Fractional COO | Retail/Ecommerce | Remote

Our client

We’re working with an eCommerce start-up with a unique purpose and brand message, who ultimately create products good for you and the planet. Due to doubling in YoY revenue, coupled with aspirations for global expansion into bricks-and-mortar wholesale/retail, it is now time to establish their leadership team for the next exciting phase of their growth. They are looking for a Fractional COO with a proven track record of scaling start-ups into global markets who has an eCommerce retail background.

The role

As a COO (fractional), you be responsible for the efficiency of business. You will oversee end-to-end business operations and love getting into the detail of what’s driving operational costs. Strong supply chain ops experience will be critical, as you work closely with suppliers and 3PL providers to manage imports, exports, and successful fulfilment.

You’ll have to maintain control of diverse business operations, so we expect you to be an experienced and efficient leader. This is a role for someone who likes to get things done. We aren’t looking for an empire builder here, but someone who can build a plan, then deliver on that plan with a small but highly flexible, collaborative, and driven team.

This is a fractional role with an initial commitment of 1-2 days per week. Over time, we envisage this role moving to 3-4 days per week, and possibly full-time.

Responsibilities & deliverables:

• Lead the business operations, including order and inventory management, supply chain management (inbound, 3PL, shipping), customer support, and analysis and reporting.
• Quickly come up to speed on the current state, and start improving efficiencies by building process and structure around all repeatable operations.
• Provide P&L and cash flow management leadership over operational costs.
• Manage end-to-end relationships with external partners, international manufacturers, and retailers, including sourcing and performance management.
• Get the best out of existing 3PL partners (now), and establish a 3PL partnership in Europe (2nd half of 2025).
• Implement business-wide analysis, interpretation, and reporting on data and key metrics
• Manage the planning and tracking of key projects, and assist the CEO in fundraising ventures where required.
• Lead a wholesaling to retail roll-out with a chosen partner (2025/2026).

Ideally you are:

• A delivery-focused “doer”, who knows how to strike the right level of process and planning in a fast-paced start-up environment.
• Experienced in eCommerce retail, ideally across businesses that DTC e-commerce and wholesale to traditional bricks-and-mortar retailers.
• Commercially astute and numbers-driven, with experience in managing budgets and identifying profitability improvements, negotiating contracts, and setting up business-wide reporting and analytics to bring to light key details.
• Great with the detail of retail supply chain operations and logistics, with experience in global importing and exporting.
• Experienced in engaging and building strong relationships with external partners (e.g. 3PLs) and driving better outcomes for a business.
• A hands-on detail-oriented planner, capable of taking an idea, turning it into a strategy with actionable steps and then executing.
• A leader who is able to build strong engagement from a small, remote team.

What’s Next

If this sounds like a great opportunity for you, please apply today. We will be reviewing applications over the coming weeks, and shortlisted candidates will be contacted for a phone screen.