Head of Operations

⚙️ Head of Operations IEHO042Run the engine. Improve the engine. Build an operation that scales without the CEO holding it together.Senior Leadership | Operations | Systems & Process Improvement | Remote Before applying, watch this short Loom from the CEO:https://www.loom.com/share/e7cf97485db246379d9909c5aabe64c2Job SnapshotWe’re hiring a senior Head of Operations to own the execution layer of a fast-growing business.Your mission is to make sure the company operates reliably every day while continuously improving its systems, processes, accountability, and cross-functional execution.Function: Company-Wide OperationsSeniority: Senior LeadershipWork Arrangement: RemoteFocus: Operational execution, systems, KPIs, managers, logistics, and scalabilityCompensation: Discussed based on experience, location, and track recordYou’ll work independently, solve problems at the right level, and reduce the CEO’s involvement in routine operations. About the CompanyWe’re a fast-growing, execution-focused business operating across multiple interconnected functions.As the company grows, so does its operational complexity. More people, departments, systems, suppliers, and dependencies can create friction, unclear ownership, and recurring problems.We’re building an organization where growth creates leverage rather than chaos.The Head of Operations will establish and continuously improve the operating system that makes this possible. The RoleYou own the company's operating engine through two equally important responsibilities:1. Run the EngineEnsure departments execute against the right priorities, managers are accountable, KPIs provide visibility, and cross-functional workflows operate reliably without constant CEO supervision.2. Improve the EngineIdentify bottlenecks, simplify processes, automate repetitive work, strengthen documentation, and eliminate recurring operational problems.The goal is to make the business faster, simpler, more reliable, scalable, and less dependent on individual people. Key ResponsibilitiesCompany-Wide ExecutionMaintain visibility across departmental priorities, KPIs, milestones, and blockers.Ensure teams execute against company objectives.Establish clear ownership and accountability.Coordinate cross-functional dependencies.Identify execution gaps and resolve routine operational issues without unnecessary CEO involvement.Systems & Process ImprovementDiagnose bottlenecks and recurring problems at their root.Simplify workflows and remove unnecessary complexity.Build and improve SOPs, operational systems, and automation.Reduce manual work and individual dependencies.Ensure improvements are implemented and deliver measurable results.KPI Visibility & AccountabilityEstablish meaningful departmental KPIs and scorecards.Ensure managers understand their responsibilities and performance targets.Maintain accurate reporting and consistent performance reviews.Turn missed targets into corrective actions.Give leadership visibility without manually chasing updates.Documentation & Operational InfrastructureEstablish practical SOP and documentation standards.Ensure critical workflows and knowledge are transferable.Centralize operational information.Standardize processes where doing so improves execution.Fulfillment, Logistics & Supply ChainOversee 3PLs, couriers, warehouses, suppliers, and operational partners.Maintain reliable order fulfillment and reduce shipping errors and delays.Coordinate inventory forecasting, procurement, and manufacturing with Growth and Marketing.Establish reorder thresholds and maintain inventory visibility.Balance product availability against unnecessary excess stock.Management & Organizational AlignmentEnsure department leaders translate company priorities into execution.Hold managers accountable for team outcomes and operating systems.Identify organizational gaps and unclear ownership.Strengthen cross-functional coordination.Intervene when departmental operations break down.Capacity & External PartnersIdentify operational capacity gaps.Lead hiring for execution-level roles and support senior recruitment.Manage contractors, agencies, and vendors against clear expectations.Address underperformance and ensure effective onboarding.CEO LeverageResolve operational problems at the appropriate level.Escalate only when CEO involvement is genuinely needed.Present escalations with the problem, supporting evidence, viable options, and a recommendation.The CEO should receive decisions to make, not operational problems to investigate. What Success Looks LikeDaily operations run reliably without constant CEO intervention.Departments execute against the correct priorities.Managers own outcomes and operate effectively.KPIs provide timely and accurate visibility.Problems are identified before they become emergencies.Recurring issues lead to permanent system improvements.Fulfillment and inventory support continued growth.Critical processes are documented and transferable.Systems become simpler, faster, and more automated.External partners meet defined performance standards.CEO involvement in routine operational decisions decreases.The company becomes easier to operate as it grows, not harder. Required ExperienceYou should have:Proven experience owning operations across a growing or complex business.Experience managing managers, not just individual contributors.Strong systems and process-design capabilities.Experience building KPI, accountability, and reporting systems.A track record of diagnosing bottlenecks and solving root causes.Experience building SOPs, workflows, and scalable infrastructure.Cross-functional leadership and execution experience.Knowledge of automation and operational leverage.Experience managing vendors, contractors, agencies, or external partners.Strong judgment and the ability to operate independently.Experience with ecommerce operations, fulfillment, logistics, inventory, supply chain, or 3PL management is highly valuable. We care more about what you have owned and improved than the title or number of years on your résumé.Tools & EnvironmentYou’ll work across systems for:Project and task managementKPI dashboards and reportingSOPs and knowledge managementInventory and fulfillmentCommunication and collaborationHiring and team managementAutomation and integrationsOperational analyticsYou should be able to learn new tools quickly, understand how systems connect, and recognize when a simpler solution would work better. Decision-Making AuthorityThis role comes with meaningful operational authority.Operational SpendingIndependently approve operational expenses below $1,000 within your responsibilities and approved scope.CEO approval is required for commitments above $1,000.HiringIndependently lead and approve execution-level hiring within approved scope and budget, including VAs, customer support, editors, designers, and other non-senior roles.Senior, executive, department-head, and strategically high-impact hires require final CEO approval.Operational SystemsIndependently improve workflows and systems within established company direction.Escalate decisions involving spending beyond your authority, material strategic ambiguity, major structural changes, senior hiring, or significant revenue, brand, or business risk.Autonomy means knowing what you own, making decisions confidently, and recognizing when escalation is necessary. Who Thrives HereYou’ll thrive if you:See businesses as interconnected systems.Bring structure and clarity to complexity.Establish clear ownership and accountability.Fix recurring problems instead of repeatedly managing symptoms.Stay calm under pressure and diagnose before reacting.Hold managers accountable while strengthening their independence.Simplify processes and build systems others can operate.Make decisions independently and focus on leverage over personal busyness. Who Will StruggleThis role may not be a fit if you:Need the CEO to tell you what to do next.Primarily work as a project manager or task coordinator.Solve recurring issues manually without addressing root causes.Avoid difficult accountability conversations.Require perfect information before making decisions.Build unnecessarily complicated systems.Escalate problems without investigating or proposing solutions.Prefer personally controlling execution over building systems.Focus on activity without checking whether teams are working on the right priorities. The Operating StandardA strong Head of Operations does not make themselves indispensable by solving everything personally.They build an organization where:People know what they own.Managers understand success.KPIs expose problems early.Systems make execution repeatable.Departments work together.Recurring problems become permanent improvements.The CEO can focus on high-leverage decisions.Every month, the operating engine should become faster, simpler, more reliable, and less dependent on individual people. Compensation & BenefitsCompensation will be discussed based on experience, track record, location, and expectations, reflecting the seniority and ownership required for this role.Hiring ProcessApplication ReviewInitial InterviewDeep-Dive Interview on Operational Ownership and Systems ThinkingPractical Operational Case or AssessmentFinal Leadership DiscussionOfferExpect to discuss real examples of what was broken, how you diagnosed it, what you changed, how you implemented improvements, and the measurable results. Apply NowIf you’ve built and operated systems that helped a growing company execute with greater clarity, reliability, and leverage as complexity increased, we want to hear from you.Be prepared to demonstrate:Operational Ownership: A business or major operating function you owned end to end.Systems Improvement: A recurring problem you permanently solved.Management: Teams or managers you made more effective.Scale: How your systems performed as volume, headcount, or complexity increased.CEO Leverage: Systems or decisions that reduced senior leadership’s involvement in routine operations. Apply here:https://www.orgboard.co/jobs/1c93e94f5a2d411ba00be8d6645e3fca?src=linkedin_recruiterWe’re not hiring someone to keep track of the operation. We’re hiring the person who makes the operating engine work — and then makes it better.Due to application volume, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.