Director of Operations, Europe

ALO YOGA; City Of London; On-site; GBP 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading wellness company is seeking a Director of Operations to oversee and optimize operational activities across Europe. This role involves managing logistics, ensuring compliance, and driving performance excellence while fostering a high-performing team culture. Candidates should have a strong background in operations, logistics, and supply chain management, along with exceptional leadership skills and a Bachelor's degree, preferably with an MBA.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of leadership experience in operations, logistics, or supply chain.
• At least 5 years leading regional operations across Europe.
• Strong knowledge of European distribution and logistics operations.

Responsibilities

• Direct Europe operations with a focus on efficiency and performance management.
• Develop and manage a metrics portfolio to track operational performance.
• Build a high-performing Europe operations team focused on accountability.

Skills

Leadership

Logistics Management

Analytical Skills

Problem Solving

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, or related field

MBA

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

MS PowerPoint

MS Outlook

Job description

OVERVIEW

The Director of Operations is responsible for leading, scaling, and optimizing the operational activities across alo's Europe region. In partnership with global leadership, this role oversees distribution center operations, destination and outbound logistics, trade compliance, inventory control, and regional performance management. The Director drives operational excellence by partnering closely with global and regional leaders to ensure efficient product flow, operational consistency, and outstanding service to our customers. This position requires a strategic, hands‑on leader who excels at managing 3PL partnerships, scaling fulfillment infrastructure, and executing against long‑term growth objectives.

RESPONSIBILTIES

Regional Operations Leadership

• Direct Europe operations in partnership with global functions, including distribution center (DC) operations, destination logistics, outbound logistics, trade compliance, and inventory control across Europe.
• Drive Europe operations to meet and exceed targeted performance, growth, and service‑level expectations.
• Partner with global and regional functional leaders to accelerate operational performance, set KPIs, and ensure efficient product flow from factory to customer.
• Establish, evaluate, and maintain performance standards and metrics for all operational areas, continually seeking opportunities to enhance service, capacity, and cost efficiency.
• Oversee budgeting, labor, operating expenses, and regional P&L performance.
• With Global Distribution, manage regional 3PL relationships, ensuring service, cost, and quality expectations are consistently achieved.

Strategy Development & Execution

• In partnership with Europe and global operations leadership, help create and implement the Europe operations strategy to enable the region's five-year growth plan.
• Translate this strategy into a multi‑year initiative roadmap, driving execution to achieve defined performance and financial targets.
• Develop and maintain a regional operations roadmap to support expansion, peak season scalability, and market‑entry initiatives.
• Manage the department's initiative portfolio, ensuring project success through disciplined prioritization, execution, and performance tracking.
• Ensure alignment with global operations strategy, while customizing solutions for Europe's diverse regulatory, cultural, and logistical landscape.

Performance Management & Continuous Improvement

• Develop and manage a robust metrics portfolio that tracks daily/weekly operational performance and informs monthly executive‑level dashboards.
• Build and lead a regional continuous improvement program that delivers measurable year‑over‑year gains in efficiency, cost, and service.
• Establish effective working relationships with regional leadership, global operations teams, and cross‑functional partners to ensure collaboration and accountability.
• Promote an operational excellence mindset, leveraging Lean and data‑driven practices to optimize performance across all facilities and partners.
• Drive standardization and best practices in process, reporting, and 3PL management throughout the region.

People Leadership & Culture

• Build, lead, and inspire a high‑performing Europe operations team focused on accountability, innovation, and service excellence.
• Create a motivational and supportive environment in which employees are challenged, coached, and provided with growth opportunities.
• Assess staff development needs, build robust training and succession plans, and execute against them to strengthen organizational capability.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, trust, and empowerment that reflects alo's values of mindfulness, wellness, and excellence.
• Develop and sustain strong collaborative relationships with key internal stakeholders (DC Directors, Retail, IT, Finance, and Planning) and external partners.

Risk Management & Business Continuity

• Develop and deploy business continuity and disaster recovery plans for Europe operations, ensuring resilience and operational readiness.
• Ensure compliance with all regional trade, customs, and import/export regulations, in partnership with legal and compliance teams.
• Continuously assess risk and ensure operational contingencies are in place across the region.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, or related field; MBA preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in operations, logistics, or supply chain management, with at least 5 years leading regional operations across Europe markets.
• Strong knowledge of European distribution, trade compliance, and logistics operations across multi‑country environments.
• Proven success managing 3PL providers, large‑scale distribution networks, and cross‑functional project teams.
• Experience budgeting, forecasting, and managing regional P&L ownership.
• Exceptional leadership skills with proven ability to inspire, influence, and lead through change.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to manage up, down, and across functions.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving, and decision‑making abilities with proficiency in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Experience in fashion, lifestyle, or performance apparel operations.
• Familiarity with retail and e‑commerce operations, including omnichannel fulfillment.
• Knowledge of sustainability and ESG operational standards.
• Fluency in multiple European languages preferred (e.g., French, German, or Italian).