How to Write a Job Description for an E-commerce Operations Manager

Hiring an operations manager is one of the most important hires an e-commerce brand will make. Get the job description wrong and you’ll attract candidates who don’t understand the realities of the role — or worse, you’ll build the wrong role entirely. In our experience, the best e-commerce operations manager JDs are specific, honest about scope, and grounded in the actual outcomes the business needs.

What Does an E-commerce Operations Manager Actually Do?

Before writing the JD, be clear on the scope. An e-commerce operations manager is typically responsible for:

• Fulfilment and logistics — overseeing pick, pack, and ship operations, whether in-house or via a 3PL partner
• Inventory management — maintaining appropriate stock levels, managing purchase orders, and minimising both stockouts and excess inventory
• Technology stack management — owning and optimising the tools that run operations: Shopify, ERP/inventory systems, shipping software, WMS
• Process design and documentation — building SOPs, training materials, and workflow documentation so the business can scale without relying on individual knowledge
• Vendor and supplier management — managing supplier relationships, lead times, and performance
• Returns and customer service operations — overseeing returns processing and working cross-functionally with the customer service team
• Reporting and analytics — tracking operational KPIs and presenting performance to leadership

Some brands also roll in customer service management, freight and customs compliance, or finance operations depending on their size. Define the actual scope before writing a single word of the JD.

Job Description Template

Job Title

E-commerce Operations Manager

About the Role

We’re looking for an E-commerce Operations Manager to own the systems, processes, and vendor relationships that keep our fulfilment and supply chain running at scale. You’ll be the operational backbone of the business — responsible for making sure the right products are in the right place at the right time, and that every order gets to our customers on time and accurately.

This is a hands-on role in a fast-moving environment. You’ll be expected to get into the details, build and improve processes, and work closely with our 3PL, carriers, and suppliers. You’ll report directly to [Founder/COO/VP of Operations].

Key Responsibilities

• Own fulfilment operations including relationships with our 3PL partner and carrier accounts; monitor SLA compliance and escalate issues
• Manage inventory levels across all SKUs; generate and execute purchase orders to maintain target stock levels and avoid stockouts
• Oversee demand forecasting and collaborate with merchandising/marketing on seasonal inventory planning
• Build and maintain SOPs for all operational processes; ensure documentation is current and accessible
• Manage the operations technology stack including [Shopify / inventory management system / WMS]; identify gaps and implement improvements
• Track and report weekly on core operational KPIs: on-time ship rate, fill rate, inventory accuracy, return rate, cost per order
• Own the vendor onboarding process; build and maintain supplier scorecards; hold suppliers accountable to lead time and quality commitments
• Identify and implement operational improvements to reduce cost per order and increase fulfilment speed

Required Qualifications

• 3–5+ years in e-commerce operations, supply chain, or logistics roles
• Direct experience managing fulfilment operations or a 3PL relationship at a DTC or e-commerce brand
• Proficient in Shopify or similar e-commerce platform; experience with inventory management systems (e.g., Cin7, Brightpearl, Linnworks)
• Strong analytical skills — comfortable building and interpreting reports in Excel/Google Sheets; SQL or BI tool experience is a plus
• Proven ability to build SOPs and process documentation from scratch
• Strong communicator with experience managing vendor relationships

Nice to Have

• Experience with international fulfilment, customs documentation, or import compliance
• Familiarity with automation tools (Shopify Flow, Zapier, Make)
• Experience managing a small operations or warehouse team
• Background in a high-SKU or high-volume e-commerce environment

KPIs for This Role

• On-time ship rate ≥ 98%
• Inventory accuracy ≥ 99%
• Fill rate ≥ 95%
• Cost per order (trend, not fixed target)
• Stockout rate ≤ 2% of SKUs in any given week
• Return processing time ≤ 5 business days

Compensation Benchmarks

E-commerce operations manager compensation varies significantly by market, company size, and scope. As rough benchmarks in North American markets (2025–2026):

• Early-stage brands ($1M–$5M revenue): $65,000–$85,000 base; often includes equity or profit sharing
• Growth-stage brands ($5M–$20M revenue): $80,000–$110,000 base
• Scaling brands ($20M+ revenue): $100,000–$140,000+ base depending on scope and geography

Remote roles typically benchmark slightly below in-person roles at comparable brands. Operations roles with P&L responsibility or direct reports command a premium.

Common Hiring Mistakes

• Confusing an ops manager with a warehouse manager — a warehouse manager runs the floor; an ops manager builds systems and manages vendors and strategy
• Under-specifying the tech stack — if the role requires Cin7 or a specific WMS, say so upfront; mismatched tech experience is a common mismatch
• Leaving scope ambiguous — “other duties as assigned” in an ops JD ends up meaning “everything nobody else wants to do”; be specific
• Not defining the reporting structure — ops managers who report to the wrong stakeholder (e.g., reporting to marketing instead of finance or the CEO) often struggle to get buy-in for the process changes they need to make

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between an e-commerce operations manager and a supply chain manager?

An e-commerce operations manager typically focuses on the full order-to-delivery cycle: fulfilment, inventory, technology, and process. A supply chain manager tends to have a broader remit covering procurement, sourcing, and upstream logistics. At smaller brands, these roles often overlap.

What tools should an e-commerce operations manager know?

Core tools vary by stack, but common requirements include Shopify (or equivalent e-commerce platform), an inventory management system (Cin7, Linnworks, Brightpearl), shipping software (ShipStation, EasyPost), and strong spreadsheet skills. Familiarity with automation tools like Shopify Flow or Zapier is increasingly valuable.

How many SKUs can one e-commerce operations manager handle?

A well-supported operations manager using modern inventory tools can typically manage 200–500 active SKUs effectively. Beyond that, additional operations staff, a WMS, or more advanced forecasting tools are generally required.

Should an e-commerce operations manager have warehouse experience?

Warehouse experience is helpful but not always required, especially if the brand uses a 3PL. More important is experience managing vendors, building processes, and working with inventory systems. Direct warehouse floor experience is more relevant if the brand operates its own fulfilment centre.

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Writing a strong operations manager JD starts with being clear about what you actually need. If you’re scaling your team and want help defining the right roles and org structure for your operations function, OpsStack works with e-commerce brands to build the operational foundation for growth.