VP of Operations for High-Growth DTC Lifestyle Brand

Role Description

This is a builder role, not a maintainer role. You’ll own everything outside of marketing—including sourcing, manufacturing, inventory, preorder operations, logistics, fulfillment, customer experience, operational systems, and the operations team. You’ll inherit a lean operation and be expected to design the systems, processes, vendor relationships, and team capable of supporting several multiples of future growth. This is a high-accountability environment. Success requires urgency, ownership, resilience, and a willingness to solve difficult operational problems. If you’re looking for the opportunity to build something meaningful alongside a founder, you’ll thrive here.

Key Responsibilities

• Personally negotiate and secure Net 60 (or better) payment terms with manufacturers and strategic supply chain partners to improve working capital.
• Lead end-to-end operations across sourcing, manufacturing, inventory, preorder management, logistics, fulfillment, and customer support.
• Build scalable operational systems, processes, and infrastructure to support rapid business growth.
• Oversee inventory planning, demand forecasting, production scheduling, and preorder execution.
• Optimize manufacturing, freight, warehousing, fulfillment, and overall supply chain costs through continuous negotiation and vendor management.
• Develop and manage strategic relationships with manufacturers, logistics providers, freight forwarders, and fulfillment partners while ensuring product quality and operational excellence.
• Build, lead, and develop high-performing Operations and Customer Experience teams.
• Evaluate and implement operational technologies, including ERP and inventory management systems, while establishing reporting dashboards and KPIs.
• Support international supply chain operations and cross-border fulfillment initiatives as the business expands.

Qualifications

• Proven experience leading Operations for a fast-growing DTC apparel, footwear, accessories, or lifestyle brand.
• Personally negotiated and secured Net 60 (or better) payment terms with manufacturers. Candidates should be prepared to discuss the negotiation strategy and results in detail.
• Demonstrated success scaling operations during periods of rapid business growth.
• Hands-on experience managing overseas manufacturing and supplier relationships.
• Strong commercial negotiation experience with manufacturers, freight forwarders, logistics providers, 3PLs, and other supply chain partners.
• Experience leading inventory planning, demand forecasting, preorder or made-to-order operations, and operational scaling.
• Experience optimizing supply chain costs while improving operational efficiency.
• Experience implementing or improving ERP, inventory management, or operational systems.
• Strong leadership experience building and managing Operations and Customer Experience teams.
• International supply chain and cross-border logistics experience is highly preferred.
• Existing relationships with overseas manufacturers are a strong advantage.
• Willingness to travel internationally as needed.
• Availability to work primarily during U.S. business hours.

Benefits

• Fully remote, work from anywhere.
• Competitive annual base salary based on experience.
• Performance-based bonus.
• Clear pathway to Chief Operating Officer.
• Equity opportunity for exceptional candidates.