Operations Administrator

AREL®-INTERLOCKS (TKI); Houston (TX); On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

AREL®-INTERLOCKS (TKI) is establishing its U.S. subsidiary in Houston and seeks an Operations Administrator to build the operational backbone from day one. This role will own warehouse, ERP/CRM, and customer service processes, coordinating with Headquarters in Italy and serving U.S. customers.

You will manage inventory, processing orders, and shipments, while maintaining data integrity across systems and ensuring responsive service across time zones.

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in operations, logistics, customer service, or admin role in distribution/manufacturing.
• Experience with ERP and CRM platforms.
• Comfort with managing shipping/receiving logistics and coordinating with HQ.

Responsibilities

• Manage warehouse/inventory: receive, label, store, and ship parts.
• Administer ERP/CRM: ensure data integrity, process orders and scheduling.
• Handle customer inquiries, quotes, and post-sale issues; liaise with HQ.
• Coordinate with Headquarters, maintain records of shipments, invoices, and correspondence.

Skills

Organization

Written and verbal communication

Tools

ERP systems (NetSuite/SAP/Odoo)

CRM platforms (HubSpot/Salesforce)

Shipping/logistics coordination

Job description

Arel is an Italian manufacturer (est. 1965) of mechanical and electromechanical safety interlock systems, LOTO (Lockout/Tagout) solutions, and safety engineering consulting for heavy and light industry — serving sectors like Energy, Oil & Gas, Rail, and general industrial manufacturing. We are establishing our first U.S. subsidiary and are hiring an Operations Administrator to serve as the on-the-ground foundation of the new office.

This is a unique opportunity to be the first hire of a U.S. subsidiary of an established, 60-year-old European manufacturer — someone who will help build the operational backbone of the business from day one, working closely with Headquarters in Italy while owning day-to-day operations domestically.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Warehouse & Inventory

• Receive incoming parts and shipments from Headquarters (Italy) and other suppliers, verifying accuracy against packing lists and purchase orders
• Organize and maintain inventory in the warehouse/stockroom, ensuring parts are properly labeled, stored, and easy to locate
• Prepare and ship parts to U.S. customers, selecting appropriate carriers, generating shipping documentation, and tracking deliveries

ERP & CRM Management

• Serve as the primary administrator of the company's ERP system for the U.S. entity, maintaining accurate inventory, order, and shipment records
• Manage and maintain the CRM system, including customer records, contact information, and interaction history
• Ensure data integrity and consistency between ERP and CRM systems, flagging and resolving discrepancies
• Receive and process customer purchase orders, entering them accurately into the ERP system
• Submit order confirmations and relevant documentation to Headquarters for production scheduling and fulfillment
• Track order status from receipt through shipment and follow up on any delays or issues

Customer Service

• Serve as a primary point of contact for U.S. customer inquiries regarding products, pricing, lead times, and order status
• Respond to customer requests promptly and professionally, escalating technical questions to Headquarters or sales as needed
• Support the resolution of shipping discrepancies, returns, or other post-sale issues

General Operations

• Act as a key liaison between the U.S. office and Headquarters in Italy, communicating regularly on inventory needs, order status, and operational matters
• Maintain organized records of shipments, invoices, and correspondence

Qualifications

• 2+ years of experience in an operations, logistics, customer service, or administrative role, ideally within a distribution, manufacturing, or industrial products environment
• Experience with ERP systems (e.g., NetSuite, SAP, Odoo, or similar) and CRM platforms (e.g., HubSpot, Salesforce, or similar)
• Comfortable managing shipping/receiving logistics (freight carriers, packing lists, bills of lading, etc.)
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail; comfortable owning multiple workstreams independently
• Clear written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to work across time zones with an international headquarters
• Self-starter mentality — comfortable being the first employee in a new office and helping shape processes from scratch
• Experience in industrial safety products, electrical components, or similar B2B technical products is a plus

What Success Looks Like

Within the first few months, this person will have a fully organized and accurately tracked warehouse, a clean and up-to-date ERP/CRM system, a smooth quote-to-order-to-shipment workflow with Headquarters, and a reputation with U.S. customers for responsive, reliable service.