Chief Operating Officer

Morphogenesis is one of India's most respected architecture and urban design practices, globally recognized for climate-responsive design, sustainability-led innovation, and transformative urban development projects.

As the firm embarks on a strategic 3–5 year roadmap culminating in a liquidity event, strategic investment, or M&A transaction, the founders are transitioning into non-executive board roles. Simultaneously, the firm is undertaking a legal and operational transformation from a registered partnership into a corporate structure.

This creates a unique opportunity for a high-potential operator to become the architect of one of the most ambitious institutionalization journeys within India's design ecosystem.

This is not a traditional COO role.

This is a value creation, restructuring, and enterprise transformation mandate designed to prepare Morphogenesis for a strategic exit within the next 3–5 years.

The successful candidate will assume increasing ownership of the firm's operational, financial, and strategic agenda with the objective of:

● Institutionalizing a founder-led enterprise

● Building investor-grade governance and financial systems

● Driving EBITDA expansion and valuation enhancement

● Scaling new growth engines

● Embedding technology and AI into delivery workflows

● Preparing the business for a successful M&A or liquidity event

Over time, the role is expected to evolve into full enterprise-level COO responsibility with ownership of P&L and organizational performance.

1. Corporate Governance & M&A Readiness

Lead the transformation from partnership structure to a corporate operating model.

● Drive transition to Private Limited structure

● Build board governance processes and reporting mechanisms

● Establish investor-grade financial controls

● Create audit-ready operating systems

● Drive Quality of Earnings readiness

● Build transaction data room infrastructure

● Develop valuation enhancement roadmap

● Support strategic investors, bankers, and M&A advisors during diligence processes

● Successful corporate transition completed

● Monthly board reporting operationalized

● Audit-ready financial reporting framework established

● M&A readiness achieved within 36 months

Assume increasing ownership of financial performance across studios, business units, and project portfolios.

● Establish profitability governance across all projects

● Implement project-level margin monitoring

● Build forecasting and budgeting systems

● Create revenue, utilization, and productivity dashboards

● Introduce working capital management disciplines

● Establish commercial approval frameworks for fast-track projects

● Drive EBITDA optimization initiatives

● EBITDA margin expansion

● Improved project profitability

● Reduction in cost overruns

● Improved cash conversion cycle

Create a scalable operating platform capable of maintaining design excellence without founder dependency.

● Roll out firm-wide Digital Delivery Manuals

● Standardize project delivery methodologies

● Build process governance frameworks

● Drive implementation of agentic AI workflows

● Develop AI-enabled quality assurance systems

● Introduce aesthetic scoring and design consistency mechanisms

● Automate operational workflows and reporting systems

● Firm-wide Digital Delivery Manual adoption

● Significant reduction in founder review dependency

● AI-enabled quality control implemented across pilot studios

● Reduced project delivery cycle times

Build the next generation leadership layer capable of running the enterprise independently.

● Operationalize Strategy Council framework

● Institutionalize Partner-Track development program

● Build succession planning processes

● Establish performance management architecture

● Create executive operating rhythms

● Develop decision-making governance systems

● Independent L5/L6 leadership pipeline created

● 90% reduction in founder escalations

● Increased decision velocity across the organization

Scale Morphogenesis' emerging turnkey design-build venture and other adjacent growth opportunities.

● Drive business model development

● Build operational systems and governance

● Establish commercial frameworks

● Monitor unit economics and profitability

● Build execution ecosystem and partnerships

● Drive integration between core design and delivery businesses

● Successful scale-up of Morph.net

● Sustainable profitability achieved

● Diversified revenue streams established

Very few opportunities in India offer the chance to:

● Lead the institutionalization of a globally recognized design firm

● Build a board-ready, investor-grade enterprise

● Drive a full corporate transformation

● Scale new business platforms

● Implement AI-led operating models

● Participate directly in value creation associated with a strategic exit

This is a career-defining opportunity for a future CEO or COO seeking to build, transform, and monetize enterprise value at scale.

We are seeking a highly analytical, execution-oriented leader who combines consulting-grade strategic thinking with operational excellence.

Preferred Background

● Director / Junior Partner from McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Kearney, Strategy&, EY-Parthenon, Monitor Deloitte, or equivalent

● Former Chief of Staff, COO, Transformation Leader, Business Head, or Enterprise PMO leader

● Experience in operational restructuring, corporate transformation, M&A readiness, value creation programs, or PE-backed businesses

● Exposure to professional services, architecture, engineering, real estate, infrastructure, or project-led organizations is highly desirable

● Process obsessed and data driven

● Strong financial and commercial orientation

● High emotional intelligence and stakeholder management capability

● Ability to influence senior creative professionals without founder intervention

● Entrepreneurial mindset with willingness to bet on long-term value creation

● Aspiration to grow into a full-scale enterprise COO role