Head of Operations

Head of Operations 📍 Location: Al Hamriyah, Sharjah, UAE 💰 Salary: AED 20,000 – 25,000 per month Employment Type: Full-Time | Permanent About the Role We are seeking an experienced Head of Operations to lead and optimize end-to-end warehouse and production operations for a large-scale second-hand apparel and footwear processing business. This leadership role is responsible for driving operational excellence across receiving, sorting, grading, refurbishing, recycling, warehousing, inventory management, and dispatch while ensuring productivity, quality, compliance, and profitability. The successful candidate will oversee strategic planning, operational execution, cost optimization, and cross-functional collaboration to consistently achieve business targets of 45–60 containers per month while building scalable and efficient operations. Key Responsibilities Strategic Operations Leadership • Develop and execute annual operational strategies aligned with business objectives. • Lead end-to-end warehouse operations from inbound receiving through dispatch. • Drive operational performance across sorting, grading, refurbishing, recycling, packing, and shipping activities. • Ensure monthly throughput targets of 45–60 containers are consistently achieved. • Build scalable operational processes to support business growth. Warehouse & Production Management • Optimize warehouse layouts, material flow, and space utilization. • Monitor productivity, quality, turnaround time, and operational efficiency. • Maintain high inventory accuracy through effective stock control and cycle counting. • Coordinate inbound and outbound logistics with freight partners and transport providers. • Ensure smooth daily execution of warehouse and production activities. Continuous Improvement • Lead Lean Manufacturing initiatives including: • Kaizen • 5S • Waste Reduction • Process Standardization • Identify bottlenecks and implement productivity improvement projects. • Drive measurable improvements in efficiency, cost, and operational performance. Financial & Cost Management • Prepare and manage annual operational budgets. • Own operational cost control including: • Manpower • Overtime • Warehousing • Logistics • Operational overheads • Partner with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, costing, and monthly P&L reviews. • Monitor cost per container, cost per processed unit, and operational margins. • Lead cost optimization initiatives without compromising quality or compliance. Inventory, Compliance & Governance • Maintain inventory accuracy of 99.5% or higher. • Ensure ERP/WMS data integrity and accurate operational reporting. • Maintain audit-ready operations with zero major compliance findings. • Ensure compliance with: • HFZA regulations • Customs requirements • Safety standards • Warehouse policies • Manage risk assessments and implement corrective actions. Leadership & People Management • Lead supervisors, warehouse teams, grading teams, and dispatch personnel. • Foster a high-performance, KPI-driven culture. • Coach and develop team leaders and supervisors. • Manage workforce planning, manpower allocation, and productivity standards. • Drive employee engagement, accountability, and continuous improvement. Cross-Functional Collaboration • Partner closely with: • Sales • Finance • HR • Logistics • Quality Control • Ensure seamless communication and operational alignment across departments. • Manage vendor relationships and logistics service providers while monitoring SLA performance. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) • Achieve 45–60 containers processed per month • Maintain 99.5%+ inventory accuracy • Deliver 95%+ operational plan achievement • Achieve 98%+ logistics/vendor SLA compliance • Maintain budget variance within ±3% • Implement at least 4 Lean/Kaizen initiatives annually • Deliver at least 2 measurable cost-saving projects each year • Ensure 100% audit readiness with zero major findings • Improve productivity and warehouse efficiency year over year Required Skills & Competencies Operational Excellence • End-to-end warehouse management • Production planning and execution • Inventory management • Supply chain operations • Dispatch planning • Capacity planning Continuous Improvement • Lean Manufacturing • Kaizen • 5S • Six Sigma principles • Process optimization • Waste reduction Financial Management • Budgeting • Cost control • Operational P&L management • Variance analysis • Productivity measurement • Cost modelling Systems & Reporting • ERP systems • Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) • Microsoft Excel (Advanced) • Operational dashboards • KPI reporting • Data analysis Leadership • Team management • Change management • Coaching & mentoring • Stakeholder management • Vendor management • Cross-functional collaboration Qualifications • Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline. • Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Project Management, or Supply Chain certifications are highly preferred. Experience • Minimum 10 years of experience in warehouse operations, manufacturing, production, or supply chain leadership. • Strong experience managing sorting, grading, refurbishing, recycling, or large-scale warehouse operations. • Minimum 2 years of international work experience outside the home country (UAE/GCC experience preferred). • Proven experience handling large blue-collar workforces. • Strong exposure to ERP/WMS platforms and data-driven operations. • Experience in Free Zone and export-oriented environments is an advantage. What We're Looking For We're looking for a strategic and hands-on operations leader who thrives in fast-paced warehouse environments and has a proven track record of improving productivity, reducing costs, and leading large operational teams. The ideal candidate is data-driven, financially astute, and passionate about operational excellence while maintaining the highest standards of quality, safety, and compliance. If you have a proven track record in leading operations, managing large teams, and driving operational efficiency in the textile or second-hand apparel industry, we'd love to hear from you. 📩 [email protected] 📱 WhatsApp: https://wa.me/971551226879 🌐 w

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Industrial Engineering, or a related discipline. Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Project Management, or Supply Chain certifications are highly preferred.