About the Company:

A Series A-funded quick-commerce startup redefining how construction and interior materials - cement, plywood, wiring, hardware, paints, and more - reach job sites in under 60 minutes. Operating through a network of 6 dark stores across Bengaluru and a central DC, they serve contractors, builders, and interior designers who simply can't afford delays. They're backed to scale, and the pace reflects it.

The Role:

With 6 dark stores live and more on the way, the business needs someone who can hold the entire store operations layer together - and keep raising the bar. As Head of Store Operations, you will be the manager of all Dark Store Managers. You own the daily rhythm of every store: inward, dispatch, returns, compliance, shrinkage, damage control, and team performance. You'll design and drive the Pre-Journey Plan (PJP) across all stores, resolve local operational issues before they escalate, and build a culture of accountability and discipline on the ground.

This is a high-ownership, field-heavy role - not a desk job. If you've led multi-site dark store or quick-commerce operations and know what it takes to keep multiple stores running at speed, this role is yours to shape.

What You'll Do:

- Lead and manage all Dark Store Managers across 6 stores - set expectations, review performance, and develop their capability daily.

- Design and drive the daily Pre-Journey Plan (PJP) for all stores - ensuring every store opens, operates, and closes to a consistent standard.

- Own inward and dispatch operations across all dark stores - drive accuracy, speed, and zero tolerance for process gaps.

- Manage forward and reverse logistics flows across the network - ensure returns are processed cleanly and on time.

- Control shrinkage, write-offs, and damage proactively - build systems and habits that protect inventory health across all stores.

- Ensure full compliance across all dark stores - SOPs, safety, hygiene, regulatory, and company standards without exception.

- Resolve local operational issues fast - be the escalation point that actually fixes problems, not just delegates them.

- Track and analyse store-level KPIs daily - throughput, inventory accuracy, TAT, damage rates - and act on deviations immediately.

- Work closely with the DC Head and Transport Manager to ensure seamless replenishment and stock availability at all stores at all times.

- Build and document the dark store operations playbook as the network scales to new locations.

What We're Looking For:

Must Have:

- 7-12 years of operations experience with at least 3-4 years managing multiple dark stores or quick-commerce fulfilment locations simultaneously.

- Strong expertise in inward/dispatch management, forward & reverse logistics, and daily store ops rhythm.

- Proven track record of controlling shrinkage, write-offs, and damage in a high-SKU, fast-moving environment.

- Hands-on experience designing and executing PJPs across a multi-site operation.

- Demonstrated ability to manage, coach, and develop a team of store or warehouse managers.

- Deep understanding of operational compliance requirements - ability to enforce standards without losing team trust.