Director of Operations - DTC (Automotive products)

Overview

Our client is a fast-growing, direct-to-consumer automotive car care brand based just east of Cleveland, Ohio. The company has scaled significantly in annual revenue, selling across its own website, Amazon, TikTok Shop, and wholesale channels.

The business has reached an inflection point where operational infrastructure must catch up with growth. The company is hiring a Director of Operations to step in, take full ownership of day-to-day operations, and build the systems and team structure needed to support the next phase of scale. This role reports directly to the CEO and is designed to free the founder from operational execution so he can focus on growth, brand, and strategy.

This is not a maintenance role. It is a leadership position for someone who has already managed a scaling operation through real pressure and is ready to own it completely.

Key Responsibilities

Manufacturing & Production

• Own all in-house manufacturing and production operations, including chemistry-based product manufacturing
• Maintain quality control systems and ensure batch consistency
• Manage production scheduling based on demand forecasts
• Oversee procurement of raw materials and supplier relationships
• Ensure manufacturing capacity scales with company growth
• Evaluate and execute long-term transition opportunities to outsourced or contract manufacturing
• Support product development and ensure smooth transition from R&D into production

Fulfillment & Logistics

• Lead the company's fulfillment infrastructure across all channels (Amazon FBA, TikTok Shop, Shopify DTC)
• Drive the transition from in-house fulfillment to third-party logistics (3PL) partners
• Manage inbound freight and parcel shipments to warehouses and fulfillment partners
• Ensure service-level agreements are met with logistics providers
• Oversee returns processes and coordination with customer service
• Manage warehouse staffing, productivity, and operational performance

Inventory & Demand Planning

• Build and maintain forecasting models across all SKUs and sales channels
• Manage purchase order planning and inventory replenishment
• Prevent stockouts while minimizing inventory carrying costs
• Align inventory planning with seasonal demand patterns
• Coordinate with finance on inventory purchases and cash deployment

International Supply Chain

• Manage overseas supplier and contract manufacturer relationships
• Oversee import logistics, customs compliance, and container shipments
• Optimize supplier lead times and reduce supply chain disruptions
• Maintain supplier quality standards
• Negotiate pricing, payment terms, and landed costs

Team Leadership & HR

• Lead and manage a team of seven direct reports spanning warehouse and logistics, fulfillment, production, manufacturing and private label, supply chain, customer service, and HR
• Hire, train, and develop team members across all operational functions
• Establish performance metrics and operational accountability
• Build compensation structures and operational incentive programs
• Maintain safety standards across all operational functions
• Foster a strong culture aligned with company values

Operational Financial Performance

• Manage operational budgets across manufacturing, fulfillment, and logistics
• Improve gross margins through cost optimization and operational efficiencies
• Maintain oversight of cost of goods sold
• Identify opportunities to improve systems and reduce operational costs

Required Qualifications

• 5–10 years of progressive operations leadership experience
• Demonstrated experience scaling operations inside a fast-growing DTC or CPG brand (not enterprise or Fortune 500) — ideally at a company doing $10M–$100M in revenue
• Direct experience managing fulfillment, warehouse operations, and supply chain simultaneously
• Experience managing manufacturing operations and production environments
• Experience managing fulfillment across multiple e-commerce channels (Amazon FBA, TikTok Shop, Shopify, or equivalent)
• Proficiency in 3PL management, demand forecasting, and inventory control
• Proven ability to build, lead, and hold operational teams accountable
• Comfortable working with data across systems, including data aggregation, API connections, and automation tools (e.g., Google Apps Script or similar)
• Familiarity with ops and e-commerce platforms such as Monday.com, Shopify, or equivalent
• Strong analytical, forecasting, and operational planning skills
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations, Supply Chain, or a related field
• Must be authorized to work in the United States — visa sponsorship is not available for this position

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience through an acquisition, 3PL transition, or high-growth inflection point
• Automotive care, home care, personal care, or consumables industry experience
• Experience with domestic and international supply chain and contract manufacturing relationships
• Multi-channel fulfillment experience spanning DTC, marketplace, and wholesale
• Familiarity with AI tooling and integrating it into operational systems to drive efficiency
• Experience implementing inventory management systems or ERP platforms
• MBA or equivalent advanced degree (though track record can outweigh credentials)
• Mandarin language skills are a plus but not required
• Experience managing through culture change or rapid team growth
• Has built operational playbooks and processes from scratch in environments with little existing structure

Compensation & Benefits

• Base Salary: $115,000–$140,000 depending on experience
• Performance Bonus: Up to 15% of annual base salary, tied to agreed-upon metrics
• 401(k): Company match at 4%
• Paid Time Off: 2 weeks PTO
• Parental Leave: 4 weeks paid parental leave
• Additional Benefits: Health benefit program included

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