Operations Manager

Alay is a dynamic athleisure and apparel brand inspired by the mindset NEVER STILL. We are seeking a hands-on Operations Manager to oversee daily operations, enhance internal processes, and support our growth trajectory. Reporting directly to the CEO, you will play a critical role in ensuring seamless collaboration across teams, meeting deadlines, and managing operations from production planning through to customer delivery.

Key Responsibilities

- Lead daily operations across multiple departments by setting clear priorities, defining responsibilities, and establishing deadlines.
- Act as the central liaison between design, production, procurement, inventory, marketing, e-commerce, and fulfillment teams to ensure timely product launches and new-season rollouts. Align timelines, track deliverables, and resolve bottlenecks to keep all teams on schedule.
- Coordinate production and procurement schedules to maintain consistent product availability and meet business demands.
- Oversee inventory planning, ensuring stock accuracy, timely replenishment, and management of slow-moving items.
- Supervise warehouse operations and order fulfillment processes, including packing, dispatch, returns, and courier coordination.
- Prepare stock, packaging, staffing, and dispatch capacity in advance of campaigns, promotions, and product launches.
- Develop and implement practical Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), reporting systems, and quality control checkpoints.
- Monitor operational costs, identify inefficiencies, and implement improvements to boost productivity without compromising quality.
- Conduct regular team follow-ups to resolve operational issues and maintain accountability across departments.
- Provide weekly performance reports to the CEO, highlighting pending tasks, delays, risks, and corrective actions.
- Coordinate the operational delivery of confirmed private orders in collaboration with production and business development teams.

Required Qualifications

- Minimum of 5 years of relevant operations experience, including team management and cross-department coordination.
- Strong background in apparel, fashion retail, athleisure, or e-commerce industries is highly preferred.
- Solid understanding of production coordination, procurement, inventory management, warehousing, and order fulfillment.
- Excellent leadership, communication, planning, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to manage multiple priorities, anticipate potential delays, and drive tasks to completion.
- Proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets, inventory/ERP systems, and operational reporting. Experience with Shopify is an advantage.
- Proactive and accountable mindset with strong attention to detail.
- A relevant bachelor’s degree is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications and Benefits

While not mandatory, experience in Shopify and familiarity with e-commerce platforms will be beneficial. The role offers the opportunity to work closely with the Founder/CEO in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment, where your contributions will directly impact the brand’s success.

Success in this role is measured by on-time product launches, reliable inventory management, timely dispatches, effective interdepartmental coordination, and clear ownership of all operational tasks. If you thrive in a collaborative setting and are passionate about driving operational excellence in the athleisure and apparel space, we encourage you to apply.