Beacon Operations Associate Program at SnailWorks in San Francisco, CA

Beacon Executive Leadership Program

Location: San Francisco, CA

About Beacon Software

Beacon Software is a new type of software holding company with the mission to buy, build, grow, and hold great vertical market software businesses. We are not a financial firm; we are technology entrepreneurs passionate about building great software. We seek out founders who have spent years understanding their market and prioritizing their customers’ specific needs. Our flexible structure offers entrepreneurs a unique succession option that ensures the continuity of their company while providing liquidity at full value for their equity. Beacon acquires companies with the intent to hold them forever and invest in their continued growth. We have permanent, committed capital with a long term time horizon and no pressure to sell to another buyer. Our capital comes from a diverse set of investors, including Wall Street (D1 Capital, CPMG), Silicon Valley (General Catalyst), the family offices of great technology entrepreneurs (John & Patrick Collison, Tony Xu, Eric Glyman, Karim Atiyeh), and evergreen funds specializing in buy-and-hold models (Sator Grove).

Beacon Software was founded by entrepreneurs Nilam Ganenthiran (former President of Instacart and partner at D1 Capital) and Divya Gupta (former partner at Sequoia Capital), who have spent their careers investing in, scaling, and building high-growth technology businesses.

Role and Mission: Executive Leadership Program

This is an exciting opportunity for emerging leaders to fast-track their careers in software operations. Beacon’s Executive Leadership Program is a full-time rotational leadership development program launching in 2026. We are recruiting talented MBA students and early-career professionals (3–6 years of experience) to join an inaugural cohort focused on developing the next generation of General Managers for Beacon’s portfolio companies. Participants will undergo intensive training at Beacon HQ and then take on meaningful operational leadership roles within a Beacon operating company. By combining broad exposure with deep, hands-on responsibility, the program prepares Chiefs of Staff to step into GM-level roles as early as year three of their tenure.

The pilot cohort will be immersed in Beacon’s high-integrity, entrepreneurial culture and will work closely with Beacon’s centralized team and portfolio company leaders. The program is designed to instill Beacon’s values, operational playbooks, and growth mindset in future leaders. As part of a small and highly selective first cohort, you will benefit from significant mentorship and will play a pivotal role in shaping this program for future participants.

Location: You will begin the program with a residency at Beacon’s offices (San Francisco) and will then be placed at one of our portfolio companies (primarily in North America) for the embedded role. Willingness to relocate to the operating company’s location (if different) or travel as needed is expected.

Scope of Responsibility: Multi-Phase Leadership Development

This program offers a structured progression through two main phases:

• Phase 1 – Beacon HQ Residency (6 months): You will join as a Chief of Staff in the portfolio operations team working GMs and Beacon’s central team across functions to learn how we operate our software businesses. In addition, you will receive intensive training at Beacon’s headquarters covering core playbooks in pricing strategy, go-to-market (GTM), customer onboarding and retention, and product management. This phase builds foundational skills, knowledge of Beacon’s standards, and a strong internal network.

• Phase 2 – Portfolio Company Embed (18–24 months): Placement in a Beacon operating company in a scoped operational leadership role (e.g. leading a key initiative or managing a specific function within the business). During this phase, Chiefs of Staff will take on real operating responsibilities—driving growth projects, improving processes, or leading teams—while receiving active mentorship from the company’s General Manager and Beacon’s senior operators. The role is designed to be high-impact and learning-rich, giving the Chiefs of Staff ownership of meaningful outcomes within the business.

Goal: High-performing Chiefs of Staff will be on track to transition into General Manager roles at a Beacon company starting in year three. The ultimate aim of the program is to graduate Chiefs of Staff into full GM positions with the confidence, context, and leadership experience to run a vertical software business within the Beacon portfolio.

Qualifications

• 3–6 years of professional experience in operating roles such as BizOps Manager, Operations Manager, RevOps, Product Ops, Product Manager, FP&A analyst

• Preferred: MBA degree (or equivalent graduate degree) in progress or recently completed – or comparable experience in a rigorous leadership role.

• Strong academic foundation and a track record of high performance.

• Preferred: Experience in software/SaaS companies or in small-to-medium business operations, with exposure to revenue growth and operational scaling challenges.

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with a natural ability to build relationships and collaborate across teams.

• Demonstrated commercial acumen and problem-solving skills — you can quickly analyze business challenges and drive data-informed decisions.

• High ownership mindset and self-motivation, with the ability to take initiative in ambiguous environments and drive projects to completion.

• Empathetic team player who can influence without authority and foster trust, both internally and with customers/partners.

Ideal Candidate

• Ambitious emerging leader who is excited by the opportunity to accelerate their path toward a General Manager role in the software industry.

• Based in (or willing to relocate to) San Francisco, and open to travel within North America as required.

• Eager to work across multiple business functions (product, sales, operations, etc.) to gain a “full-stack” understanding of running a company.

• Values mission-driven work and is genuinely customer-centric in thinking and approach.

• Fast learner with high EQ, able to absorb new domains quickly and adapt to different company environments.

• Thrives with a high degree of autonomy and ownership – looking to step into significant responsibility with mentorship rather than micromanagement.

• Collaborative and low-ego, excited to be part of a tight-knit cohort and broader Beacon community of operators.

Potential Personas

• MBA Graduate with Operating Experience: A top MBA student or recent grad who had 3–5 years in product management, business operations, or a strategy/growth role at a tech company or startup, now seeking a fast track into general management.

• Rising Startup/Product Leader: A product lead, operations manager, or business ops analyst at a SaaS or SMB-focused startup who has excelled in their niche and wants to broaden their scope and leadership responsibilities across an entire business.

• Ex-Consultant or Finance Professional Turned Operator: A former management consultant, investment banking or private equity analyst who transitioned into an operating role and now wants to leverage their analytical skills in a hands-on leadership program to ultimately run a business.

• Entrepreneurial Self-Starter: An ex-founder or early employee of a small business or startup who wore multiple hats and is eager to further develop their operator instincts in a structured program with mentorship, aiming to lead a larger organization in the near future.

What You Will Get From Beacon

• Unparalleled Network & Learning: Access to and mentorship from Beacon’s world-class network of investors and entrepreneurs. You will network with leading public and private equity investors who are Beacon LPs and learn directly from founders and executives who have scaled companies from startup to IPO.

• Beacon Speaker Series: Attend exclusive fireside chats with legendary venture capitalists, private equity leaders, and industry visionaries. These sessions offer insights into high-level strategy, leadership, and market trends, enriching your perspective beyond day-to-day work.

• Hands-On Deal and Strategy Exposure: Work closely with Beacon’s central product and engineering teams on special projects. You may participate in diligence exercises for potential acquisitions or strategic initiatives, gaining experience in evaluating technology-driven growth opportunities.

• Fast-Paced Growth Environment: Operate in an environment that encourages initiative, innovation, and rapid professional development. As part of a pilot cohort, you’ll have a voice in shaping program elements and the freedom to take initiative in your projects.

• Mentorship and Peer Community: Benefit from a tight feedback loop with experienced GMs and senior leaders who will coach you through challenges. Join a trusted community of Beacon software operators, advisors, and fellow Chiefs of Staff/GMs to share learnings and support each other’s growth.

• Skill and Leadership Development: You will sharpen your analytical, interpersonal, and leadership skills through real-world assignments and dedicated coaching. Expect to significantly develop your executive communication and presentation abilities by the end of the program.

• Career Trajectory: A clear pathway to an executive role – successful Chiefs of Staff will be strongly positioned to step into a General Manager position running a vertical software business within ~2–3 years, with the credibility of having proven themselves in multiple contexts.

Minimum Expectations

• Master the Basics Quickly: In the first 2–3 months, actively learn Beacon’s playbooks and culture. Build trust with the central Beacon team during the residency by demonstrating curiosity, humility, and strong work ethic.

• Integrate and Add Value Early: Within the first 90 days of your portfolio company placement, establish yourself as a dependable leader on the ground. Forge strong working relationships with your operating company’s team and identify quick wins or improvements in your area of responsibility.

• Drive Impact in First 12 Months: Within six months of starting the embedded role, take ownership of a significant project or function and deliver measurable improvements (e.g. boosting a key metric, streamlining a process, or launching a new initiative). Show that you can translate Beacon’s best practices into real results in your business.

• Demonstrate Leadership Growth: Throughout the program, consistently take initiative beyond your immediate tasks. Seek out greater responsibility, mentor junior team members, and act as a bridge between your portfolio company and Beacon. By the end of the 18–24 month embed, you should exhibit the judgment, confidence, and holistic business understanding indicative of a future General Manager.

Our Values at Beacon Software

• Humility: We acknowledge that the path to getting to the right answer involves being wrong along the way. We have strong beliefs which are weakly held. We actively seek new ideas and believe we can learn from anyone at any time.

• Honesty: We are truth seeking in our approach to business problems. Business is a repeat game and we believe that human relationships generate alpha. We understand that trust is earned over a lifetime and can be lost in an instant.

• Hunger: We play to win. We hold ourselves to high standards and will not be outworked. We take pride in having a deep sense of responsibility to ourselves, each other, our partners, and our customers. We believe to whom much is given much is expected.

• Horizon: We seek to build a generational software company. This will take decades. We manage our expectations and those of our partners to take advantage of the 8th wonder of the world - compounding growth.

How We Use AI in Our Hiring Process: To ensure transparency, we want candidates to know that Beacon Software uses Artificial Intelligence and AI-enabled tools to assist with screening, reviewing, organizing and highlighting profiles and applications that match the key requirements for each role.

AI does not make hiring decisions: Every application is reviewed by a member of our team, and all decisions throughout the process are made by humans. We use AI to support efficiency and consistency, not to replace human judgment. We are committed to a fair, thoughtful, and equitable experience for every candidate.