Need an Operations Director / Supply Chain Lead – Product-Based Startup

Operations Director / Supply Chain Lead – Product-Based Startup We are looking for an experienced, highly hands-on Operations Director / Supply Chain Lead to take ownership of the end-to-end operations and supply chain of a growing product-based business. This is not simply an advisory or consultancy position. We are looking for someone who can build, manage and optimise the operation from A to Z, while working closely with the founder to create the infrastructure required to scale the business internationally. The role will oversee the complete journey of our products — from supply and production in the country of origin, through international freight, customs, warehousing and 3PL operations, to inventory management, fulfilment and final delivery within the countries where our products are sold. We are particularly interested in someone who has previously helped take a startup or early-stage product business through significant growth, ideally towards or beyond $1M+ in annual revenue. Key Responsibilities Own and manage the end-to-end supply chain, from country of origin through to the end customer. Coordinate suppliers, manufacturers, freight forwarders, customs agents, warehouses, 3PLs and other operational partners. Manage and continuously optimise our relationship with our 3PL, including costs, service levels, fulfilment performance, inventory accuracy and scalability. Build clear operational processes, SOPs and systems that allow the business to scale without creating unnecessary complexity. Manage inventory planning, demand forecasting, replenishment and stock availability across different markets. Identify potential supply chain risks, bottlenecks and single points of failure before they become problems. Monitor and improve operational KPIs including fulfilment costs, freight costs, lead times, inventory turnover, stock availability, order accuracy and customer delivery performance. Review our existing operational costs and identify opportunities to improve margins and efficiency. Help negotiate commercial terms with suppliers, logistics providers, 3PLs and other partners. Support international expansion by determining the most efficient operational model for entering and servicing new countries. Help establish the right technology and systems for inventory, forecasting, order management, logistics and operational reporting. Create operational budgets and help forecast the investment required to support growth. Advise the founder on where the business needs to invest, whether that is people, technology, warehousing, logistics, suppliers, consultants or other specialist expertise. Identify when additional external expertise or team members are required and help define those roles. Develop contingency plans and alternative supply routes/suppliers to improve business resilience. Work closely with commercial, finance, marketing and customer-facing teams to ensure operations can support the wider growth strategy. Ultimately build an operation capable of supporting the business as it moves from startup stage into a structured, scalable international company. Key Requirements Proven experience managing end-to-end supply chains for physical/product-based businesses. Previous experience in an Operations Director, Head of Operations, Supply Chain Director, COO or similar senior operational role. Strong experience working with and managing 3PL providers. Experience with international freight, import/export, customs and cross-border supply chains. Strong understanding of inventory management, demand planning and forecasting. Commercial understanding of COGS, landed cost, logistics costs, margins and operational budgets. Experience negotiating with suppliers, manufacturers, freight providers and logistics partners. Ability to build SOPs, KPIs, dashboards and scalable operational processes from the ground up. Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with the ability to use data to make operational decisions. Experience selecting and implementing operational systems/technology would be highly beneficial. Experience supporting international market expansion would be highly beneficial. Ideally, demonstrable experience helping scale a startup or early-stage product business to $1M+ revenue and beyond. Comfortable operating in an entrepreneurial environment where structures may still need to be created. Must be equally comfortable developing strategy and getting hands-on with day-to-day execution. Strong communicator who can manage multiple external partners while keeping the founder informed with clear, concise reporting. Proactive rather than reactive — someone who identifies what the business will need next rather than waiting to be instructed. Who We Are Looking For The right person will effectively become the operational backbone of the business. We do not want someone who simply reviews the operation and produces recommendations. We want someone who can look at the entire supply chain, understand where we are today, identify where we need to be in 6, 12 and 24 months, and then help us build the infrastructure to get there. You should be comfortable saying, “This process will not work at 5x our current volume — here is what we need to change now,” and then taking responsibility for helping implement that change. You will work directly with the founder and should be capable of providing experienced operational guidance, challenging decisions where necessary, and helping determine where capital and resources should be deployed as the company grows. When applying, please provide specific examples of product-based businesses you have helped scale, including the approximate revenue/volume stage when you joined, the scale achieved, your personal responsibilities, and measurable operational improvements you delivered.