Vice President, Operations

Job description

### Inspired by Dr. Murad’s lifelong commitment to science-backed wellness, we create products and experiences not only for healthier skin, but for happier lives. At Murad, we’re committed to conquering the global health epidemic of stress. “Stress less. Be imperfect. Live longer.”—Dr. Howard Murad, Founder Murad is a leading prestige skincare brand with a science-backed heritage spanning more than 30 years. As part of Unilever Prestige, Murad operates within a portfolio of high-growth, premium beauty brands distributed globally across direct-to-consumer, professional, specialty retail, and international channels. The company is headquartered in El Segundo, California, and operates within a complex, fast-moving environment that demands operational rigor, cross-functional partnership, and supply chain excellence at scale. Murad offers a rare opportunity to lead a high-impact, end-to-end supply chain function at the intersection of prestige beauty, global brand growth, and operational transformation. As part of Unilever Prestige, the VP, Operations gains access to group-level resources, supplier networks, and cross-brand collaboration while maintaining the agility and ownership culture of a leading independent skincare brand. This role offers direct executive visibility, meaningful transformation scope, and the ability to build lasting operational infrastructure in a brand with genuine growth momentum. ### ABOUT THE ROLE: The Vice President, Operations is Murad's most senior operational leader, responsible for the end-to-end performance of the company's global supply chain function. This role holds direct accountability for procurement, logistics, warehousing, transportation, order management, quality, supply planning, demand planning, and inventory control with executive ownership spanning strategy, execution, people, and transformation. Reporting to the CFO/COO, this leader serves as a critical business partner to Executive Leadership, Finance, Commercial, Brand Marketing, Product Development, Regulatory, IT, and Unilever Prestige. The VP, Operations is accountable for ensuring Murad has the supplier base, planning discipline, inventory strategy, quality systems, logistics network, and operational infrastructure required to support profitable, scalable growth across all channels and geographies. This role requires an executive who can operate credibly at the strategic level while remaining close enough to execution to identify risks, remove barriers, and drive outcomes. The ideal candidate is a decisive, commercially-oriented operator with a track record of building lean, high-performing teams, redesigning global value chains, and elevating supply chain as a competitive advantage within a premium consumer goods or beauty environment. Critically, this leader must have a proven record of driving structural change — reengineering ways of working, deploying technology and automation to eliminate manual effort, and building an organization that delivers more with a materially leaner footprint. This is a transformation mandate, not a caretaker role. This position is hybrid and will be based in our El Segundo, CA headquarters on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and work remotely for the rest of the workweek, unless business needs require otherwise. Occasional domestic and international travel required. ### KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: #### Strategic Supply Chain Leadership - Define and execute Murad's end-to-end global supply chain strategy in alignment with company growth objectives, brand priorities, financial targets, customer service expectations, and international expansion plans to ensure Supply Chain capabilities scale ahead of business demand. - Establish and continuously improve the operating model, governance cadence, KPI framework, and cross-functional ways of working across the full supply chain function with a focus on lean, agile, and technology-enabled processes. - Serve as the primary operational business partner to the CFO/COO, Executive Leadership team, Finance, Commercial, and Unilever Prestige stakeholders. - Lead the transformation of the operations organization into a lean, agile, technology-enabled team — significantly improve efficiency and productivity relative to today’s ~15-person structure, benchmarking against best-in-class skincare peers; own organizational design, succession planning, talent development, and capability building throughout. - Drive operational excellence across service, cost, quality, inventory, speed-to-market, compliance, and business continuity simultaneously, using process automation, digital tools, and analytics to structurally lower cost-to-serve and reduce manual workload. #### Procurement - Own procurement strategy across finished goods, components, raw materials, contract manufacturing, packaging, logistics services, and indirect spend, with a mandate to fundamentally redesign Murad’s global value chain around Asia as a priority market. - Lead supplier relationship management, vendor performance governance, cost improvement initiatives, and supply risk mitigation at scale. - Partner with Product Development, Packaging, Quality, and Finance to support new product launches, reformulations, supplier transitions, and value engineering programs. - Drive vendor scorecards, supplier business reviews, savings tracking, risk assessments, and business continuity planning across critical supply partners. - Leverage Unilever Prestige and cross-brand procurement relationships to identify leverage opportunities, supplier synergies, and shared-service efficiencies. - Evaluate and build Asia-based OEM/ODM and contract manufacturing options to localize production closer to priority Asian markets, shorten the supply chain, and improve landed cost, speed, and responsiveness. - Optimize the sourcing footprint to improve production agility and structurally reduce production lead times. #### Logistics, Warehousing & Transportation - Lead Murad's logistics, warehousing, 3PL management, freight, transportation, distribution, and fulfillment operations across domestic and international channels. - Own operational performance across warehousing accuracy, outbound service levels, transportation execution, cost management, inventory movement, customer compliance, and fulfillment reliability. - Manage strategic relationships with 3PLs, freight forwarders, carriers, and distribution partners; hold partners accountable to SLA and cost commitments. - Drive continuous improvement across warehouse operations, freight optimization, service performance, capacity planning, and cost-to-serve. - Lead logistics network strategy including distribution footprint, storage requirements, channel support, regional expansion, and global fulfillment evolution. - Support international shipping execution, import/export requirements, tariff considerations, and operational feasibility for global market expansion. #### Order Management - Oversee order management operations across wholesale, retail, professional, international, e-commerce, distributor, and internal business channels. - Ensure accurate and timely order processing, allocation, fulfillment coordination, issue resolution, and customer service support across all trade channels. - Drive process discipline around order prioritization, inventory allocation, backorder management, customer requirements, returns, credits, and exceptions management. - Partner with Sales, Commercial, Finance, Planning, and Logistics to improve order flow, fill rates, service levels, and customer compliance performance. #### Quality - Lead the Quality function across finished goods, components, contract manufacturers, customer complaints, non-conformances, investigations, and quality systems governance. - Ensure quality processes support regulatory compliance, product safety, brand standards, customer expectations, and operational readiness across all channels. - Oversee quality governance including SOP management, deviation handling, CAPA, supplier quality, complaints management, audit readiness, and mock recall programs. - Drive continuous improvement in quality performance through root cause analysis, trend monitoring, process controls, and supplier accountability. - Ensure quality considerations are integrated into launch readiness, reformulation activity, supplier changes, packaging changes, and international market expansion. #### Supply Planning - Lead supply planning across finished goods, components, raw materials, contract manufacturers, and distribution requirements to ensure continuous product availability. - Ensure supply plans support demand requirements, launch timelines, inventory targets, customer service expectations, and working capital objectives. - Partner with Demand Planning, Procurement, Product Development, Commercial, Finance, and external manufacturers to manage production schedules, capacity, lead times, constraints, and supply risks. - Lead escalation and recovery planning for material shortages, supplier delays, production constraints, quality holds, and customer-impacting supply disruptions. - Establish supply planning KPIs including service level, production adherence, supply risk, inventory coverage, launch readiness, and supplier delivery performance. #### Demand Planning & S&OP - Lead demand planning processes that translate commercial forecasts, sales trends, marketing plans, launch assumptions, and customer inputs into an aligned demand signal across all channels, with particular focus on improving forecast accuracy and responsiveness for a highly volatile, e-commerce-driven demand profile. - Own the S&OP / IBP process design, governance structure, cadence, and executive alignment mechanism for Murad. - Partner with Sales, Commercial, Marketing, Finance, International, and Executive Leadership to improve forecast accuracy, bias management, risk visibility, and executive trade-off decision-making. - Establish and maintain forecast performance metrics including MAPE, bias, forecast value-add, lag-based accuracy, and forecast attainment. - Improve demand governance across promotional planning, channel assumptions, customer inputs, new product forecasting, discontinuation planning, and international demand visibility. #### Inventory Control - Own inventory governance across finished goods, components, raw materials, work-in-process, obsolete inventory, excess inventory, cycle counts, adjustments, and inventory accuracy. - Partner with Finance to support inventory valuation, E&O reserves, reconciliation, standard cost accuracy, and month-end / quarter-end inventory close processes. - Lead inventory optimization initiatives that balance service levels, working capital efficiency, supply risk, launch support, and operational flexibility. - Establish and monitor inventory KPIs including days on hand, excess and obsolete inventory, stockouts, cycle count accuracy, and inventory adjustments. #### Transformation & Strategic Projects - Lead strategic supply chain and operational transformation initiatives that improve scalability, cost, service, quality, visibility, and business resilience. - Drive large-scale projects including 3PL transitions, supplier diversification, contract manufacturing strategy, systems implementations, planning process improvements, and operational governance redesign. - Build rigorous project governance including cross-functional workstreams, timelines, risk logs, escalation paths, and executive reporting mechanisms. - Partner with IT and Finance on systems and data initiatives that improve master data quality, planning accuracy, reporting, inventory visibility, and operational decision-making. #### Cross-Brand & Global Operations - Partner with Unilever Prestige and central cross-brand teams to identify shared capabilities, operational leverage, supplier synergies, and best practice adoption across the Prestige Beauty Group. - Represent Murad's operational priorities in cross-brand forums, balancing Murad-specific business needs with group-level operating models and governance expectations. - Lead operational readiness for international growth with a priority focus on Asia, including regional supply and manufacturing models, Asia-based contract manufacturing evaluation, in-region logistics networks, and regulatory-ready supply execution. - Drive operational planning for international launches, distributor requirements, country-specific compliance, documentation, artwork, and inventory deployment. #### Leadership & People Development - Lead, coach, and develop a multi-functional operations organization across supply planning, demand planning, procurement, logistics, order management, quality, and inventory control. - Build a culture of accountability, urgency, ownership, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration. - Set clear team goals, performance expectations, KPIs, and individual development plans; identify and develop next-generation leaders within the function. - Identify organizational gaps, resource needs, and capability-building investments; lead succession planning and role design across key operational functions. - Serve as the escalation point for complex operational issues while empowering functional leaders to own execution and decision-making within their domains. ### QUALIFICATIONS: - 15+ years of progressive supply chain, operations, procurement, planning, logistics, quality, or manufacturing leadership experience. - Demonstrated success leading end-to-end, multi-functional supply chain organizations at the VP or equivalent level. - Significant experience in beauty, personal care, consumer goods, prestige, wellness, OTC, or regulated product environments strongly preferred. - Proven track record managing external contract manufacturers, suppliers, 3PLs, freight providers, and global operational partners at scale. - Deep expertise in S&OP / IBP process design and facilitation, demand planning, supply planning, procurement, inventory management, order management, logistics, and quality systems. - Experience leading strategic transformations, large-scale operational projects, cost improvement programs, and cross-functional process redesign. - Strong executive communication skills; able to influence and engage CEOs, CFOs, PE stakeholders, and cross-functional executives. - Strong financial acumen including working capital management, gross margin impact, cost savings, E&O reserve management, and operational budgeting. - Experience operating within a matrixed global organization or multi-brand holding company structure preferred. - Demonstrated experience managing supply chains for markets beyond the US is required; hands-on experience in Asian markets and working with Asia-based OEM/ODM and contract manufacturing partners is strongly preferred. - Proven track record of driving organizational transformation and efficiency — right-sizing teams, redesigning ways of working, and deploying technology and automation to build a leaner, more agile operation; comfortable being measured against best-in-class peer benchmarks. - Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain, Operations, Business, Engineering, Finance, or related field required; MBA or advanced degree strongly preferred. - APICS CSCP, CPIM, or equivalent supply chain certification a plus. ### WHAT WE OFFER: - A target pay range of $250,000-$300,000 annually, depending on experience, plus annual bonus - 401(K) with an Employer Match, plus a monthly home internet stipend - Hybrid work environment – join our El Segundo office on Tuesdays and Wednesdays - Unlimited Paid Time Off, plus 17 holidays off per year - Comprehensive Medical, Dental, & Vision insurance options, FSA, HSA, and Life & Accident Insurance - Wellness & Support Resources including Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Legal Shield & ID Shield, Travel Assistance, Estate Guidance, Gym and Meditation programs, and more - Pet Insurance - Professional Development Resources - Access to Murad products at-cost & employee gifts, as well as the larger Unilever Prestige Discount Marketplace (including Hourglass, Living Proof, Dermalogica, K18, Paula’s Choice, & Tatcha) **Don’t meet every single requirement?** We encourage you to apply! Studies show that women, non-binary applicants, and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. However, our diverse backgrounds, perspectives, identities, and talents drive Murad’s innovative legacy. **EEO Statement:** Murad is an equal opportunity employer and will consider qualified applicants with criminal histories in accordance with the L.A. Fair Chance Initiative Ordinance. #LI-SB1