Operations Manager / Business Operations Lead — Path to General Manager

5–10 hours/week to start | $15–$20/hr | Remote | Long-term opportunity About the role I’m the founder of a growing e-commerce/lifestyle brand, and I’m looking for a highly proactive Operations Manager / Business Operations Lead who can help me take the business to the next level. This is not a virtual assistant or task-execution role. I am specifically looking for someone who can look at the business, identify what needs to be done, build systems, manage people and follow-through, and take ownership without needing me to provide a step-by-step task list. My long-term goal is to step back from the day-to-day management of the company. I am looking for someone who can eventually take on significantly more responsibility and potentially grow into a General Manager role running the business day-to-day. The role will begin at approximately 5 hours per week, with the potential to increase hours and responsibility based on performance and business growth. What you'll be responsible for Operations & Execution Oversee day-to-day execution across the business Identify tasks and responsibilities that are falling through the cracks Establish clear ownership and deadlines Create and maintain recurring workflows Improve existing systems and processes Ensure SOPs are being followed Identify bottlenecks and proactively solve them Team Management & Accountability Coordinate with contractors and team members Monitor whether responsibilities are being completed Follow up proactively when work is delayed or incomplete Help establish clear expectations and accountability Identify performance issues and bring recommendations to the founder Eventually take increasing responsibility for managing the team Project & Task Management Own our task/project management system (currently Trello) Determine how tasks should be organized and assigned Make sure priorities are clear Track progress and deadlines Create recurring tasks and workflows Keep the founder from having to constantly follow up with team members Business Improvement Review how the business currently operates Identify inefficiencies Recommend better processes Look for opportunities to save time, reduce mistakes, and improve execution Don't wait for the founder to notice problems—bring them forward proactively Reporting Provide a concise weekly update Highlight what's completed, what's behind, and what needs attention Track relevant KPIs Bring solutions and recommendations rather than simply reporting problems Current team structure The company currently works with a small remote team of contractors. Current responsibilities include: Social media/content: contractor responsible for editing and social media execution Email marketing: contractor focused specifically on email marketing Additional contractors supporting various areas of the business You will be expected to evaluate the current workflow and help determine whether responsibilities, processes, or team structure need to change as the business grows. Your first 30 days Your initial focus will be to: Learn the business, team, SOPs, and KPIs Review how work is currently assigned and tracked Identify where execution is breaking down Identify what the founder is currently doing that could be delegated Build/improve our accountability and task-management system Establish clear ownership and recurring workflows Begin taking day-to-day operational follow-up off the founder's plate Present recommendations for improving the company's operations You will not be expected to simply wait for me to tell you what to do. I will give you the company's priorities and desired outcomes. I expect you to determine how those outcomes should be achieved. The type of person I'm looking for You may be a great fit if you: Are highly proactive Naturally take ownership Think several steps ahead Are comfortable working independently Have strong business judgment Can build systems from scratch Are comfortable managing people and holding them accountable Notice problems before someone has to point them out Can prioritize competing responsibilities Communicate clearly and proactively Are comfortable telling a founder when you think something could be done better Don't need to be given a detailed task list every day Experience that would be valuable Experience in any of the following is a plus: Operations management Business operations General management E-commerce Small business management Startups Project management Team management Online business management Chief of Staff / Integrator roles Managing remote teams Experience with Trello, Google Workspace, Shopify, Slack, Notion, or similar tools is helpful but not required. Growth opportunity This role is intentionally starting small. The initial commitment is 5–10 hours/week, but my goal is to find someone who can grow with the company. The right person could eventually take on: Broader team management More operational authority Hiring/vendor decisions Company-wide KPIs Strategic execution Management of additional managers Increasing responsibility for running the company The long-term goal is for this person to become capable of functioning as the company's General Manager. To apply Please answer these questions in your proposal. Generic proposals will not be considered. 1. Tell me about a business, department, or team you have personally managed. What were you responsible for? 2. Give me an example of a system or process you built or significantly improved. What problem did it solve? 3. Imagine you join my company and discover that team members have assigned tasks and SOPs, but the founder still has to remind people to complete their work. What would you do during your first 30 days? 4. Tell me about a time you identified a problem that your manager/owner hadn't noticed yet. What did you do? 5. Tell me about a time you had to hold someone accountable for poor or inconsistent performance. 6. What tools have you used to manage projects, teams, or business operations? 7. What is your hourly rate and how many hours per week can you consistently commit? 8. Where are you located and what hours are you generally available? Important I am looking for someone who wants to own outcomes, not simply complete assigned tasks. If you are someone who enjoys taking a business problem, figuring out what needs to happen, creating a system, and making sure it actually gets done, I would love to hear from you.