring and Reporting: Establishing metrics and key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure progress toward organizational goals, and regularly reporting on performance to senior leadership and other stakeholders.
What Pula will bring to the table
- Growth potential: With an untapped market of 1.5 billion smallholders worldwide, on track to doubling the number of farmers insured in 2021 and Pula’s global leadership in Agriculture Insurance, our new staffers have a tremendous upside growth potential.
- Market Leader: Not only is the opportunity massive, but Pula is by far the market leader in it’s category with 11m farmers insured as of 2023.
- Solid: Pula has been funded by leading venture capital investors (Omidyar Network, ACCION, MercyCorps) and global philanthropic institutions (MasterCard Foundation, CGAP/World Bank as well as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation). Pula closed a $6m series A funding in December 2020 in the right in the middle of the pandemic a clear testimony of the opportunity that Pula is going after.
- Respected: Winner of the Singapore FinTech Festival 2019, Winner of The InsureTech of the Award, Africa. Featured on TED talks, The New York Times, The Economist.
- Impact and creation: This is a high-impact role, that offers a unique opportunity to bring the company to the next level, whilst developing new strategies, approaches and ideas.
- Leadership: The founders & CEO foster a culture of transparency, respect, high performance, pragmatism, execution and personal development.
- Purpose: It is rare to find a professional opportunity that offers accelerated professional development and a life purpose. Pula is going through a second phase of accelerated growth that will naturally provide professional development, whilst contributing to the financial stability of small farmers in the emerging markets.
- Remuneration: Competitive base salary accordingly with seniority and experience, commission on closed sales and an employee share option plan that offers an attractive equity upside.
To learn more about Pula you can visit
- TED Talk: Crop Insurance, an Idea Worth Seeding
- New York Times: He Grew up on a Farm. Now, He Helps Protect Them
- The Economist: The Poor, Who Most Need Insurance, Are Least Likely to Have It
How to apply
Fill out the form below, and upload a resume in English.
Cover letters are optional. You can add one if there is any additional information you would like to share about your interest in Pula, the role or your experience. We review applications on a rolling basis.
Pula’s mission is to provide farmer resilience. To achieve this, we put our small holder farmers that use our services and the employees that provide them at the heart of everything we do. For that purpose, Pula was created to be an equal opportunity employer that celebrates diversity and is committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.
