Operations Manager Founder Entrepreneurial Experience

Manage a Team of Ops Associates for a fast-growing NYC-based custom apparel start-up (Remote)

Hi, this is Arpana, one of the founding members of Fresh Prints.

In December 2016, I came across a job post on Naukri from Jacob Goodman, one of the co-owners of Fresh Prints. They were looking for someone to lead Operations in India. The post had already been taken down, but I decided to send Jacob an email anyway. To my surprise, he replied, and soon I found myself stepping into what would become a life-changing opportunity.

During the interview process, it became clear just how new everything was. There was no office, no payroll system, no established infrastructure. But what stood out was Jacob and Joshs unwavering belief in the vision they had for Fresh Prints. They didnt have all the answers, but their passion was contagious, and I knew I wanted to help build something from the ground up.

So I jumped in. I found an office, figured out payroll, and even brought in my childhood best friend to help get things started. Those early days were full of unknowns, but thats what made them so exciting. I got to wear multiple hats, solve problems on the fly, and help build something tangible. What started as a team of two soon grew into teams across Finance, Tech, and Marketing.

As the first employee of Fresh Prints India, Ive had the privilege of helping shape the company from its earliest days. After taking a short break to have my daughter, I returned to lead HR and Recruiting. Since then, weve grown from a scrappy startup into a team of 400+ people across three countries. But even today, we still believe its day one.

One of the moments Im most proud of was how we navigated COVID-19 together. Overnight, universities shut down, events stopped, and we went from million-dollar months to zero revenue.

But wed spent years preparing for uncertainty. From day one, we believed our balance sheet had to be a strength, so we always planned to be able to operate for at least a year without revenue or layoffs. When COVID hit, we were scared, but we were prepared.

Then we adapted. As demand for PPE surged, we pivoted from custom apparel to supplying protective equipment. It wasnt just about keeping the business alive—it was about meeting a real need. That willingness to move quickly and solve problems together helped us come out stronger while many companies were simply trying to survive.

The opportunities that were available to me when I joined as the first employee are still here today—in fact, theyre even bigger. Were at an exciting point in our journey, and were looking for people who want to have a real impact on what comes next.

If youre someone who sees opportunity and isnt afraid to chase it, this is the role for you. Were looking for people with an entrepreneurial mindset who take ownership, challenge the norm, and enjoy solving problems without a playbook. At Fresh Prints, there are no limits—but if youre looking for a role with a clear set of instructions, this probably isnt it.

If our story resonates, we want to hear from you! 

Heres more about the Operations Manager role: 

The operations team handles the most crucial part of the business and is directly responsible for every step in delivering the end product to our customers.

• How do we build a team that drives the business forward?
• How do we motivate Operations Associates to respond to a higher volume of tickets at an even higher quality?
• How do you most efficiently manage incoming requests from printers, customers, and Campus Managers?
• How can we reduce our costs and increase our profit margins overall?

As a member of the Operations Leadership team, you’ll be a driving force behind moving our Operations team forward. You will own an entire area and have a team of people to lead and motivate. You will set and track metrics by which your success will be measured. 

We’re looking for someone who has fantastic people management skills, is a quick learner, and isn’t afraid to take on challenges daily. This is a high-impact role that requires excellent leadership and prioritization abilities. We’re on a remarkable growth trajectory and as Fresh Prints grows, you will too. You will be given the autonomy and guidance to have a tremendous impact on your role.

You’ll be managing a talented team of 3 to 7 associates, depending on which team you lead.

Responsibilities

• Fully own a part of our supply chain. That includes any projects, requests from other functions, headcount planning, helping the team realise its full potential and making it future-proof
• Managing a team of Ops Associates
• Managing communications with vendors & customers
• Managing escalations from the team and solving logistical issues
• Setting and tracking team metrics
• Make sure all goals are reached
• One-on-one meetings with your direct reports and with your manager

We’re specifically looking for someone who has:

• Founded, co-founded, or independently run a real operating business.
• Built or scaled a business serving paying customers.
• Managed employees directly—not only agencies, vendors, or freelancers.
• Personally handled hiring, coaching, performance management, and difficult people decisions.
• Owned business operations, customers, vendors, costs, and financial outcomes.
• Built processes from scratch in a fast-moving, resource-constrained environment.
• Strong commercial judgment and the confidence to form an independent point of view.
• Approximately 5–12 years of total experience, including meaningful people-management experience.
• Managed at least 3–5 employees at some point, preferably more.
• Strong communication, analytical, organisational, and problem-solving skills.
• Fluency in English and comfort working night shifts.

Preferred Business Backgrounds

Experience building or running a business in any of the following areas would be especially relevant:

• E-commerce or D2C
• Apparel, fashion, merchandise, or printing
• Supply chain, logistics, manufacturing, or fulfilment
• Consumer products
• Vendor or marketplace operations
• B2B operational businesses
• Customer service or technology-enabled operations

The industry does not need to match Fresh Prints exactly. What matters is that you have managed real employees, customers, operations, and financial outcomes.

What Does Not Qualify

Freelancing, solo consulting, passive co-founder roles, short-term side projects, or family-business involvement without clear ownership will not be considered equivalent to building and operating a business.

What We Value

• Entrepreneurial thinking
• Strong people leadership
• Ownership and accountability
• Practical business judgment
• Proactive problem-solving
• Comfort with ambiguity
• Clear and structured communication
• Data-driven decision-making
• Ability to remain calm under pressure
• Willingness to stay hands-on

This is a high-impact role with significant autonomy and the opportunity to grow into broader Operations leadership as Fresh Prints continues to scale.

Compensation & Benefits

• Competitive annual salary between USD 15,000 to USD 24,000
• Health insurance
• Mental Health Benefits
• Learning opportunities
• Working in a great culture 

Job Location

• Remote Working

Working Hours

• Working hours are 6:30 PM to 3:30 AM IST, Monday to Friday 

Fresh Prints is an equal employment opportunity employer and promotes diversity; actively encouraging people of all backgrounds, ages, LGBTQ+, and those with disabilities to apply. 

Fresh Prints never charges any money during the hiring process. If you’re asked to pay for a job, it’s not real.