Operations Manager - Dark Stores Grocery

Keemart; Kuwait City; On-site; KWD 24,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

Keemart is seeking an experienced Operations Manager / Area Manager to oversee dark store operations across Kuwait. The role requires managing multiple stores, leading operational teams, and driving performance in inventory management, order fulfilment, product availability, and customer experience.

You will implement standardized processes, optimize efficiency, and support expansion in the Kuwaiti market while ensuring food safety and compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Retail Management, Supply Chain Management, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years in grocery retail operations; 2+ years in managerial/multi-store role.
• Proven experience managing multiple stores and ensuring operational excellence.
• Strong knowledge of FIFO/FEFO, inventory control, and fresh food handling.
• Fluent in English; Arabic a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations of multiple dark stores across Kuwait.
• Manage end-to-end grocery operations including receiving, storage, replenishment, and fulfillment.
• Drive inventory accuracy, shrinkage control, and expiry date monitoring.
• Monitor KPIs and improve order fulfilment time, picking accuracy, and customer satisfaction.
• Lead, coach, and develop store managers and teams.
• Collaborate with supply chain, procurement, merchandising, and last-mile teams.
• Assist in launching new dark stores and ramping up operations.
• Ensure food safety and regulatory compliance across all locations.

Skills

Operations management

Grocery retail

Leadership

Inventory management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration / Retail Management

Job description

We are looking for an experienced Operations Manager / Area Manager to oversee Keemart's dark store operations across Kuwait. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in grocery retail operations, with proven experience managing multiple stores, leading operational teams, and driving performance across inventory management, order fulfilment, product availability, and customer experience. The role will be responsible for ensuring operational excellence across the dark store network, implementing standardized processes, optimizing operational efficiency, and supporting the company's expansion in the Kuwaiti market.

Key Responsibilities

• Multi-Store Operations Management: Oversee the daily operations and overall performance of multiple dark stores, ensuring smooth operations, consistent service standards, and operational excellence across all locations.
• Grocery Retail Operations: Manage end-to-end grocery operations, including receiving, storage, replenishment, picking, packing, dispatch, and inventory control, ensuring product availability and efficient order fulfilment.
• Inventory & Shrinkage Management: Drive effective inventory management practices, including stock accuracy, expiry date monitoring, FIFO/FEFO compliance, waste reduction, shrinkage control, and stock replenishment.
• Operational Performance: Monitor and improve key operational KPIs, including order fulfilment time, picking accuracy, order cancellation rate, stock availability, inventory accuracy, productivity, and customer satisfaction.
• Team Leadership: Lead, coach, and develop store managers and operational teams, ensuring clear accountability, effective workforce planning, and achievement of operational targets.
• Process Optimization: Establish and implement standardized operational procedures across all dark stores, identifying opportunities to improve productivity, reduce operational costs, and enhance service quality.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with supply chain, procurement, merchandising, last-mile delivery, and commercial teams to ensure smooth coordination and resolve operational challenges.
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Regularly review operational performance, analyze trends, prepare performance reports, and develop actionable improvement plans based on operational data.
• Food Safety & Compliance: Ensure all dark stores comply with food safety, hygiene, storage, and operational standards, maintaining proper handling and storage conditions for fresh, chilled, frozen, and ambient products.
• Network Expansion: Support the launch and operational setup of new dark stores, ensuring operational readiness, team deployment, process implementation, and smooth business ramp-up.

Job Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Retail Management, Supply Chain Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years of experience in grocery retail operations, supermarket operations, convenience store chains, or food retail, with at least 2 years in a managerial or multi-store supervisory role.
• Proven experience managing multiple retail outlets, supermarkets, grocery stores, or dark stores, with a strong understanding of end-to-end store operations.
• Strong knowledge of grocery inventory management, replenishment, stock rotation (FIFO/FEFO), expiry management, shrinkage control, and fresh food handling.
• Solid understanding of retail operational KPIs, order fulfilment, workforce productivity, cost control, and operational performance management.
• Strong leadership and people management skills, with the ability to manage multiple teams, develop store managers, and drive performance across different locations.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to interpret operational data, identify performance gaps, and implement effective improvement plans. Experience with retail management systems, WMS, ERP, or BI tools is an advantage.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional coordination skills.
• Fluent in English; Arabic proficiency is an advantage.
• Must be familiar with the Kuwaiti retail market and able to adapt to its operational requirements and business environment.

Preferred Background

Candidates with experience in supermarket chains, hypermarkets, grocery delivery platforms, convenience store chains, or organized food retail businesses will be highly preferred.