Hello,
I'm Bruno Pavelja
an Operations Leader
based in Zagreb, Croatia.
About me
Operations Leader with a
Human-Centered Approach
I'm Bruno, a product and operations leader with 10+ years in IT, working at the intersection of strategy, delivery, and technology. Over the years, I've led operations end-to-end, covering everything from client growth and hiring to financial planning and guiding teams through major disruption. I've owned the full people lifecycle, helping organizations stay aligned and resilient through long periods of uncertainty. Alongside that, I've taken multiple SaaS products from early discovery to launch, shaping business models, ARR projections, and go-to-market strategy. One of those products received ~$1.2M in internal investment, and I supported 15+ investor conversations around its future. Throughout it all, I stay hands-on with DevOps. I build CI/CD pipelines, run Kubernetes platforms, and support production systems.
Expertise
What I work on
Operations Strategy
End-to-end operations for scaling teams
Execution & Delivery
Cross-functional coordination and delivery governance
DevOps
Hands-on infrastructure and platform operations for reliable delivery
Business Strategy & Financial Modeling
Business planning and investor-facing strategy
Overview
Key Capabilities
Resume
A summary of my work
Key Responsibilities
- Led company-wide operations end-to-end, spanning client acquisition, delivery execution, hiring, contracts, and cross-team coordination as the organization scaled from 5 to ~30 people
- Owned the full people lifecycle, including recruiting (25+ hires), onboarding, performance cycles, compensation, and difficult offboarding decisions while retaining the core team through 18+ months of uncertainty
- Built delivery governance and operating cadence across multiple workstreams, aligning stakeholders, prioritization, and execution across product, engineering, and business constraints
- Owned multiple internal SaaS products from discovery to launch, driving product scope, positioning, prioritization, and go-to-market execution alongside market research and customer discovery
- Developed business models, ARR projections, and financial strategy around a ~$1.2M internal product investment, contributing to investor-facing narratives and participating in 15+ investor and mentor meetings
- Led crisis response during a 95%+ revenue disruption, running restructuring, scenario planning, and cost control efforts that extended runway from ~10 to 30+ months
- Stayed hands-on with DevOps and platform operations when needed, maintaining CI/CD pipelines, Kubernetes infrastructure, observability systems, and production support across internal products
Tools
Hub PlannerTrelloFigmaGoogle SheetsGitLab CIDockerKubernetesTerraformPrometheusGrafana
Achievements
Owned full company operations while scaling from 5 to ~30 people across multiple workstreamsRan crisis restructuring and scenario planning through a 95% revenue shock, extending runway 3xBuilt ARR and GTM strategy around a ~$1.2M internal SaaS investment with 15+ investor meetings
Key Responsibilities
- Designed and operated scalable infrastructure across 6+ major projects, covering production deployments and long-term maintenance
- Implemented Infrastructure as Code using Terraform and Ansible to automate provisioning and configuration
- Built containerized platforms with Docker and Kubernetes, ensuring consistent delivery across environments
- Deployed and supported systems across cloud providers (AWS, Hetzner), adapting infrastructure to project needs
- Established observability foundations with Grafana, Loki, and Prometheus for proactive monitoring and troubleshooting
- Built and optimized CI/CD pipelines with GitLab CI and GitHub Actions to improve release speed and reliability
- Delivered web platforms and internal tools with a focus on performance, resilience, and clean user experience
Tools
TerraformGitLab CIDockerKubernetesAzureHetznerGrafanaLokiPrometheusHTML/CSSWordPressDecapCMSBashLinuxn8nProxmox
Achievements
Increased uptime from 90% to 99.78%Maintained long-term client trust through reliable deliveryReduced page load times from 7.5 seconds to 1.2 seconds.
Key Responsibilities
- Co-founded and grew IT agency from ground up, establishing service offerings and market positioning
- Drive business development by strategically acquiring and managing client relationships, ensuring long-term partnerships
- Lead web development projects including landing pages, marketing websites, and client-facing digital properties
- Implement SEO strategies and technical optimizations to enhance client online presence and search visibility
- Balance dual roles as both business strategist and hands-on developer, ensuring quality delivery while scaling operations
- Build client solutions using modern web technologies and content management systems
Tools
HTML/CSSWordpress October CMSSEO
Key Responsibilities
- Coordinated project execution across client work, aligning timelines, priorities, and delivery expectations
- Supported cross-functional collaboration between development and marketing teams to ensure consistent outcomes
- Assisted in resource planning and operational coordination within a ~30-person agency setting
- Worked directly with clients and internal stakeholders on project scoping, progress communication, and delivery follow-through
- Contributed to process improvements that strengthened delivery structure and team alignment
Tools
Project CoordinationJiraHub PlannerTeam CollaborationGit
Key Responsibilities
- Developed responsive, mobile-first layouts using HTML and CSS
- Fixed front-end bugs and ensured consistent cross-browser behavior
- Collaborated with international clients to translate design requirements into working interfaces
- Maintained code quality through iteration, debugging, and interface refinements
Tools
HTML/CSSResponsive DesignSASS
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and maintain company website using WordPress and custom HTML/CSS implementations
- Execute SEO optimization strategies to improve search engine rankings and organic traffic
- Design marketing graphics and visual assets using Photoshop for digital and print campaigns
- Provide employee training on web tools, content management systems, and digital marketing platforms
- Deliver IT technical support for company operations, troubleshooting hardware and software issues
- Manage web infrastructure ensuring uptime, security, and performance for business-critical systems
Tools
WordPressHTML/CSSPhotoshopSEOIT Support
Contact
Let's get in touch
Reach out to me for collaborations, consultations, or just a good conversation.
Phone