Head – Charging Network & Franchise Development

About HelioWatt
HelioWatt is building an integrated EV ecosystem in India — a franchise-led public charging network (Franchise-Owned, Company-Operated) and an all-electric ride-hailing fleet powered by financed driver-partners. We are at day zero, and this role is a founding seat.
The Role
You will own HelioWatt's charging vertical end-to-end: GTM strategy, franchise acquisition, site feasibility and verification, installation, and network operations. For the first 12–18 months this is a full-stack individual-contributor role — you build the playbooks, close the first franchisees, survey sites yourself, and run the network until scale justifies a team under you.
What You'll Own
1. Strategy & GTM
Define the network roadmap: city/corridor prioritisation, destination vs. transit charging, AC/DC mix (7.4/22 kW AC; 30–240 kW DC), and pricing strategy
Build the franchise proposition: capex plans, unit economics, utilisation forecasts, payback models, and revenue-share structures under the FOCO model
Position HelioWatt against incumbents (Statiq, ChargeZone, Tata Power EZ Charge, Jio-bp Pulse, GLIDA, Zeon, etc.)
2. Franchise Acquisition & Verification
Own the entire funnel: lead generation (digital campaigns, channel partners, landowners, fuel-station owners, hotels, RWAs, commercial real estate) → qualification → pitch → agreement
Run financial and background verification of applicants; assess investment capacity and land/lease rights
Negotiate and close franchise agreements: capex split, revenue share, SLAs, exclusivity, exit clauses
3. Site Feasibility & Technical Due Diligence
Conduct on-ground surveys: traffic and captive demand, fleet/aggregator proximity, competition mapping, visibility, access, and parking layout
Power feasibility: sanctioned load and transformer/DT capacity, LT vs. HT connection, cabling distance, earthing, DISCOM new-connection cost and timelines
Legal and statutory checks: ownership/registered lease, local-body NOCs, CEIG/electrical inspector approvals, fire safety
Build a standardised site-scoring and go/no-go framework tied to projected utilisation and franchisee payback
4. Installation & Commissioning
Charger and equipment procurement: BIS/ARAI-certified, OCPP 1.6J/2.0.1-compliant hardware (CCS2 DC, Type-2 AC); vendor negotiation and AMC contracts
Coordinate civil, electrical, and DISCOM work with EPC partners; own commissioning, testing, CMS/app integration, and go-live
5. Network Operations (Company-Operated)
Own network uptime (target >97%), preventive maintenance, breakdown TATs, and spares management
Drive utilisation: demand partnerships with fleets, cab aggregators, RWAs, and hotels; pricing and promotions
Franchisee success: monthly business reviews, payout and settlement accuracy, audits, grievance handling
Full P&L ownership of the vertical: kWh dispensed, revenue, opex, per-station contribution
6. Policy & Compliance
Track Ministry of Power EV charging guidelines, state EV policies and subsidies (including PM E-DRIVE charging-infra incentives), EV tariffs and ToD structures
Represent HelioWatt with DISCOMs, nodal agencies, and local authorities
Must-Haves
5–8 years in EV charging infrastructure in India, with 2–3+ years at a CPO — Statiq, ChargeZone, Tata Power EZ Charge, Jio-bp Pulse, GLIDA (Fortum), Zeon, Shell Recharge, EVRE, Kazam, ElectricPe, SunFuel, or similar
Direct experience with franchise/partner-led network expansion, dealer development, or site acquisition and rollout
Working knowledge of DISCOM processes (load sanction, new connections, EV tariffs), charger hardware, and CMS/CPO software platforms
Ability to build financial models: franchisee ROI, utilisation forecasts, payback
Founder mindset: hands-on, travel-heavy, comfortable doing site surveys and franchise pitches personally with zero support staff
Good-to-Haves
Electrical engineering background or direct CEIG/DISCOM liaison experience
An existing network of prospective franchisees, landowners, or channel partners
Exposure to CPO–eMSP integrations and roaming (OCPI)

Work arrangement
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