Head of Operations

⚙️ Head of Operations IEHO042
Run 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/e7cf97485db246379d9909c5aabe64c2
Job Snapshot
We’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 Operations
Seniority: Senior Leadership
Work Arrangement: Remote
Focus: Operational execution, systems, KPIs, managers, logistics, and scalability
Compensation: Discussed based on experience, location, and track record
You’ll work independently, solve problems at the right level, and reduce the CEO’s involvement in routine operations.
About the Company
We’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 Role
You own the company's operating engine through two equally important responsibilities:
1. Run the Engine
Ensure 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 Engine
Identify 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 Responsibilities
Company-Wide Execution
Maintain 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 Improvement
Diagnose 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 & Accountability
Establish 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 Infrastructure
Establish 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 Chain
Oversee 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 Alignment
Ensure 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 Partners
Identify 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 Leverage
Resolve 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 Like
Daily 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 Experience
You 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 & Environment
You’ll work across systems for:
Project and task management
KPI dashboards and reporting
SOPs and knowledge management
Inventory and fulfillment
Communication and collaboration
Hiring and team management
Automation and integrations
Operational analytics
You should be able to learn new tools quickly, understand how systems connect, and recognize when a simpler solution would work better.
Decision-Making Authority
This role comes with meaningful operational authority.
Operational Spending
Independently approve operational expenses below $1,000 within your responsibilities and approved scope.
CEO approval is required for commitments above $1,000.
Hiring
Independently 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 Systems
Independently 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 Here
You’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 Struggle
This 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 befor

Work arrangement
Yes