About Us:
KommandoStore is an online military surplus store. We started in a basement in 2013, and now import from every continent on earth except Antartica (we could do more business in South America, but I digress.) We are a wild internet culture focused brand, and we have a lot of fun with it. I would say we are equal parts outdoor outfitting, mens fashion, and a historical curiosities.
Internally, Kommandostore is a small, extremely agile team that punches way above our weight. We pride ourselves on taking good care of our employees, and everyone on staff is passionate and invested in what they do. We have very low turnover, and do our best to keep KS a uniquely great bubble outside of the monotony of corporate America.
Job Title: Director of Operations
Location: Central Rapid City, SD
Company: KommandoStore
Job Summary:
We've been around over a decade now, but Kommandostore is currently experiencing a period of growth and evolution that is new to us. Our team is larger than it's ever been, and our complexity is growing too. Your primary role as Director of Operations will be to help us consolidate our existing success and to help build the teams, systems, and processes to get us to the next level.
The majority of your mission lies with the office half of the company. Our in-house fulfillment team is currently overseen by your future coworker Matt, who is our (amazing) warehouse manager. In the office you will be responsible for coordinating our purchasing, bookkeeping, marketing, media, and product teams.
Your department will be looking to you for clarity of purpose, professional guidance, and leadership in the face of day to day challenges. You will have the full, daily support of the founder team and other senior employees, but we do expect you to exercise sound independent judgement in your operational role. You should feel comfortable confronting chaos with a positive attitude and leaving things more organized than you found them.
As Director of Operations, you will work with the founder team to help employees learn and improve through continuing education programs. Likewise, you will be expected to be the majority driver behind continuous improvement in our internal processes.
A strong background in people management is absolutely necessary, as is previous senior-level management experience. We prefer candidates who have an intimate understanding of the military and outdoors market, and directly relevant experience in D2C ecommerce. Preference is also given to candidates with a strong business analysis background.
Basic Job Responsibilities:
Team Development:
- Guide the personal and professional development of our employees, fostering growth, career progression, and clarity of purpose.
- Facilitate internal communication, organization, and execution between all of our departments.
- Create fair standards for performance and accountability within the office and lead by example.
- Foster a positive and collaborative professional culture, addressing conflicts and maintaining high morale.
Operational Tasks:
- Evaluate, design, and optimize internal processes and workflows to improve efficiency and productivity.
- Develop and implement standardized procedures, ensuring consistency and compliance across all core business operations.
- Continually seek out and reduce unnecessary complexity in all departments (80-20 rule).
- Collaborate with the warehouse manager to ensure seamless coordination between office and warehouse.
Strategic Tasks:
- Work closely with the founder team to develop and execute strategic plans that align with company goals.
- Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and implement action plans to achieve operational excellence.
- Provide insights and recommendations based on industry best practices and past successes.
Communication:
- Communication and Reporting:
- Consistently provide clear, positive, and unambiguous senior leadership for employees at all levels.
- Prepare and present regular reports on operational performance, team development, and project progress to the founder team.
- Assist the founder team in executing and communicating their intent.
Core Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Management, or a related field. Advanced degree preferred. (This requirement can be waived for exceptional candidates with practical experience in senior business operations roles.)
- Proven experience in a senior operational or general management role, ideally within a D2C ecommerce company.
- Strong data-driven business analysis skills covering purchasing, inventory, pricing, and reporting.
- Demonstrated success in leading and developing teams, particularly in transitioning from a small business to a corporate structure.
- Strong understanding of process improvement methodologies and best practices.
- Excellent communication, interpersonal, and leadership skills.
- Ability to work independently, make sound decisions, and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- High level of integrity, professionalism, and a commitment to fostering a positive workplace culture.
Nice to Haves:
- Experience in D2C ecommerce marketing.
- Experience in D2C ecommerce strategy.
- Media experience.
- A passion for the outdoors (hiking, hunting, mountain biking, etc.).
- Interest/experience in military, shooting sports, or military history.
What We Offer:
- Competitive salary and benefits package starting at $85k - $135k per year base pay, depending on past experience and qualifications.
- Aggressive performance-based incentives augmenting base pay.
- A range of benefits including relocation packages, health insurance, dental insurance, paid time off, and more.
- Paid professional development opportunities.
- A collaborative and supportive work environment with low turnover and high employee satisfaction.
- Opportunities to take advantage of the excellent outdoor recreation in the Black Hills, including company-sponsored outings and events.
How to Apply:
Interested candidates are invited to submit their resume and a cover letter detailing their relevant experience and why they are a fit for this role via Indeed. Please do not submit resumes with a generic cover letter.
KommandoStore is an equal opportunity employer.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $85,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Relocation assistance
- Tuition reimbursement
- Vision insurance
Schedule:
Application Question(s):
- Can you describe a situation in your previous roles where you were faced with significant disorganization or chaos? How did you approach resolving it, what steps did you take to organize your team and processes, and what was the outcome?
- Can you share an experience where you had to lead a team through a period of significant turmoil or crisis, such as a major organizational change or a high-pressure project with conflicting priorities? How did you manage the chaos, support your team, ensure accountability, and what was the outcome?
- Can you describe a situation where you identified the need for a cultural change within your organization? Specifically, how did you diagnose the issues, what specific actions did you take to implement the change, how did you address any resistance from team members, and what measurable outcomes did you achieve as a result?
- How you typically plan and prepare for a busy week? Describe your typical Sunday night (7pm - 10pm) and Monday morning (6am to 9am) in 15 minute increments.
Ability to Relocate:
- Rapid City, SD 57701: Relocate with an employer provided relocation package (Required)
Work Location: In person