We are seeking a commercial Operations Director with strong financial acumen to lead and optimize our global supply chain, with manufacturing hubs in New Zealand and USA and operations teams in both locations. This role is critical to scaling the business profitably, ensuring operational efficiency, and aligning global supply chain operations with strategic business objectives. The ideal candidate will have experience in the pet industry, strong leadership capabilities, and expertise in U.S. and international manufacturing and supply chain management.
ACCOUNTABILITIES
Global Supply Chain Leadership
- Oversee the end-to-end global supply chain, including procurement, manufacturing, logistics, and distribution across New Zealand and USA hubs.
- Ensure seamless collaboration and alignment between the operations teams in New Zealand and USA to meet global production and delivery targets.
- Develop and execute strategies to enhance supply chain efficiency, reduce costs, and improve lead times while maintaining product quality and consistency.
Operational Excellence
- Standardize processes across the two manufacturing hubs to drive operational efficiency and scalability.
- Manage relationships with key suppliers, manufacturers, and logistics providers in both regions to ensure smooth operations and contingency planning.
- Implement technology solutions and tools to streamline global operations, improve visibility, and support decision-making.
Margin Improvement
- Identify and execute initiatives to improve gross margins through cost reductions in sourcing, production, and logistics.
- Analyze manufacturing and supply chain costs globally to uncover opportunities for optimization and efficiency gains.
- Partner with sales and finance teams to ensure pricing strategies are aligned with profitability and market competitiveness.
Inventory and Demand Management
- Develop and maintain robust inventory management processes to optimize stock levels across regions, minimize carrying costs, and reduce waste.
- Collaborate with sales and marketing teams to forecast demand and align production schedules with market needs.
- Monitor global inventory performance, ensuring fulfillment capacity meets customer requirements in all regions.
Manufacturing Oversight
- Lead production operations globally, ensuring both the New Zealand and USA manufacturing hubs are compliant with quality, safety, and regulatory standards.
- Oversee capacity planning and workflow optimization to meet current and future demand.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives at each manufacturing site to enhance productivity and reduce costs.
Team Leadership
- Lead ALU’s Global operations team , including a New Zealand based team and US based team (to be established), fostering collaboration, accountability, and a culture of operational excellence.
- Develop and mentor the team across both regions to ensure consistent high performance and professional growth.
- Collaborate cross-functionally with sales, marketing, and finance leaders and teams to align operational strategies with business goals.
Financial and Commercial Accountability
- Manage global operations budgets, ensuring alignment with company financial targets and growth objectives.
- Provide detailed operational and financial reports, identifying risks and opportunities to the Leadership team and Board.
- Evaluate and negotiate supplier and logistics contracts globally to secure favorable terms and build long-term partnerships.
Compliance and Risk Management
- Ensure compliance with all relevant regulations in the pet food industry across all markets we sell product in.
- Proactively manage global supply chain risks, including raw material shortages, shipping disruptions, and quality control issues.
QUALIFICATIONS
- 10+ years of experience in operations, supply chain, or manufacturing management, with a focus on global supply chains and multi-site operations.
- Bachelors degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain, Business, or related field (MBA or advanced degree preferred).
- Demonstrated success in optimizing operations and driving margin improvement in the pet industry or FMCG/CPG sectors.
- Proven expertise managing manufacturing hubs in New Zealand and USA or similar regions, with a track record of scaling operations internationally.
- Strong financial literacy, with experience managing global budgets, P&L oversight, and financial reporting.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to identify cost-saving opportunities and align operations with global business objectives.
- Proficiency in supply chain & inventory management systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP) and analytics tools.
- Experience implementing operational excellence frameworks (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma) is a plus.
- Exceptional team management and cross-regional leadership abilities, with a collaborative and results-oriented approach.
- Excellent communication skills to foster collaboration across time zones and cultural differences.
LOCATION
- This is a remote position, with travel requirements to New Zealand and Minnesota
COMPENSATION
- Targeted compensation package will be between $187,000 - $218,000
