Director of Operations
hace 7 días
Richardson
Job Description Build two brands. Reach 100 schools. Create the systems to scale. Verona is a founder-led apparel business operating two growing brands: • Verona Uniforms provides affordable, customized uniforms directly to schools and the families they serve. More than 35 schools currently partner with us, and we aim to reach 100 school partners before the summer 2027 cycle., • Verona Collection provides affordable, high-quality modest apparel and has previously launched products through major national retailers, including Macy’s and ASOS. Both brands have grown through strong products, customer relationships, and an entrepreneurial approach. The next stage requires an experienced operations leader who can turn a lean, founder-dependent business into a documented, disciplined, and scalable operation. We are hiring a Director of Operations to lead the operational and technical side of both brands. The founder will continue to guide the creative and product vision. You will translate that vision into operating calendars, systems, workflows, vendor plans, inventory decisions, marketing execution, and measurable results. This is a high-autonomy, high-accountability role for a leader who is comfortable taking control of an operation that is still being built. You must be decisive, resourceful, commercially aware, and willing to work personally through the details while developing the team and systems needed for future growth. What You Will Own as the Operations Director Operating Systems and Business Infrastructure • Evaluate the current operations and replace manual, founder-dependent processes with documented, repeatable systems., • Own the software, workflows, data, reporting, integrations, and controls used to manage products, schools, customers, orders, inventory, manufacturing, fulfillment, and customer service., • Establish a reliable source of truth for product specifications, pricing, school requirements, contracts, purchase orders, inventory, production status, and launch dates., • Create SOPs, decision rights, approval processes, operating calendars, dashboards, and accountability routines., • Build a prioritized systems-improvement roadmap and coordinate internal or external resources to execute it., • Ensure the business can continue operating effectively without every decision or process depending on the founder. Seasonal and Product Planning by the Operations Director • Build a master operating calendar for seasonal collections, school launches, product releases, manufacturing deadlines, inventory purchases, marketing campaigns, and fulfillment readiness., • Establish clear deadlines for product selection, design approval, sampling, purchase orders, manufacturing, inbound freight, warehouse receipt, website setup, and launch., • Coordinate new product lines from initial concept through costing, product setup, quality approval, production, inventory planning, and release., • Identify product, inventory, production, or launch risks early and drive corrective action., • Balance product availability with margins, cash requirements, minimum order quantities, lead times, and inventory risk. Overseas Manufacturing and Vendor Management • Coordinate production across overseas manufacturers, suppliers, contractors, and logistics partners., • Track product specifications, fabrics, size charts, patterns, samples, Pantone colors, approvals, production schedules, quality requirements, and delivery commitments., • Partner with the founder on creative and product decisions while ensuring every approved decision is accurately documented and executed., • Create clear purchase-order, approval, follow-up, and escalation processes., • Establish vendor scorecards covering quality, cost, availability, lead time, responsiveness, and delivery performance., • Develop contingency plans for production delays, quality issues, freight disruptions, and other supply chain risks. School Onboarding and Account Execution by the Operations Director • Build a repeatable process that moves each school from initial interest and signed agreement through uniform design, approval, production, website launch, and ongoing service., • Coordinate school requirements, contracts, assortments, designs, colors, logos, sizing, pricing, line sheets, online storefronts, inventory, communications, and timelines., • Maintain a clear portfolio view of every school implementation, including ownership, approvals, dependencies, risks, and deadlines., • Establish accountability for contract completion, school approvals, production commitments, and launch readiness., • Communicate professionally and patiently with school administrators, volunteer board members, parents, and other stakeholders., • Build the operating capacity required to support 100 school partners before summer 2027., • Prepare the operation for future expansion into additional private and public schools, institutional customers, and business uniform programs. E-Commerce, Inventory, and Fulfillment • Oversee the workflow from completed production through inbound receipt, inventory counting, product setup, online availability, order fulfillment, exchanges, returns, and customer issue resolution., • Lead demand forecasting, purchasing inputs, receiving, inventory allocation, cycle counts, replenishment, stockout prevention, and aged-inventory management., • Ensure product information, pricing, photography, descriptions, sizing, and inventory are accurately reflected online., • Establish service levels for order accuracy, on-time delivery, fill rate, inventory accuracy, order cycle time, cost per order, and issue resolution., • Build peak-season inventory, staffing, warehouse, carrier, capacity, contingency, and escalation plans., • Maintain a customer experience that reflects professionalism, responsiveness, and respect across phone, email, and virtual interactions. Brand and Marketing Execution by the Operations Director • Partner with the founder to clarify the positioning, identity, customer promise, and growth strategy for Verona Uniforms and Verona Collection., • Help determine how the two brands should be differentiated operationally and presented to their respective markets., • Translate brand strategy into executable product, marketing, launch, and operating plans., • Evaluate marketing agencies, consultants, and other external partners based on their capabilities, experience, strategy, and results., • Manage selected marketing partners, establish deliverables and timelines, and hold them accountable for execution., • Ensure marketing plans are supported by appropriate inventory, production, fulfillment, customer service, and financial capacity., • Marketing expertise is valuable, but this role is not expected to perform every marketing function personally. Team and Partner Leadership • Lead a lean operating structure that includes year-round employees, seasonal warehouse support, contractors, technology resources, graphic-design support, manufacturers, and other external partners., • Establish clear responsibilities, performance expectations, operating rhythms, and accountability., • Determine which work should remain internal, which should be outsourced, and which future roles will be needed as the business grows., • Develop team members while maintaining high standards for execution and customer service., • Create a professional environment where problems are addressed directly without unnecessary conflict, attitude, or confusion., • Build systems that reduce reliance on individual knowledge and allow the organization to scale. Executive and Founder Partnership by the Operations Director • Serve as the operating counterpart to the founder’s creative and product vision., • Turn leadership priorities and ideas into practical work plans, deadlines, budgets, decisions, and measurable outcomes., • Take ownership of operating decisions within approved priorities and budgets., • Bring structure and recommendations to areas where the business lacks a defined process or strategy., • Surface risks early, propose solutions, and escalate only decisions requiring executive involvement., • Establish weekly and monthly operating reviews covering performance, inventory, manufacturing, school launches, marketing execution, risks, and priorities. What Success Looks Like for the Operations Director • Both brands operate through documented systems and calendars instead of relying primarily on manual follow-up or the founder’s memory., • Leadership has clear visibility into manufacturing, inventory, orders, school launches, marketing initiatives, risks, and upcoming decisions., • Seasonal collections and school-uniform programs are ordered, produced, received, and launched according to established deadlines., • New schools move from initial agreement to launch via a visible, repeatable process., • Products, pricing, designs, size charts, inventory, and online storefronts are accurate before customers begin ordering., • Orders ship accurately and on time, with fewer stockouts, backorders, avoidable returns, and customer escalations., • Vendors, contractors, marketing partners, and internal team members operate with clear expectations and accountability., • Verona Uniforms has the operating capacity required to support 100 school partners before summer 2027., • Verona Collection has a defined brand, marketing, product, and operational plan supporting broader national growth., • The business can continue operating and growing without every process depending directly on the founder. What You Bring as the Operations Director • At least 7 years of progressive operations experience, including meaningful experience in apparel, fashion, uniforms, retail, e-commerce, direct-to-consumer products, or a closely related industry., • At least 3 years of leading employees, contractors, vendors, manufacturers, or major cross-functional programs., • Experience helping a founder-led, entrepreneurial, or early-stage business build scalable operating systems., • Direct experience with apparel product-development cycles, overseas manufacturing, samples, product specifications, seasonal purchasing, inventory, and fulfillment., • Hands-on experience with ERP, OMS, WMS, e-commerce, CRM, inventory management, or comparable operational platforms., • A demonstrated record of scaling operations and improving service, accuracy, speed, quality, cost, or inventory performance., • Strong command of forecasting, purchasing, order management, inventory, fulfillment, logistics, returns, and vendor performance., • Strong analytical, project-management, communication, and organizational skills., • The ability to translate a creative vision into technical requirements, operating plans, ownership, and deadlines., • A decisive and independent operating style, with the confidence to challenge assumptions, establish direction, and create urgency., • The judgment to move quickly while keeping the founder, executives, employees, contractors, vendors, schools, and customers aligned., • A player-coach mindset. You must be willing to build the system, lead the team, and personally solve problems when needed., • High integrity, sound judgment, and a professional communication style, particularly when working virtually with customers and external partners. As the Operations Director, You Will Thrive Here If You • Want to build and scale an operation instead of inheriting a finished corporate system., • Are comfortable creating structure where processes, responsibilities, or decisions are not yet clearly defined., • Prefer clear goals, ownership, and decision authority over close supervision., • Act with urgency and maintain momentum when information is incomplete., • Can move between strategic planning and detailed execution without losing accountability., • Bring recommendations and solutions when escalating problems., • Can challenge existing practices without becoming dismissive, abrasive, or difficult to work with., • Understand that a strong customer experience depends on tone, responsiveness, professionalism, and follow-through., • Are motivated by difficult targets, visible scorecards, and direct accountability for results. Preferred, but Not Required • Experience with school uniforms, customized apparel, modest fashion, decorated garments, embroidery, or screen printing., • Experience building or differentiating multiple brands serving distinct customer markets., • Experience working with major retailers or preparing an apparel brand for national retail distribution., • Experience evaluating and managing marketing agencies or developing brand and e-commerce growth plans., • Experience working with private schools, faith-based schools, school boards, institutional customers, or other multi-stakeholder accounts., • Bachelor’s degree in business, supply chain, operations, fashion merchandising, marketing, or a related field, or equivalent practical experience., • APICS/ASCM, Lean Six Sigma, PMP, or comparable training. Compensation and Employment The anticipated base salary range is $120,000 to $135,000, depending on experience and demonstrated scope. This position is also eligible for a performance-based bonus and benefits. The selected candidate will be employed by Synaptic Inc. and assigned to support Verona Uniforms and Verona Collection. Verona and Synaptic Inc. are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to qualified applicants and employees.
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