Operations Manager

Job Title: Operations Manager

Location: Nairobi, Kenya (with oversight of South Africa operations)

Reports to: Director

Employment Type: Full-time

About Siafu Home

Siafu Home is a design-led Kenyan brand creating distinctive home textiles and lifestyle pieces. We celebrate artisanal techniques, thoughtful design, and meaningful stories behind every product.

As we expand our retail footprint and e-commerce operations, we are seeking a hands-on, detail-oriented Operations Manager to strengthen internal systems, streamline processes, and support scalable growth. This role is ideal for a proactive problem-solver with strong execution skills, operational discipline, and an entrepreneurial mindset, who can drive efficiency across the business while enabling a seamless customer experience. 

Role Overview

The Operations Manager is responsible for end-to-end operational performance of the business. This role owns planning, execution, coordination, and continuous improvement across production, inventory, logistics, retail operations, and order fulfillment.

The Operations Manager ensures that products are produced on time, inventory is accurate, orders are fulfilled efficiently, and internal teams and partners operate within clear systems and accountability.

This role is highly execution-focused and acts as the bridge between strategy and day-to-day operations.

Key Responsibilities

1. End-to-End Operations Ownership

• Own daily, weekly, and monthly operational performance across all functions
• Translate business plans and sales forecasts into operational plans
• Ensure alignment between production, inventory, logistics, retail, and sales operations
• Identify operational risks and proactively resolve bottlenecks

2. Production & Supply Chain Management

• Oversee production planning and execution across in-house teams and external CMTs
• Ensure raw materials, WIP, and finished goods flow smoothly through the supply chain
• Monitor production timelines, capacity, quality, and costs
• Escalate and resolve production delays, shortages, or quality issues

3. Inventory & Stock Control

• Oversee inventory management across warehouses, production centres, and retail stores
• Ensure accurate stock records, regular stock counts, and reconciliations
• Prevent stockouts, overstocking, and shrinkage
• Align inventory levels with sales demand and production plans

4. Logistics & Cross-Border Operations

• Manage local and cross-border logistics (Kenya ↔ South Africa)
• Coordinate with freight forwarders, clearing agents, and transport providers
• Ensure compliance with shipping documentation and timelines
• Track shipments and resolve delays or discrepancies

5. Supplier & Vendor Management

• Own relationships with key suppliers - ensuring orders are placed on time, deliveries tracked and issues escalated.
• Manage permits, licences and compliance requirements in coordination with accounts team.
• Build and maintain a supplier register with clear terms, lead times and contract records.

6. Retail & Order Fulfillment Operations

• Ensure retail operations are operationally ready (stock, systems, processes)
• Oversee order fulfillment from order confirmation to delivery
• Ensure customer orders are fulfilled accurately and on time
• Work closely with Sales Ops to align demand with operational capacity

6. Team Leadership & Accountability

• Manage and support operations team members (Production, Inventory, Retail, Ops Coordinators)
• Define clear roles, responsibilities, and KPIs
• Drive accountability, performance management, and capability development
• Build a culture of execution, ownership, and continuous improvement

7. Systems, SOPs & Process Improvement

• Establish, document, and enforce SOPs across all operational areas
• Ensure ERP and operational systems are used correctly and consistently
• Identify inefficiencies and implement process improvements
• Prepare operations for scale (new locations, higher volumes, local production expansion)

8. Reporting & Management Support

• Provide regular operations reports covering production, inventory, logistics, and fulfillment
• Track KPIs and highlight risks, gaps, and improvement opportunities
• Support management with operational insights for decision-making
• Work with the accounts teams to ensure financial processes run smoothly, and support budget tracking.

Skills & Experience Required

Essential

• Bachelor’s Degree in Operations Management, Business Administration, or related field
• 5+ years experience in operations management, supply chain, or production environments
• Strong experience managing multi-function operations (production, inventory, logistics)
• Proven ability to build and run systems and processes
• Experience managing teams and external partners
• Strong planning, execution, and problem-solving skills

Desirable

• Experience in homeware, textile, or manufacturing businesses
• Exposure to cross-border operations
• Experience scaling operations in a growing business

Key Competencies

• Strong ownership and accountability
• Structured, systems-oriented thinking
• High execution bias
• Strong leadership and communication skills
• Ability to operate under pressure and ambiguity

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