Operations Lead

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Operations Lead based in Canada. Take ownership of end-to-end operations for a fast-growing consumer brand preparing for international expansion. As the first dedicated Operations hire, you will build the processes, systems, and partner network needed to support growth across multiple markets and sales channels. You will oversee the full product journey, from demand forecasting and purchasing to international logistics, retail distribution, and online fulfillment. Working directly with the founders, you will turn operational complexity into scalable, efficient workflows while balancing product availability, service quality, and working capital. This is a hands-on leadership role combining strategic planning with practical problem-solving. As the business expands across Europe, you will have the opportunity to shape its operational foundations and grow into a Head of Operations position. Accountabilities: You will take responsibility for the operational infrastructure supporting the company's growth, connecting supply chain, logistics, retail, customer operations, and finance. Your key responsibilities will include: - Supply Chain and Inventory Planning: Manage demand forecasting and purchasing across sales channels, coordinate with manufacturers, and balance product availability with working capital. - Logistics and Fulfillment: Oversee domestic and international freight, customs clearance, retail warehousing, e-commerce fulfillment, and Amazon FBA operations. - Logistics Performance: Monitor costs, service levels, and error rates while designing an efficient fulfillment network that can support expansion into additional European markets. - Retail Operations: Ensure reliable deliveries to retail partners by managing order requirements, delivery windows, product displays, and claims.

- Systems and Processes: Establish scalable workflows, operational KPIs, tools, and documentation that reduce dependency on individual knowledge and support consistent execution. - Customer Operations: Develop customer service tools, processes, and goodwill policies, using recurring customer feedback to identify opportunities for improvement. - Cross-Functional Coordination: Connect purchasing, production, transportation, sales, and finance to ensure products arrive where they are needed, when they are needed. - Operational Problem-Solving: Resolve day-to-day supply chain and fulfillment issues proactively while continuously improving efficiency and scalability. - International Expansion: Evaluate operational requirements for new markets, including warehouse arrangements, distribution models, customs, taxes, and compliance considerations. Requirements: You are an experienced operations professional who combines end-to-end supply chain understanding with a practical, hands-on approach. You can bring structure to fast-changing environments, make independent decisions, and build processes that remain effective as the business scales. The ideal candidate will demonstrate: - Several years of experience in operations, supply chain, or logistics involving physical products. - Direct responsibility for inventory, purchasing, warehousing, product availability, or delivery performance, rather than an exclusively analytical or coordination-focused role. - A strong understanding of how demand forecasting, procurement, production, working capital, transportation, and sales interact. - Experience working with third-party logistics providers (3PLs) and freight forwarders; international sourcing and retail distribution experience are strong advantages. - The ability to design straightforward, scalable processes from initially unstructured workflows and document them for team-wide use.