ABOUT US
Ancient + Brave is a mission driven wellness brand, founded in 2018 by Kate Prince who saw a gap in the market for sustainable products which support women’s health and wellness. From the start Kate wanted the company to be unique, creating innovative formulas with targeted health benefits. The elements of daily ritual and ancestral health are integral to the brand.

As a B-Corp, Ancient + Brave meets the highest standards of social and environmental Impact. In June 2024 we have been named 5th in The Sunday Times 100 fastest-growing private companies - our brand has developed an incredible following and following investment from Piper, is ready to scale in the UK and internationally.

Want to be a part of a team that’s shaping the future of health and wellbeing?
We'd love to have you!

THE ROLE

We’re seeking an exceptional Operations Director with a proven track record of scaling brands globally, a deep understanding of utilising data-driven insights, and expertise in developing innovative growth strategies.

You will lead our Operations, Demand Planning, Warehouse, and Logistics teams, ensuring the highest standards of quality, efficiency, and sustainability across all operations. A key focus will be driving operational strategy for international expansion and seamlessly integrating new product lines into global operations.

Collaborating closely with the CFO and senior leadership team, you will align operational execution with strategic objectives to drive value creation and ensure we deliver outstanding service.

Reporting to the CFO you will be responsible for the following:

+ Overall responsibility for ensuring Operations, Warehouse and Logistics teams deliver the best-in-class service implementing cost efficiencies and improved sustainability.

+ Oversee and optimise the supply chain to ensure timely delivery of raw materials, components and finished goods.

+ Oversee the production process, ensuring high-quality standards and compliance with all applicable regulatory standards

+ Fully own COGS(Cost of Goods Sold), driving significant improvements and over-seeing all commercial negotiations with suppliers.

+ Collaborate closely with the CFO and CEO on financial planning, COGS, and the development of both UK and international strategies for long-term growth and profitability.
+ Collaborate with the Innovation team to efficiently bring new products to market.

+ Oversee and develop operational structure and processes in terms of our warehouse and fulfilment in order to be able to scale in line with the needs of the business.

+ Lead and develop operational structure and processes which will enable us to manage the delivery of product enhancements and new product launches as well as facilitating expansion into new geographies quickly and efficiently.

+ Implement best practices for inventory management, order fulfillment, and warehouse safety.

+ Manage relationships with domestic and international suppliers, freight providers, and distributors

+ Oversee fulfilment KPIs, such as order accuracy, on-time in full, and customer satisfaction, and take corrective actions when needed.

+ Develop and monitor KPIs for production efficiency, waste reduction, and cost control

+ Set and ensure delivery of logistics and operations KPI’s to ensure continuous improvement in all areas. Provide regular reports to senior leadership on operational performance. Use data-driven insights to guide decision-making and drive improvements.

+ Responsible for operational budgets and ensuring efficient allocation of resources. Analyse financial data to identify trends and opportunities for cost efficiencies.

+ Identify any operational risks and develop mitigation strategies.

+ Drive cost efficiencies whilst maintaining service quality

+ Lead the adoption of automation and technology to enhance operational efficiency

+ Support the business’ ambition to remain and improve our B-Corp credentials, providing support as required to ensure all information, policies and procedures are up to date and in-line with the ESG and B-Corp requirements. This relates to all current and prospective suppliers, partners and vendors or, where appropriate packaging and/or ingredients requirements and standards.

+ Lead, mentor, and inspire the OperationsDemand Planning, Warehouse & Logistics teams to achieve excellence. Cultivate an ambitious and collaborative team environment that fosters innovation.

+ Implement training plans where necessary to build operational capabilities across the organisation

WHO YOU ARE

To be successful in this role, you will need the following skills / knowledge / experience:

+ Proven international experience in a senior operations leadership role, leading production, logistics and warehousing teams ideally in the wellness or consumer food sector.

+ Demonstrated success in scaling operations, ideally including setting up overseas facilities.
+ Proficiency with ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) systems and data-driven decision-making.
+ A strategic thinker, able to identify opportunities for operational improvement, anticipate challenges, and develop innovative solutions that drive efficiency, profitability, and long-term success.

+ Strong understanding of regulatory compliance and quality standards for wellness or food products in key markets.

+ Skilled in utilising analytics and data insights to inform and guide strategic decisions.

+ Excellent communication skills and the ability to build effective cross-functional relationships.

+ An exceptional leader with demonstrated experience leading, mentoring, and developing teams.

To truly thrive at Ancient + Brave you will need to embody the spirit of our brand and align with our company culture. You are:

+ A role model within the operations and logistics functions ensuring the distinct brand positioning is reflected in all activity whilst matching the pace and tone of the business.

+ Highly self-motivated with an ability to take initiative and run with it.

+ Solution focused with a ‘can-do’ attitude and a strong work ethic.

+ Known for having a positive outlook and a growth mindset.

+ A collaborative team player who also excels in independent settings.

+ Exceptional communicator, able to convey information clearly and concisely.

+ Entrepreneurial and commercially minded.

+ Able and willing to work in fast paced scale -up environments with an ability to effectively prioritise.

+ Passionate about doing greater good and the future we’re building - we expect our team to be supporting our B-Corp and ESG goals while being proactive and mindful in suggesting ideas for the business to improve its practices.

WHY JOIN US

Ancient + Brave are a community-built brand and embracing innovation and sustainability with social and environmental responsibility is at the heart of everything we do. We hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards when it comes to our commitment to balance profit and purpose - working with us means being part of building a truly sustainable product. We are B Corp certified and members of 1% for the Planet, committed to giving back % of all sales towards helping environmental partners, so we can work together towards a better future for our planet.

At Ancient + Brave you’ll find an engaging, collaborative and inclusive work environment where your talents will be nurtured, and your contributions valued.

We provide all our team members with suitable laptop computers & headphones and our office is equipped with monitors, ergonomic chairs and sitting + standing desks. Our kitchen is fully stocked with the usual supplies as well as limitless supply of A+B products (you also get 50% off on any product you wish to purchase).

We pay a discretionary bonus based on a mix of company performance and individual contributions and review our salaries annually. Our pension contributions are ESG invested (so no pharma, weapons or other ethically questionable investments).

Our Medicash plan offers access to specialist consultations, 24/7 Virtual GP and health screenings as well as dental, optical and complementary therapies and access to confidential support via its EAP programme.

Our Mintago platform gives employees access to financial wellbeing advice and support as well as retail discounts and salary sacrifice schemes, which cover childcare, cycle to work, gym membership, groceries and mobile/tech purchase.

In addition to our regular annual holiday allowance of 25 days plus bank holidays, we also offer one Wellbeing day to use as needed.

We offer continuous training & professional development opportunities and our team members get to enjoy complimentary nutrition and workout sessions in the office. We support a number of charities, coordinating our fund-raising initiatives for maximum impact. We hold two social events a year to come together and connect in a meaningful way.  

An important note on our ways of working…
As a fast-paced scale-up, we’ve found that spending time together in person is hugely beneficial to the way we’re needing to communicate, collaborate and drive the business forward. We’ve worked hard to make our office (a beautiful old mill situated in East Sussex) an inviting and friendly environment for all of our team members and we expect any new joiner to be in the office full time.

We are an equal-opportunity employer committed to fostering an inclusive and diverse workplace culture. We embrace varied perspectives and encourage creativity that knows no bounds. While most of our roles are advertised as full-time, we are open to discussing part-time setup where appropriate.