Operations Inventory Manager

Inventory & Operations Manager

Company: The Joyful Chest Pvt. Ltd.

Location: Financial District, Hyderabad

Employment Type: Full-time, On-site

About the Role

The Joyful Chest is looking for a hands-on Inventory & Operations Manager to take end-to-end ownership of our Hyderabad inventory and fulfilment operations.

This is an ownership role. The person will be responsible for ensuring that every product received, stored, packed and dispatched is properly accounted for and that day-to-day operations run smoothly.

The role will also supervise our Picking, Packing & Dispatch Executive and coordinate closely with procurement, finance, catalogue and management teams.

Key Responsibilities

1. Complete Inventory Ownership

• Own physical inventory across the Hyderabad operation.

• Maintain accurate SKU-wise stock records.

• Ensure every product has the correct SKU and designated storage location.

• Ensure physical stock matches system stock.

• Maintain proper inward and outward inventory records.

• Conduct weekly cycle counts and periodic complete physical stock audits.

• Investigate and report inventory discrepancies immediately.

• Track damaged, returned, missing, defective and expired/near-expiry products.

• Monitor low-stock and fast-moving products and raise replenishment requirements.

2. Inward Stock & Vendor Deliveries

• Receive products from vendors and suppliers.

• Verify received quantities against invoices/purchase orders.

• Check product condition, MRP, expiry where applicable, packaging and variants.

• Ensure stock is entered into the system before being made available for sale.

• Coordinate with vendors regarding shortages, damaged products, replacements and discrepancies.

• Maintain proper documentation for all stock received.

3. Order Fulfilment Supervision

Supervise the Picking, Packing & Dispatch Executive and ensure:

• Correct products are picked against each order.

• Quantities, variants and SKUs are verified.

• Packaging meets The Joyful Chest standards.

• Gift cards, messages and hamper components are correctly included.

• Orders are packed and dispatched within defined timelines.

• Courier handovers and tracking are properly maintained.

• Dispatch errors are investigated and corrective action is taken.

The Operations Manager should be willing to step in during high-volume periods, corporate orders and urgent dispatches when required.

4. Hamper & Corporate Gifting Operations

• Plan inventory requirements for hampers and gift boxes.

• Ensure all hamper components are available before assembly begins.

• Coordinate assembly of bulk/corporate orders.

• Maintain consistency and presentation standards.

• Plan manpower and packaging requirements for large orders.

• Ensure corporate orders are completed within committed timelines.

5. Procurement & Stock Planning

• Provide management/procurement with regular stock requirement reports.

• Identify fast-moving, slow-moving and non-moving inventory.

• Recommend replenishment based on sales and available inventory.

• Follow up on approved purchase orders and expected deliveries.

• Help prevent both stock-outs and unnecessary overstocking.

6. Systems & Documentation

• Work with Shopify and/or the company's inventory management system.

• Maintain accurate inventory movement records.

• Coordinate with the person responsible for the SKU master and financial records.

• Maintain GRN/inward, outward, return, damage and stock-adjustment records.

• Ensure no physical stock is moved without corresponding documentation/system entry.

7. Returns & Reverse Logistics

• Receive and verify customer returns.

• Categorize returned products as saleable, damaged or defective.

• Ensure appropriate inventory adjustments.

• Coordinate replacement/return of defective products to vendors where applicable.

8. Operations Reporting

Provide management with regular reporting covering:

• Current inventory

• Low-stock products

• Out-of-stock products

• Incoming stock

• Pending vendor deliveries

• Orders dispatched

• Pending orders

• Returns and damages

• Inventory discrepancies

• Slow-moving inventory

• Operational issues requiring management attention

Work Schedule

Working Days: 6 days per week

Weekly Off: One fixed weekday, preferably MondayThursday depending on operational requirements

Standard Working Hours: 10:00 AM 7:00 PM

Break: 1 hour

Because this is an e-commerce and gifting operation, the candidate should be flexible during:

• Festivals and gifting seasons

• Large corporate orders

• Major sale periods

• Urgent customer orders

Additional hours should be required only when operationally necessary and should not become the normal working pattern.

Experience

Preferred: 35 years of relevant experience

Candidates with experience in any of the following will be preferred:

• D2C brands

• E-commerce

• Gifting companies

• Lifestyle products

• Beauty/personal care

• Fashion/accessories

• Kids' products

• Retail inventory

• Warehouse/fulfilment operations

Skills Required

• Strong inventory management skills

• SKU and stock-location management

• Excel / Google Sheets

• Shopify or similar e-commerce platform experience preferred

• Inventory/ERP software experience

• Courier and logistics coordination

• Vendor coordination

• Basic procurement understanding

• Strong numerical accuracy

• Good written and verbal communication

• Ability to manage junior operational staff

• High level of accountability and attention to detail

What We Are Looking For

We are specifically looking for someone who takes ownership.

The right candidate should not wait for management to discover that stock is missing, an order is delayed or inventory is running low.

We expect the Operations Manager to identify issues early, communicate them clearly and drive them to resolution.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Performance will be measured on:

• Inventory accuracy: 98%+

• Order picking/dispatch accuracy: 99%+

• Orders dispatched within committed SLA

• Minimal unexplained inventory discrepancies

• Timely inward stock recording

• Accurate return/damage records

• Proper SKU and storage-location discipline

• Reduction in stock-outs

• Timely reporting of low inventory

• Quality and timeliness of corporate/bulk orders

• Overall organization and cleanliness of the inventory area