Commercial Operations Manager

People Inc; Hawera; On-site; NZD 150,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company Bonus

Phone

Laptop

Relocation support

ERP transformation involvement

Job summary

People Inc in Hawera seeks a senior operations leader to own and optimise day-to-day functions across customer service, inventory, purchasing, supply chain, warehousing, and distribution. You will drive profitability, KPI visibility, and supplier negotiations to improve pricing and rebates.

You will lead budgeting, forecasting, and planning, oversee offshore supplier relations, and implement an ERP platform while building scalable systems for growth.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' experience in a senior operations leadership role.
• Experience within distribution, wholesale, industrial supply, manufacturing support, or another inventory-intensive environment.
• Strong commercial acumen, including GP%, working capital, stock turns, budgeting, forecasting, and operational profitability.
• Experience managing or influencing operational P&L performance and making decisions that improve financial outcomes.
• Proven supplier negotiation experience, particularly with offshore suppliers.
• A proven track record of managing inventory, purchasing, and supply chain functions.
• ERP implementation or systems transition experience.
• A hands‑on, pragmatic leadership style suited to a growing business environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations across customer service, inventory, purchasing, supply chain, warehousing, and distribution.
• Own key commercial drivers including GP%, inventory investment, stock turns, working capital, and operational profitability.
• Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and operational planning activities that support business performance.
• Lead supplier negotiations, including offshore suppliers, to improve pricing, rebates, and overall commercial performance.
• Optimise inventory investment, stock availability, forecasting, lead times, and replenishment practices.
• Support the implementation and adoption of a new ERP platform.
• Build scalable systems, processes, and SOPs from the ground up to support future growth.
• Manage third-party logistics relationships and improve service outcomes.
• Drive continuous improvement across productivity, cost, service, and operational performance.
• Develop meaningful operational reporting, KPIs, and business performance visibility.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial acumen

Inventory management

Operations management

Tools

ERP systems

Job description

Our client is a well-established New Zealand business entering an exciting phase of growth and operational transformation. Renowned for delivering innovative supply chain, industrial supply, and inventory management solutions; the business partners with manufacturers across New Zealand to improve productivity, reduce downtime, and optimise operational performance.
This newly established leadership role based in Hawera reporting directly to the Managing Director and offers the opportunity to take ownership of key business functions while driving meaningful improvements across operations, supply chain, inventory, procurement, customer service, and overall business performance.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead day-to-day operations across customer service, inventory, purchasing, supply chain, warehousing, and distribution.
• Own key commercial drivers including GP%, inventory investment, stock turns, working capital, and operational profitability.
• Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and operational planning activities that support business performance.
• Lead supplier negotiations, including offshore suppliers, to improve pricing, rebates, and overall commercial performance.
• Optimise inventory investment, stock availability, forecasting, lead times, and replenishment practices.
• Support the implementation and adoption of a new ERP platform.
• Build scalable systems, processes, and SOPs from the ground up to support future growth.
• Manage third-party logistics relationships and improve service outcomes.
• Drive continuous improvement across productivity, cost, service, and operational performance.
• Develop meaningful operational reporting, KPIs, and business performance visibility.

Our client is a well-established New Zealand business entering an exciting phase of growth and operational transformation. Renowned for delivering innovative supply chain, industrial supply, and inventory management solutions; the business partners with manufacturers across New Zealand to improve productivity, reduce downtime, and optimise operational performance.
This newly established leadership role based in Hawera reporting directly to the Managing Director and offers the opportunity to take ownership of key business functions while driving meaningful improvements across operations, supply chain, inventory, procurement, customer service, and overall business performance.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead day-to-day operations across customer service, inventory, purchasing, supply chain, warehousing, and distribution.
• Own key commercial drivers including GP%, inventory investment, stock turns, working capital, and operational profitability.
• Contribute to budgeting, forecasting, and operational planning activities that support business performance.
• Lead supplier negotiations, including offshore suppliers, to improve pricing, rebates, and overall commercial performance.
• Optimise inventory investment, stock availability, forecasting, lead times, and replenishment practices.
• Support the implementation and adoption of a new ERP platform.
• Build scalable systems, processes, and SOPs from the ground up to support future growth.
• Manage third-party logistics relationships and improve service outcomes.
• Drive continuous improvement across productivity, cost, service, and operational performance.
• Develop meaningful operational reporting, KPIs, and business performance visibility.

What We're Looking For

• 5+ years' experience in a senior operations leadership role.
• Experience within distribution, wholesale, industrial supply, manufacturing support, or another inventory-intensive environment.
• Strong commercial acumen, including responsibility for GP%, working capital, stock turns, budgeting, forecasting, and operational profitability.
• Experience managing or influencing operational P&L performance and making decisions that improve financial outcomes.
• Proven supplier negotiation experience, particularly with offshore suppliers
• A proven track record of managing inventory, purchasing, and supply chain functions.
• Experience leading business improvement and operational change initiatives.
• ERP implementation or systems transition experience.
• Strong commercial acumen, with the ability to balance profitability, inventory levels, and customer outcomes.
• A hands‑on, pragmatic leadership style suited to a growing business environment.

Why This Opportunity?

• Competitive salary + Company Bonus + Phone + Laptop
• Relocation supportavailable for the rightcandidate
• Take ownership of a business-critical function
• Work directly alongside an engaged and supportive Managing Director
• Influence commercial performance, operational strategy, and future growth
• Lead meaningful change through systems and process improvementPlay a key role in a significant ERP transformation project
• Join a business that values initiative, accountability, and continuous improvement

Ready to Make a Real Impact?

This is a rare opportunity to step into a leadership role where you will have the autonomy to shape operations, influence business outcomes, and build the foundations for long-term growth. If you are motivated by ownership, continuous improvement, and delivering measurable results, we would love to hear from you.