G11/24 T11 0 - Operations Specialist (Retail/CPG)

Real opportunities. Real impact. Your career, redefined.

(NOTE: A human reviews every application at Oceans, so please apply for only one position and only once a year—if you're a better fit for another role, we’ll route your application accordingly and if we’re not quite ready for you, we’ll reach back out later).

At Oceans, we help the best and brightest of Sri Lanka to take advantage of opportunities that otherwise wouldn’t be available to them, while supporting entrepreneurs around the world. Our community (we call them Divers) don’t do surface work—they go deep to solve complex challenges and make a real impact. And in doing so, they support bold ideas and expand their skills, broaden their expertise, and grow their careers, all without having to leave family and friends.

We’re hiring an Operations Specialist to partner with a fast-growing CPG brand selling into major U.S. retailers including Target, Walmart, Costco, Walgreens, and Kroger. This environment is fast-paced, detail-intensive, and deeply rooted in retail operations, EDI accuracy, logistics coordination, and compliance-driven execution.

In this role, you’ll ensure smooth day-to-day operations across retail accounts, own order flow and logistics, manage retailer communication, prevent OTIF issues, and collaborate closely with 3PLs and internal teams to drive operational excellence. If you excel in solving operational challenges, thrive under pressure, and can balance forecasting with hands-on execution, this role is built for you.

Accountability

As Operations Specialist, your success will be measured by your ability to keep retailers in stock, maintain operational accuracy, resolve compliance issues quickly, and ensure flawless execution across retail workflows. You’ll drive the daily operational engine that powers retail partnerships nationwide.

Here’s how you’ll make an impact:

Mass Retail Operations (End-to-End Ownership)

• Manage day-to-day retail operations across Target, Walmart, and other national accounts.
• Oversee PO intake, allocations, routing, 3PL coordination, pick/pack/ship, ASNs, invoicing, and reconciliation.
• Maintain clean EDI flows across 850/855/856/810/997 and retailer portals.
  

Inventory, Order Flow & Demand Planning

• Manage inventory health across distribution centers.
• Build and manage forecasting models (MAPE, WOS targets, seasonality).
• Escalate constraints early and provide accurate ETAs and mitigation plans.
  

OTIF, Chargeback & Compliance Leadership

• Monitor retailer scorecards daily and proactively prevent OTIF issues.
• Lead root-cause analyses and corrective action plans.
• Reduce chargebacks through improved processes and 3PL coordination.
  

3PL & Vendor Collaboration

• Partner daily with 3PLs on orders, dispatches, routing compliance, and operational performance.
• Troubleshoot delays, ASN issues, shortages, and warehouse errors.
  

Retail Systems, Data & Accuracy

• Work inside retailer portals (Retail Link, Target Partners Online) and EDI systems.
• Investigate and resolve systemic data discrepancies.
• Ensure flawless accuracy across orders, shipments, and compliance documentation.
  

Escalation & Issue Resolution

• Respond quickly and calmly to operational fires.
• Drive both immediate fixes and long-term solutions.
• Provide clear, proactive communication to internal teams and retail partners.

Colleagues

You’ll work closely with the internal and external stakeholders. 

At Oceans, you’ll also receive guidance and support from our Operations Manager, who will help you succeed in this role and ensure that you’re continuously growing and developing in your career.

Skills & Qualifications

At Oceans, we believe in T-shaped individuals — those who bring deep expertise in one area paired with broad curiosity and interests. As an Operations Specialist, your vertical strength will be CPG retail operations, while your horizontal strengths will include forecasting, problem solving, and cross-functional collaboration.

To excel in this role, you should have:

• Experience: 3–5+ years of CPG retail operations, working directly with mass retailers.
• Retail Expertise: Hands-on experience with Walmart Retail Link and Target Partners Online (required).
• EDI: Deep knowledge of 850/855/856/810 compliance workflows.
  Planning: Strong demand planning, MAPE analysis, WOS modeling, and inventory forecasting.
• Operational Rigor: Proven ability to improve OTIF, reduce chargebacks, and maintain operational accuracy.
• Collaboration: Ability to work closely with 3PLs, logistics teams, sales, and supply chain functions.
• Mindset: Calm under pressure, solutions-oriented, and proactive in preventing issues before they occur.
  

Bonus skills: 

• Experience with Costco, Walgreens, Kroger, or B&N
• Advanced forecasting or statistical modeling
• Vendor compliance experience
• ERP → retailer systems integration or automation exposure

Diversity of experience is core to Oceans. You are expected to work inclusively with individuals from a variety of backgrounds, ensuring that both personal and collective dignity are supported.

During the interview process, you’ll have the opportunity to showcase your skills in the following areas:

• Retail Operations: How you’ve managed Target/Walmart order flows, compliance, and operational accuracy.
• EDI Mastery: How you’ve ensured clean 850/855/856/810 flows and resolved discrepancies.
• OTIF & Chargeback Reduction: Examples of how you’ve prevented issues or driven corrective action.
• Forecasting & Inventory Planning: How you’ve applied WOS, MAPE, or demand planning models.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: How you’ve worked with 3PLs, supply chain, and internal teams to unblock issues.
• Escalation Management: How you handle operational fires with clarity and urgency.

Role Specifications

This is a remote role, where you will be expected to work a split shift with some overlap with our client’s time zone. You will, however, be expected to be present for in-person training programs during your first 90 days with us. During the offer process, we’ll share more information about our benefits and compensation philosophy, considering both market trends and individual factors.

About Oceans

At Oceans, we build remote teams that connect the world’s top 1% of talent with visionary leaders. With us, you’re not just doing a job—you’re redefining your career with opportunities designed to unlock your potential. We welcome the chance to discuss the complementary parts of our business during your interview process and encourage questions about where we are and where we are going.