Assistant Operations Manager

About Calo

Calo is on a mission to make healthy easy. Through technology, data, and operational excellence, we make healthy eating more accessible by delivering high-quality meals at scale. Our teams work together to create seamless customer experiences while continuously improving the way we operate across our markets.

The Assistant Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day execution of kitchen production, dispatch, and logistics operations, ensuring operational excellence across quality, food safety, speed, cost efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

This role partners closely with Production, Quality Assurance, Supply Chain, Planning, Customer Experience, and People teams to drive continuous improvement, optimize operational performance, and develop high-performing frontline teams

Operational Excellence

• Oversee the daily execution of kitchen production, dispatch, and logistics operations to ensure operational efficiency and service excellence.

• Ensure production plans are executed accurately while maintaining quality, food safety, and delivery timelines.

• Monitor daily operational KPIs including productivity, order accuracy, dispatch performance, waste, labor efficiency, and customer complaints.

• Ensure Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are consistently followed across all operational areas.

• Allocate manpower effectively based on production forecasts and business demand.

• Identify operational bottlenecks and implement sustainable process improvements.

• Support operational readiness duFring peak demand periods and business growth.

• Drive operational consistency across shifts while maintaining high service standards.

• Monitor equipment functionality and coordinate maintenance to minimize downtime.

• Partner with Planning and Supply Chain teams to ensure smooth production flow and resource availability.

Quality, Food Safety & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with all food safety, hygiene, and regulatory requirements.

• Act as a key stakeholder in maintaining HACCP standards across operations.

• Support internal and external food safety audits and ensure corrective actions are implemented.

• Drive a culture of food safety and operational discipline across all teams.

• Investigate operational incidents and implement preventive actions where required.

• Partner closely with the Quality Assurance team to maintain the highest product quality standards.

Customer Experience

• Ensure operational execution consistently meets customer expectations for quality, accuracy, and delivery.

• Investigate operational issues contributing to customer complaints and implement corrective actions.

• Collaborate with Customer Experience teams to identify recurring issues and improve service performance.

Financial & Operational Performance

• Support the achievement of operational budget targets through effective labor planning and cost management.

• Monitor operational expenses, labor productivity, food waste, and packaging waste while identifying improvement opportunities.

• Participate in forecasting activities and resource planning based on expected business volumes.

• Ensure accurate inventory management and support month-end stock counts.

• Drive initiatives that improve operational efficiency while maintaining quality standards.

Leadership & People Management

• Lead, coach, and develop frontline teams to build a high-performance culture.

• Provide regular coaching, performance feedback, and development opportunities.

• Support recruitment, onboarding, and training of new team members.

• Conduct performance reviews and contribute to succession planning.

• Promote employee engagement, accountability, and continuous learning.

• Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and safety-first working environment.

Continuous Improvement

• Analyze operational data to identify trends and improvement opportunities.

• Lead and support continuous improvement initiatives that enhance productivity, quality, and customer satisfaction.

• Participate in operational projects, process optimization initiatives, and new product or process implementations.

• Support the rollout of new technologies, systems, and operational processes.

General Responsibilities

• Ensure compliance with all company policies, procedures, and operational standards.

• Maintain a safe working environment by promoting health and safety best practices.

• Build strong collaborative relationships with cross-functional stakeholders.

• Demonstrate flexibility and adaptability in response to changing business needs.

• Perform additional duties as assigned by the Operations Manager.

Success Measures

Success in this role will be measured through:

• Operational efficiency and productivity

• Food quality consistency

• Order accuracy

• On-time dispatch and delivery readiness

• Food safety audit performance

• Customer complaint reduction

• Labor productivity

• Waste reduction

• Team engagement and retention

• Continuous improvement initiatives delivered

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Industrial Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field.

• HACCP certification or an equivalent food safety qualification is preferred.

• 5–7+ years of experience in food production, manufacturing, cloud kitchens, FMCG, or large-scale F&B operations.

• At least 2 years of experience leading frontline operational teams.

• Experience managing high-volume operations with a strong focus on quality, food safety, and operational excellence.

• Experience driving process improvements and operational efficiencies is highly desirable.

Knowledge & Competencies

• Strong leadership and people management skills.

• Excellent communication and stakeholder management abilities.

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret operational data and make data-driven decisions.

• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.

• Excellent planning, organization, and execution skills.

• Ability to prioritize and perform effectively in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and operational management systems; experience with ERP, WMS, or production planning systems is an advantage.

• Strong understanding of operational excellence, food safety standards, and continuous improvement principles.

Personality

• Leads by example and builds trust across teams.

• Takes ownership and demonstrates accountability.

• Proactive with a solution-oriented mindset.

• Adaptable and resilient in a fast-paced, evolving environment.

• Collaborative team player who builds strong cross-functional relationships.

• Committed to developing and coaching high-performing teams.

• Driven by continuous improvement and operational excellence.

• Demonstrates professionalism, integrity, and a customer-first mindset.

What Makes Someone Successful in This Role

• Leads by example and builds trust across teams.

• Makes data-driven decisions while balancing operational priorities.

• Takes ownership and proactively solves problems.

• Drives accountability and develops high-performing teams.

• Thrives in a fast-paced, evolving environment and embraces continuous improvement.