OVERVIEW

The Director, APAC Operations is responsible for leading, scaling, and optimizing the operational activities across ALO's APAC region. In partnership with global leadership, this role oversees distribution center operations, destination and outbound logistics, trade compliance, inventory control, and regional performance management. The Director drives operational excellence by partnering closely with global and regional leaders to ensure efficient product flow, operational consistency, and outstanding service to our guests. This position requires a strategic, hands-on leader who excels at managing 3PL partnerships, scaling fulfillment infrastructure, and executing against long-term growth objectives.

RESPONSIBILITIES  

• Direct APAC operations in partnership with global functions, including distribution center (DC) operations, destination logistics, outbound logistics, trade compliance, and inventory control across Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
• Drive APAC operations to meet and exceed targeted performance, growth, and service-level expectations.
• Partner with global and regional functional leaders to accelerate operational performance, set KPIs, and ensure efficient product flow from factory to customer.
• Establish, evaluate, and maintain performance standards and metrics for all operational areas, continually seeking opportunities to enhance service, capacity, and cost efficiency.
• Oversee budgeting, labor, operating expenses, and regional P&L performance.
• With Global Distribution, manage regional 3PL relationships, ensuring service, cost, and quality expectations are consistently achieved.
• In partnership with APAC and global operations leadership, help create and implement the APAC operations strategy to enable the region’s five-year growth plan.
• Translate this strategy into a multi-year initiative roadmap, driving execution to achieve defined performance and financial targets.
• Develop and maintain a regional operations roadmap to support expansion, peak season scalability, and market-entry initiatives.
• Manage the department’s initiative portfolio, ensuring project success through disciplined prioritization, execution, and performance tracking.
• Ensure alignment with global operations strategy, while customizing solutions for APAC’s diverse regulatory, cultural, and logistical landscape.
• Develop and manage a robust metrics portfolio that tracks daily/weekly operational performance and informs monthly executive-level dashboards.
• Build and lead a regional continuous improvement program that delivers measurable year-over-year gains in efficiency, cost, and service.
• Establish effective working relationships with regional leadership, global operations teams, and cross-functional partners to ensure collaboration and accountability.
• Promote an operational excellence mindset, leveraging Lean and data-driven practices to optimize performance across all facilities and partners.
• Drive standardization and best practices in process, reporting, and 3PL management throughout the region.
• Build, lead, and inspire a high-performing APAC operations team focused on accountability, innovation, and service excellence.
• Create a motivational and supportive environment in which employees are challenged, coached, and provided with growth opportunities.
• Assess staff development needs, build robust training and succession plans, and execute against them to strengthen organizational capability.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, trust, and empowerment that reflects alo’s values of mindfulness, wellness, and excellence.
• Develop and sustain strong collaborative relationships with key internal stakeholders (DC Directors, Retail, IT, Finance, and Planning) and external partners.
• Develop and deploy business continuity and disaster recovery plans for APAC operations, ensuring resilience and operational readiness.
• Ensure compliance with all regional trade, customs, and import/export regulations, in partnership with legal and compliance teams.
• Continuously assess risk and ensure operational contingencies are in place across the region.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, or related field; MBA preferred.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience in operations, logistics, or supply chain management, with at least 5 years leading regional operations across APAC markets.
• Strong knowledge of China, Korea, Japan and Australia distribution, trade compliance, and logistics operations across multi-country environments.
• Proven success managing 3PL providers, large-scale distribution networks, and cross-functional project teams.
• Experience budgeting, forecasting, and managing regional P&L ownership.
• Exceptional leadership skills with proven ability to inspire, influence, and lead through change.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to manage up, down, and across functions.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities with proficiency in MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
• Strategic thinker with strong operational and financial acumen.
• Results-oriented, innovative, and solutions-focused.
• Proven collaborator who thrives in matrix, multicultural environments.
• Entrepreneurial leader who combines agility with disciplined execution.
• Values-driven executive who models ALO’s principles of mindfulness, integrity, and teamwork.
• Experience in fashion, lifestyle, or performance apparel operations preferred.
• Familiarity with retail and e-commerce operations, including omnichannel fulfillment preferred.
• Knowledge of sustainability and ESG operational standards is a plus.
• Fluency in multiple Asian languages preferably Mandarin is strongly preferred.
• Currently based in Shanghai or Hong Kong or willing to relocate.