Operations Lead - Palo Alto in Palo Alto, California at VARLEY CLOTHING LIMITED

About Varley Clothing

Varley is a contemporary fashion brand for the modern woman. Founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife Lara and Ben Mead, we are an international, family-run business headquartered between London, Los Angeles, and New York.

We create year-round collections designed to build an elevated wardrobe for how women live and move. From knitwear and outerwear to everyday staples and active pieces, our collections blend style, function, and versatility.

Varley exists to instil quiet confidence through meaningful connections that enhance everything women already are. As women’s lives evolve, so do we.

Our international family-run team is 85% female, making us proud to be a brand for women, by women. We are guided by two core beliefs: the pursuit of quality in everything we do and looking after one another.

Role Purpose

The Store Operations Lead is a key operational leader responsible for driving stockroom excellence, inventory accuracy, and operational efficiency within the store. This role ensures that all product movement, stock processes, and back-of-house operations are executed with precision, consistency, and pace to support overall store performance.

Combining strong organisational capability with strategic thinking, the Store Operations Lead develops and implements operational processes that improve efficiency, maximise space, and enable seamless product flow from delivery through to the shop floor.

Working in close partnership with store leadership, visual merchandising, and central operations teams, this role ensures operational readiness across seasonal changes, new launches, and peak trading periods.

While this is not a management role, they act as a leader within the store, fostering a culture of accountability, discipline, and continuous improvement, while building team capability across stockroom and operational functions.

Key Responsibilities

1. Stockroom & Delivery Management

• Oversee all inbound and outbound stock movements, ensuring accuracy, timeliness, and compliance.
• Verify delivery documentation and resolve discrepancies with warehouse and head office.
• Act as the primary liaison for all stock-related communication.
• Maintain a clean, organised, and structured stockroom to support efficiency and safety.
• Continuously improve workflows to reduce handling time and increase productivity.
• Ensure compliance with health & safety and manual handling standards.

2. Process Development & Continuous Improvement

• Develop, document, and embed clear stockroom processes and standards.
• Identify inefficiencies and implement solutions to improve speed, accuracy, and organisation.
• Establish best practices across receiving, tagging, storage, and replenishment.
• Collaborate across stores and teams to ensure consistency and share best practices.

3. Seasonal Stock Planning & Space Optimisation

• Plan stockroom capacity based on seasonal launches and stock volume forecasts.
• Organise stock by category and sales priority to maximise accessibility.
• Anticipate space constraints and proactively recommend solutions (transfers, returns, reallocations).
• Adapt layouts to maintain efficiency during peak periods and trading fluctuations.
• Partner with the VM and management teams to make informed decisions about end of season stock which can be returned to the warehouse

4. Inventory Management & Stock Accuracy

• Conduct daily cycle counts using the RFID wand, completing audits, and stock checks.
• Receiving product TO’s arriving to the store in a timely and uniform manner
• Investigate and resolve discrepancies, ensuring timely communication of adjustments.
• Lead full and half-year stock takes with strong organisation and execution.
• Monitor shrinkage, identify trends, and support loss prevention initiatives.
• Ensure all stock is correctly labelled (with RFID), ticketed, and stored.

5. Merchandising & Shop Floor Collaboration

• Ensure seamless flow of stock from stockroom to shop floor.
• Communicate key updates including new arrivals, replenishment priorities, and stock issues.
• Respond quickly to stock requests, ensuring accuracy and timeliness.
• Align stockroom priorities with commercial and sales floor needs.
• Partner with the store VM and management to ensure product is processed, hung and steamed for new collection launces

7. Damaged Stock & Compliance

• Manage identification, documentation, and processing of damaged or faulty stock.
• Inspect deliveries and escalate supplier or quality issues.
• Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with company policies.

8. Store Supplies & Packaging Management

• Monitor and maintain supply levels for operational materials.
• Forecast demand and manage ordering processes.
• Resolve discrepancies to ensure uninterrupted operations.

9. Communication and Training

• Train and coach team members in stockroom processes and standards.
• Lead by example, promoting organisation, accountability, and discipline.
• Regularly check and review communications sent through Zipline to stay up to date on all updates and task completion.
• Communicate with “Head office” team directly regarding inventory related process (receiving, transfers, cycle counts, etc).

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Experience

• Minimum 3 years’ experience in stockroom, inventory, or warehouse management (retail preferred).
• Strong experience in stock control, audits, and stock takes.
• Proven ability to improve operational processes.
• Experience training and developing team members.
• Exposure to multi-store operations or store openings (desirable).

Skills & Competencies

• Highly organised with strong attention to detail.
• Strong problem-solving skills, particularly in space and stock management.
• Strategic planning capability for stockroom layout and seasonal demand.
• Ability to work independently and make sound decisions.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in POS and inventory systems.
• Physically capable of stockroom operations.
• Fully flexible, including availability for weekends, peak seasons, and changing business demands.

The Candidate

• Proactive and solutions-focused
• Detail-oriented with strong ownership
• Collaborative and team-focused
• Adaptable and resilient
• Committed to operational excellence and continuous improvement

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role is defined by a highly organised, efficient, and accurate stockroom operation that enables the store to perform at its best.

A successful Store Operations Lead ensures seamless product flow, maintains strong inventory integrity, and builds a capable, accountable team—directly contributing to commercial performance and customer satisfaction.

Our People

· We think of ourselves as an international family-run business that embodies our founders’ commitment to creating timeless collections for the modern woman. What started as a company of two has grown into a close-knit team of thinkers, creators, and innovators, taking care of our clothes, each other, and our community.

· Split across the UK and USA, our team is 85% female, making us proud to be a brand for women, by women.

· We are guided by two core beliefs: the pursuit of quality in everything we do and looking after one another. Everything else should take care of itself.

We are the sum of many parts
We promote diversity, inclusivity, and teamwork. Our successes and failures are shared as a team.

We pursue quality in everything we do
Growth comes from continuous improvement across every aspect of our business.

We embrace possibility and push boundaries
We encourage innovative thinking and challenge ourselves to achieve extraordinary outcomes.

Data-driven decisions and purposeful actions
We prioritise thoughtful analysis and informed decision making.

Our brand is timeless and valuable
We protect and enhance the long-term value of our brand.

We never compromise our product
Our product is defined by quality, not price.

We respect and exceed customer expectations
Our goal is to turn customers into passionate advocates.

We choose partners who reflect our values
We collaborate with partners who uphold the same standards we do.

We grow our brand by empowering others
We support the growth of those around us and build meaningful connections.

Responsibility is at the core of everything we do
We prioritise ethical practices and sustainability.

Kindness is our guiding principle
Respect, empathy, and understanding shape how we work together.