Operations Manager

We are working with a fast-growth consumer brand based in Cheltenham to appoint an Operations Manager. The business has scaled rapidly over the last three years and is now looking for a senior operator to take ownership of its end-to-end operational function as it moves into its next phase of growth.

This is a broad role with genuine accountability across manufacturing, warehousing, stock control, production and fulfilment.

The role

You will own day to day operational remit for the business, spanning:

• Manufacturing coordination and contract manufacturer management

• Warehousing and storage operations, including 3PL partner management

• Stock control and inventory management across raw materials, packaging and finished goods

• Production planning and scheduling, including new product introductions and launch readiness

• Fulfilment operations across DTC and wholesale channels

• Operational cost management and efficiency improvement

• Building and developing a small operational team

You will report directly to senior leadership and carry meaningful operational authority.

What the role involves day to day

On the manufacturing and production side, you will own relationships with contract manufacturers, lead production scheduling, drive quality and lead time discipline and coordinate new product launches from a supply and capacity perspective.

On warehousing and stock, you will ensure storage operations are well managed and scalable, maintain high standards around inventory accuracy and health, and integrate stock control more tightly with the wider trading and purchasing plan.

On fulfilment, you will own DTC and wholesale fulfilment performance, manage third-party fulfilment partners to clear SLAs and drive continuous improvement in quality, speed and cost as volume grows.

Across all of this, you will work closely with Finance, Supply Chain, Product and Commercial teams, providing clear operational input and ensuring the business is well prepared for launches, peak periods and changing demand.

What we are looking for

• Operational experience across manufacturing, warehousing, stock control or fulfilment in a consumer or product-led business

• Strong understanding of inventory management, production planning and working capital discipline

• Commercial awareness around how operational decisions affect margin, service level, cash and customer experience

• Experience leading and developing a small operational team

• Comfortable working cross-functionally with Finance, Supply Chain, Product and Commercial teams

• Confident operating in a fast-moving, scale-up or founder-led environment where pace and ambiguity are normal

• Experience in FMCG, DTC, beauty, fragrance, home or lifestyle product categories would be an advantage

What you will bring as a person

The right person will be highly organised, commercially sharp and genuinely close to the operational detail. They will lead with low ego, take pride in follow-through and be comfortable building process and structure without becoming bureaucratic about it.

You will thrive in this role if you enjoy meaningful ownership, working in a small high-trust team, solving practical operational problems and building as the business grows. You will likely be frustrated if you want hierarchy, a narrow remit or a polished large-company environment with everything already in place.

Equal opportunities

We actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds and are committed to building a diverse and inclusive hiring process. If you require any reasonable adjustments at any stage of the process, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Please note: if you have not heard from us within two weeks of submitting your application, please assume that on this occasion your application has not been successful. We are grateful for your interest and encourage you to apply for future opportunities.