Operations Manager

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in South Africa, +3 more countries.

📋 Description

• Oversee the entire order lifecycle, starting from customer purchase orders through to shipment, delivery, invoicing, and issue resolution.

• Accurately process and manage customer purchase orders in a timely manner.

• Coordinate inventory allocation and fulfillment among customers and distributors.

• Collaborate with distributors, retailers, warehouses, manufacturers, and logistics providers.

• Handle EDI orders and associated operational requirements.

• Address shortages, shipment discrepancies, deductions, late deliveries, and various order-related issues.

• Organize parcel, LTL, and FTL shipments.

• Obtain and assess freight quotes while managing shipping documentation, routing requirements, appointments, and delivery expectations.

• Monitor shipments and resolve any delays or exceptions.

• Manage inventory, reorder points, inventory levels, and demand forecasts.

• Coordinate production runs with manufacturers and supervise production schedules.

• Procure ingredients, packaging, and other materials necessary for production.

• Issue and oversee supplier purchase orders.

• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, MOQs, lead times, and commercial conditions.

• Manage vendor relationships and ensure accountability.

• Develop sales, demand, inventory, production, and cash forecasts.

• Analyze COGS, landed costs, margins, freight expenses, promotional costs, as well as distributor and retailer margins.

• Create pricing and margin models and deliver management reports.

• Assist with bookkeeping, bill entry, reconciliations, AP/AR, and financial operations using QuickBooks.

• Utilize Claude and ChatGPT on a daily basis for data analysis, workflow automation, problem research, SOP development, and productivity enhancement.

• Identify and implement improved systems and automation solutions.

• Maintain proficiency in Google Sheets, Gmail, Google Workspace, QuickBooks, Salesforce, and EDI systems.

• Coordinate food safety and quality documentation.

• Keep COAs, product specifications, ingredient documentation, lot tracking, expiration dates, traceability, and recall readiness up to date.

• Ensure compliance with FDA, retailer, distributor, and food safety regulations.

⛳️ Requirements

• A minimum of 5 years in relevant operations, supply chain, logistics, procurement, or a related field.

• Solid understanding of accounting and financial principles, including COGS, margins, P&L, and cash flow management.

• Proven experience in managing POs, inventory, procurement, production planning, and logistics.

• Experience working with freight carriers, warehouses, manufacturers, suppliers, and other external vendors.

• Strong forecasting skills with the ability to build and maintain both operational and financial models.

• Demonstrated proficiency with AI tools such as Claude and ChatGPT as integral components of daily tasks.

• Advanced skills in Google Sheets and spreadsheet management, including handling large datasets, formulas, lookups, pivot tables, financial models, and operational reporting.

• Highly tech-savvy with the capability to quickly learn new systems.

• Excellent written communication skills, with a proactive approach to follow-ups.

• Highly organized and capable of managing a substantial volume of emails, tasks, deadlines, and competing priorities concurrently.

• Comfortable making decisions and taking full ownership of results.

🏝️ Benefits

• Paid Time Off according to company policy.

• Observance of holidays as per company guidelines.

• Fully remote work setup.

• Compensation in USD on a bi-monthly basis (every 15th and 30th).

• Availability required Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 6 PM US Eastern Time.

• A high-ownership, high-variety role that directly impacts profitability and growth.