Senior Operations Lead – Accessories (24 month FTC) (all genders) at tonies GmbH

Düsseldorf, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

11 Aug, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

13 May, 26

Experience

10 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Operational Leadership, External Partner Management, Vendor Onboarding, Production Planning, Risk Mitigation, Supply Chain Management, Quality Oversight, Compliance Management, Executive Reporting, KPI Tracking, SLA Management, Stakeholder Management, OEM/ODM Management, Data-Driven Decision Making, Cross-Functional Integration, Strategic Sourcing

Industry

technology;Information and Media

Description

About tonies: tonies is the world’s leading interactive audio platform for children, with over 10 million Tonieboxes and 125 million Tonies sold globally. Our intuitive, screen-free system empowers children to learn and play independently in a safe and engaging way. With a presence in over 100 countries and a diverse portfolio of ~1,400 Tonies across multiple languages, we continue to redefine how children experience storytelling and learning. Since our IPO in 2021, our global team of 550+ colleagues is united by a shared mission: shaping the future of play, learning, and imagination. Du als Teil von tonies: You as part of tonies: We are hiring a senior, hands-on Operations leader to act as the Accessories Operations Control Tower. This role is the single point of operational control and accountability for the Accessories business, ensuring that all execution delivered by our outsourced Operations partner meets tonies’ standards across cost, speed, quality, and compliance. Reporting directly to the Director of Accessories, this role will translate business priorities into operational outcomes, while maintaining full visibility and control across a growing global vendor network. Why This Role Exists Tonies Accessories is scaling rapidly into a strategic lifestyle category. To support this growth: Execution is outsourced to a global Operations partner Internal teams must remain focused on product, brand, and strategy This role ensures that: Execution is controlled, not delegated blindly Complexity is managed centrally, not fragmented Risks are identified early and resolved decisively This is not a support role; it is a critical control function. Deine Aufgaben umfassen: Your tasks and responsibilities will include: 1. Operational Leadership & Decision-Making Own end-to-end operational performance across all Accessories SKUs Translate business and product priorities into clear operational execution plans Lead operational decision-making across cost, speed, quality, and complexity trade-offs Make fast, data-driven decisions in dynamic environments with competing priorities 2. External Partner Management Hold our outsourced Operations partner accountable for execution quality, transparency, and performance Challenge assumptions, timelines, and delivery plans where needed Drive continuous improvement and operational scalability alongside business growth 3. End-to-End Operational Visibility Maintain full visibility and control across: Vendor onboarding and sourcing Production planning and milestone tracking Logistics flows and delivery performance Ensure proactive issue identification and no blind spots across the operational pipeline. 4. Risk, Escalation & Issue Resolution Act as the primary escalation point for supply, vendor, delivery, and compliance risks Drive structured and timely resolution of operational issues Anticipate risks early and implement mitigation plans 5. Systems & Cross-Functional Integration Own SKU setup and PO validation within Tonies systems Ensure strong alignment across Finance, Legal, QA, Supply Chain, and regional Markets Drive operational consistency, process clarity, and execution discipline 6. Quality & Compliance Oversight Oversee testing, certification, and audit readiness processes Ensure documentation completeness and compliance visibility Partner closely with Quality and Legal teams to resolve risks proactively 7. Executive Reporting & Operational Insights Provide clear reporting on operational performance, risks, and mitigation actions Highlight cost, delivery, and execution impacts to leadership Enable leadership teams to focus on strategic priorities rather than operational firefighting What You Will Tackle in Your First Months Establish control and visibility across a fragmented and scaling vendor landscape Build a high-performing working model with the external Operations partner Identify and stabilise key operational risks (cost, delivery, compliance) Implement clear performance tracking (KPIs, SLAs) and reporting structures Align internal stakeholders around a new, centralised operating model What You Will NOT Do You will not execute sourcing, negotiations, or production activities You will not replace Procurement, Supply Chain, or Quality functions You will not act as a project manager or product owner Your role is to control execution, not to execute it. You will not be a passive coordinator - you are expected to own outcomes and drive decisions. Was dich in deiner Ausbildung erwartet: Was wir uns von dir wünschen: What we are looking for: 15+ years in global operations, sourcing, or supply chain leadership roles Strong experience managing OEM/ODM vendor networks (ideally in Asia) Background in toys, kids products, or softlines (strong preference for expertise in industries with a fast product launch rhythm) Proven ability to operate in outsourced or matrixed operating models Strong understanding of quality and compliance frameworks Highly structured, analytical, and outcome-driven Comfortable operating in high-growth, ambiguous environments Strong stakeholder management and ability to challenge senior partners Experience owning end-to-end operational performance or business-critical supply chains, not just supporting functions Demonstrated ability to make decisions under pressure and challenge both internal and external stakeholders Success Looks Like Clear, real-time visibility across all Accessories operations Consistent delivery performance (OTIF, timelines, cost targets) Reduced operational surprises and escalations Strong, disciplined, and high-performing external partner Internal teams fully focused on product and growth, not operations Clear decision-making and accountability across all operational topics, with no ambiguity on ownership Warum tonies? Why tonies? This is a unique opportunity to: Build and control the operating engine of a fast-scaling global category Work at the intersection of product, supply chain, and global sourcing Shape a best-in-class outsourced operations model This role has clear decision authority on operational topics within Accessories, including vendor performance management, execution prioritisation, and escalation handling, in close alignment with Tonies’ core functions. Was unser Software Development ausmacht: What makes our software development unique: Gut zu wissen: Good to know: As part of our principles, we are committed to supporting inclusion and diversity at tonies. We actively celebrate our colleagues’ different abilities, ethnicities, faith and gender. Everyone is welcome and supported in their development at all stages in their journey with us. We look forward to hearing from you! Rodolfo Amaya Director Product - Accessories

Responsibilities

Act as the central operational control tower for the Accessories business, ensuring outsourced partners meet standards for cost, speed, quality, and compliance. Translate business priorities into execution plans while managing global vendor networks and mitigating operational risks.