Manager of Sourcing and Operations

Manager, Sourcing \& Operations

Company: PlaySmol (playsmol.com)

Location: Remote

Type: Full-time

About PlaySmol

PlaySmol is fast paced start up building the next generation of children toys. We are growing quickly and looking to bring our sourcing and product development in-house to scale more efficiently, innovate faster, and build deeper relationships with manufacturers.

Role Overview

This is a highly strategic and hands-on leadership role. Upon hiring, you will take full ownership of our sourcing, product development, and supply chain strategy. You will lead the transition, without any training or handholding, away from our external sourcing partner and build a best-in-class in-house sourcing and product development engine. You’ll work closely with company owners and leadership.

What you’ll do:

Sourcing \& Supply Chain

• Upon hiring, you’ll transition sourcing operations from external partners to direct manufacturer relationships

• Build and manage a global supplier network

• Negotiate pricing, MOQs, and terms with manufacturers

• Oversee end-to-end supply chain operations (forecasting, production, logistics)

• Ensure quality control and compliance across all products

Product Development

• Lead product development from concept to launch

• Drive innovation by identifying new product opportunities and categories

• Conduct market research and competitive analysis to inform roadmap

• Own product testing, iteration, and validation processes

Operations \& Execution

• Own product timelines \& cost efficiencies

• Manage relevant tools and software for planning, forecasting, and operations

Retail \& Expansion (Target \+ Beyond)

• Support preparation for major retail partnerships (e.g., Amazon \& Target)

• Ensure all product, packaging, and compliance requirements are met

• Lead Target certification processes and retailer onboarding requirements

• Help secure and manage retail bookings

Who you are:

Experience

• 7–12\+ years in sourcing, product development, or supply chain

• Proven experience working directly with manufacturers (domestic and/or international)

• Experience transitioning or building sourcing operations in-house (strong plus)

• Background in consumer products, CPG, or retail-driven brands

• Experience with large retailers (Target, Walmart, etc.) strongly preferred

Skills \& Traits

• Self driven, organized, and can complete projects from start to finish without guidance

• Experience with AI tools

• Excellent project management and timeline ownership

• Strong negotiation and supplier management skills

• Ability to identify market gaps and translate them into products

Additional Qualifications

• Fluency in Chinese (Mandarin) is a strong plus

• Willingness and ability to travel internationally, including regular trips to China, as needed

Benefits:

• Fully remote
• Unlimited PTO
• 401K with match
• Annual bonus eligible