Head of Data Operations

About the Role

Sarvam AI is building India's sovereign full-stack Generative AI platform - foundational models and AI solutions that understand Indian languages, culture, and diversity. High-quality data is the fuel behind this mission, and we're looking for a detail-oriented deal maker to own data procurement end-to-end: from understanding what our Models team needs, to sourcing it from the right providers, to closing deals, to ensuring the data actually lands and meets the bar.

This is a high-ownership, high-accountability role at the intersection of operations, vendor management, and applied AI - ideal for someone who thrives on structure, negotiation, and getting things done right the first time.

What You'll Do

• Translate requirements into action: Work closely with the Models team to understand data requirements - languages, formats, volumes, quality benchmarks and convert them into clear sourcing briefs.

• Source and negotiate: Identify, evaluate, and negotiate with data providers and vendors to secure high-quality data at the right cost and timeline.

• Own the full deal lifecycle: Drive every deal from proposal through to closure : contracts, pricing, timelines, and terms with rigor and attention to detail.

• Manage data exchange: Coordinate the secure and timely exchange of data between providers and internal teams, ensuring nothing falls through the cracks.

• Close the feedback loop: Collect and relay quality feedback from the Models team back to providers, ensuring continuous improvement in data quality and holding vendors accountable to standards.

• Build ops rigor: Establish and maintain strong operational controls and tracking systems across the entire procurement lifecycle: proposal, negotiation, contracting, delivery, and feedback so nothing is ambiguous or untracked.

• Manage multiple deals in parallel: Juggle several provider relationships and deals simultaneously without compromising on quality or timelines.

What We're Looking For

• 8+ years of overall experience, including 2–3 years in data procurement, vendor management, sourcing, or a similar deal-making/operations role: ideally involving data, content, or similar structured deliverables.

• A detail-oriented operator who can hold multiple moving pieces (deals, timelines, quality bars) without losing precision.

• Strong negotiation and deal-closing instincts- comfortable working directly with external vendors and providers to land favorable terms.

• Proven ability to build and run process and operational controls- you don't just get the deal done, you make sure it's trackable and repeatable.

• Comfortable working cross-functionally with technical teams (Models/Research) and translating their needs into vendor-facing requirements.

• Strong communication and follow-through able to close the loop with both providers and internal stakeholders.

• Bias for ownership: you treat data procurement as your business, not a checklist.

Why Join Sarvam AI

• Be part of a small, high-caliber team building India's sovereign Generative AI stack from the ground up.

• Work at the intersection of cutting-edge AI research and real-world operational execution.

• High-visibility role with direct impact on the quality and pace of our model development.

• Work directly with the founding team and Head of Operations in a fast-moving, mission-driven environment.