Operations Manager

We're looking for an Operations Manager to own the day-to-day operational backbone of a fast-growing better-for-you snack brand. You will work across order management, supply chain, procurement, production planning, logistics, inventory, forecasting, vendor management, financial analysis, and operational systems. This is a hands-on individual contributor role. We are not looking for someone who follows existing processes. We want someone who constantly asks how things can be made better, faster, more accurate, or more efficient — and then takes the initiative to make it happen. AI proficiency is a hard requirement for this role. We use AI every day and expect this person to do the same. If you are highly organized, analytically sharp, financially literate, tech-savvy, and proactive by nature, this role is a strong fit. Why You'll Want to Join You will be paid in USD (bi-monthly: every 15th and 30th) Paid Time Off in accordance with company policy Observance of Holidays per company guidelines 100% remote setup so you can work wherever you're most productive This role requires availability Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM US Eastern Time Own the full operational function of a growing CPG brand with real retail traction across major distributors and retail chains High-ownership, high-variety role where your operational decisions directly impact profitability and growth What You'll Work On Order Management and Fulfillment Own the complete order lifecycle from receipt of a customer purchase order through shipment, delivery, invoicing, and issue resolution Process and manage customer POs accurately and on time Coordinate inventory allocation and fulfillment across customers and distributors Work directly with distributors, retailers, warehouses, manufacturers, and logistics providers to ensure orders are fulfilled correctly Manage EDI orders and related operational requirements Proactively identify and resolve shortages, shipment discrepancies, deductions, late deliveries, and other order issues Logistics and Shipping Coordinate parcel, LTL, and FTL shipments Obtain and evaluate freight quotes and identify cost-effective shipping options Prepare and manage BOLs, shipping documentation, routing requirements, appointments, and retailer and distributor delivery requirements Track shipments through delivery and proactively address delays or exceptions Continuously identify opportunities to reduce freight costs and improve logistics efficiency Inventory and Production Planning Manage inventory across finished goods, ingredients, raw materials, and packaging Maintain appropriate inventory levels and reorder points to minimize both stockouts and excess inventory Develop and maintain inventory and demand forecasts Coordinate production runs with manufacturers based on forecasts, open POs, inventory levels, lead times, and anticipated demand Monitor production schedules and proactively address potential delays or shortages Procurement and Vendor Management Procure ingredients, packaging, and other materials required for production Issue and manage purchase orders to suppliers Negotiate pricing, payment terms, MOQs, lead times, and other commercial terms Develop strong relationships with suppliers, manufacturers, freight providers, warehouses, and other outside vendors Hold vendors accountable for commitments, timelines, pricing, and service levels Continuously identify opportunities to reduce costs and improve vendor performance Forecasting, Data, and Financial Analysis Build and maintain sales and demand forecasts Forecast inventory, ingredients, packaging, production requirements, and cash needs Analyze COGS, landed costs, gross margins, freight costs, promotional costs, distributor margins, and retailer margins Build and maintain pricing and margin models Analyze operational data to identify trends, risks, inefficiencies, and opportunities Create reporting that gives management clear visibility into the health of the business Accounting and Financial Operations Apply strong working knowledge of AP, AR, accrual vs. cash accounting, COGS, gross margin, P&L statements, inventory accounting, purchase orders, and three-way matching Assist with bookkeeping, bill entry, reconciliations, and AP/AR as needed based on business bandwidth Work within QuickBooks to support financial operations AI, Technology, and Automation Use AI tools such as Claude and ChatGPT daily to analyze data, automate repetitive workflows, research operational problems, create and improve SOPs, and improve personal productivity Identify repetitive tasks that can be automated or streamlined and take initiative to build better systems Learn new software and unfamiliar systems quickly without requiring extensive training Maintain high proficiency across Google Sheets, Gmail, Google Workspace, QuickBooks, Salesforce, and EDI systems Food Safety, Quality, and Compliance Coordinate operational food safety and quality documentation with manufacturers and suppliers Maintain and organize COAs, product specifications, ingredient documentation, and related records Assist with lot tracking, expiration dates, traceability, and recall readiness Support compliance with applicable FDA, retailer, distributor, and food safety requirements What You Bring 5 or more years of relevant operations, supply chain, logistics, procurement, or related experience Strong understanding of accounting and financial principles including COGS, margins, P&L, and cash flow Demonstrated experience managing POs, inventory, procurement, production planning, and logistics Experience working with freight carriers, warehouses, manufacturers, suppliers, and other outside vendors Strong forecasting capabilities with the ability to build and maintain operational and financial models Demonstrated proficiency using AI tools such as Claude and ChatGPT as a core part of daily work, not occasional use Advanced Google Sheets and spreadsheet skills including large datasets, formulas, lookups, pivot tables, financial models, and operational reporting Extremely tech-savvy with the ability to learn new systems quickly Excellent written communication skills with proactive follow-up as a default behavior Highly organized with the ability to manage a high volume of emails, tasks, deadlines, and competing priorities simultaneously Comfortable making decisions and taking full ownership of outcomes Nice to Have Food, beverage, CPG, or consumer products experience Experience with QuickBooks Familiarity with inventory management systems, retailer portals, distributor portals, 3PL systems, and shipping platforms Experience managing EDI orders and related operational requirements Background in a high-growth or early-stage consumer brand environment How to Apply Please include: Your updated resume A short Loom video (1 to 2 minutes) introducing yourself, describing your operations experience in supply chain, procurement, or logistics, and walking through how you use AI tools as a regular part of your operational workflow Only candidates who submit a Loom video will be moved to the next step of the hiring process. If you are a proactive, analytically sharp operator who takes ownership, uses AI every day, and wants to run the operational engine of a growing CPG brand from end to end, this role gives you the scope and the direct impact to do your best work. Application Process Overview Our comprehensive selection process ensures we find the right fit for both you and our clients: Initial Application - Submit your application and complete our prequalifying questions Video Introduction - Record an video introduction to showcase your communication skills and work experience Role-Specific Assessment - Complete a homework assignment tailored to the position (if applicable) Recruitment Interview - Initial screening with our talent team Executive Interview - Meet with senior leadership to discuss role alignment Client Interview - Final interview with the client team you'd be supporting Background & Reference Check - Professional reference verification Job Offer - Successful candidates receive a formal offer to join the team Each stage is designed to evaluate your fit for the role while giving you insights into our company culture and expectations. We'll keep you informed throughout the process and provide feedback at each step.