Heritage Bazaar - Chief Operating Officer

Company Overview:

Heritage Bazaar is an online marketplace which creates a one-stop shop platform for global consumers to interact and access Indian Heritage based products.

This marketplace brings the entirety of textile weavers, artisans, craftsmen, legacy embroiders under one roof and connect them directly with the world.

Position Overview:

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will oversee and manage the day-to-day operations of [Your Company Name].

This includes driving the company's operational strategy, improving efficiency, and ensuring all departments work cohesively towards the company's vision and objectives.

The COO will play a critical role in scaling the business while maintaining a strong focus on operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and profitability.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Operational Strategy & Execution

- Develop Operational Vision: Collaborate with the CEO and executive leadership team to define and refine the company's operational strategy.

- Ensure that the operational goals align with the brand's overall mission and vision.

- Set Key Objectives: Translate the broader strategic goals of the company into actionable, measurable objectives for each department.

- Ensure that these objectives are achievable and contribute directly to growth, profitability, and operational excellence.

- Align with Growth Plans: Guide the development and scaling of operational strategies that support both short-term and long-term growth.

- Monitor trends, industry shifts, and business needs to anticipate potential challenges and opportunities.

Team Leadership & Development:

- Lead Cross-Functional Teams: Oversee the operations of various departments such as production, logistics, e-commerce, marketing, and retail, ensuring alignment with companywide goals.

- Mentorship & Guidance: Provide strong leadership and direction to department heads and managers.

- Foster a culture of continuous improvement, accountability, and innovation.

- Develop training programs to enhance team capabilities and professional growth.

- Performance Management: Establish clear performance metrics for the team, set expectations, and monitor results.

- Regularly review individual and team performance, providing feedback and coaching to ensure optimal results.

- Culture Development: Champion a positive, high-performance culture, rooted in transparency, trust, and collaboration.

- Align team efforts with the company's values and brand ethos.

Supply Chain & Production Management:

- End-to-End Supply Chain Oversight: Oversee all stages of the supply chain, from sourcing raw materials to managing final product deliveries.

- Ensure seamless coordination between suppliers, manufacturers, and internal teams.

- Vendor Relationships: Build and maintain strong relationships with key vendors and suppliers, negotiating contracts, prices, and terms to ensure cost-effectiveness and quality.

- Production Optimization: Work with the production team to streamline workflows and ensure products are made to the highest standards, within budget and on schedule.

- Address production bottlenecks and inefficiencies to optimize time-to-market.

- Inventory Management: Oversee inventory control systems to ensure accurate tracking of raw materials, in-process goods, and finished products.

- Ensure that stock levels are optimized to meet demand without overstocking or shortages.

Financial Management:

- Budgeting & Forecasting: Collaborate with the CFO to develop annual budgets for operations and departments.

- Ensure that operational costs are within budgetary limits and identify areas for cost reduction or investment opportunities.

- Cost Efficiency: Develop and implement cost-saving initiatives across all areas of the operation, such as production, shipping, and staffing.

- Regularly review cost structures and recommend improvements.

- Revenue Alignment: Align operational activities with revenue objectives.

- Track the impact of operations on the company's revenue streams and profitability, ensuring efficiency at every stage of the product lifecycle.

- Financial Reporting: Analyze financial performance data to identify trends and areas of improvement.

- Work closely with the finance team to ensure that financial and operational goals are being met.

Process Optimization & Efficiency

- Process Analysis & Improvement: Continuously assess operational workflows across departments and identify inefficiencies.

- Implement process improvements that reduce redundancies, increase productivity, and enhance customer satisfaction.

- Implement Best Practices: Establish best practices and standardized operating procedures for key operational areas such as product development, manufacturing, distribution, and retail.

- Leverage Technology: Drive the adoption of innovative technologies (ERP, CRM systems, automation tools) that improve operational efficiency and streamline internal processes.

- Ensure that systems are integrated seamlessly to enable real-time data access and reporting.

- Lean Methodology: Apply principles of lean management or continuous improvement (Kaizen) to reduce waste and improve operational workflows.

Risk Management & Compliance

- Identify Risks: Proactively assess risks across the supply chain, production processes, and logistics operations.

- Address potential disruptions related to inventory, supplier reliability, or operational bottlenecks.

- Mitigate Operational Risks: Develop and implement mitigation strategies for any risks related to production delays, supply shortages, labor shortages, or quality control issues.

- Compliance & Regulatory Oversight: Ensure all operational activities comply with local, national, and international laws and regulations, including labor laws, environmental regulations, and import/export standards.

- Stay current on industry-specific legal requirements.

Performance Monitoring & Metrics

- KPIs & Metrics Management: Establish and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor operational success.

- Regularly report on these metrics, focusing on areas such as production efficiency, lead time, inventory turnover, and customer satisfaction.

- Data-Driven Decision Making: Analyze data from various departments and make informed, datadriven decisions that improve the overall performance of the company.

- Continuous Improvement Culture: Promote a culture of continuous feedback, data-driven decision-making, and performance optimization throughout the organization.

Customer Experience & Brand Alignment

- Customer-Centric Operations: Ensure that every part of the operation supports an excellent customer experience, from product development to delivery.

Work closely with the customer service team to address pain points in the customer journey.

- Brand Consistency: Ensure that operational processes are aligned with the company's brand values and promise.

Work with marketing and product teams to ensure that all products meet brand standards in terms of quality, design, and sustainability.

- Market Responsiveness: Implement flexible processes that can respond quickly to changes in consumer preferences, market trends, or external events (e.g, supply chain disruptions, seasonality).

Innovation & Sustainability Initiatives

- Sustainability Practices: Lead the development and implementation of sustainable practices throughout the supply chain, including responsible sourcing, waste reduction, and eco-friendly production methods.

- Identify opportunities to integrate sustainability into every aspect of the business.

- Product Innovation: Work with the product development and design teams to encourage innovation in product lines and operational processes.

- Stay ahead of trends in fashion, consumer behavior, and technological advances that can enhance operational performance.

- Industry Partnerships: Establish and maintain relationships with industry groups, suppliers, and other key stakeholders to share insights and best practices on sustainability, innovation, and operational excellence.

Cross-Department Collaboration & Communication

- Foster Cross-Functional Collaboration: Facilitate collaboration and communication across departments, ensuring that marketing, finance, HR, and other teams work together to meet company goals.

- Strategic Decision-Making: Act as a key contributor to executive decision-making, offering insights on operational impact and contributing to the development of strategic business initiatives.

- Clear Communication: Maintain transparency and clear communication with both internal and external stakeholders.

- Provide regular updates to the CEO and board on operational performance, challenges, and achievements.

Qualifications:

1. Education

- Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Operations, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.

- Master's Degree (MBA or similar) preferred.

Industry Experience:

- 10+ years of operational experience, including at least 5 years in a senior leadership role within the fashion and handicraft industry or a related sector.

- Experience in supply chain management, production processes, and e-commerce operations.

Leadership & People Management;

- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, mentor senior leaders, and develop a highperformance culture.

- Strong skills in change management and building effective, collaborative teams.

Financial & Operational Expertise:

- Expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and cost optimization to improve financial performance and profitability.

- Experience in driving operational efficiencies and cost-saving initiatives across departments.

Industry Knowledge:

- Strong understanding of fashion and handicraft industry trends, product development cycles, and customer behaviour.

- Familiar with sustainability practices and ethical sourcing within the fashion industry.

Technical Skills:

- Proficient in ERP systems (e.g, SAP, NetSuite) and operational tools for inventory management, supply chain logistics, and performance reporting.

- Knowledge of data analytics and automation technologies to enhance operational performance.

Strategic & Problem-Solving Skills:

- Strong ability to think strategically, drive long-term goals, and solve complex operational problems.

- Experience in navigating market shifts and leading innovative solutions to enhance product offerings and efficiency.

Communication & Influence:

- Excellent communication and negotiation skills to work with internal and external stakeholders.

- Ability to influence decisions and align teams with the company's strategic goals.

Personal Attributes:

- Visionary, results-oriented, adaptable, and resilient in a fast-paced environment.

- Passion for the fashion industry and commitment to operational excellence and sustainability