WHO WE ARE
Let Our Journeys Enrich Life
Carry essentials exist to make movement a worry-free experience, allowing us to focus on the bigger picture of our journeys. Today's industry brands are exhibiting a growing disconnection from the deeper purpose of movement, seen in standard-fare products that neither challenge norms nor present new solutions that facilitate better mobility.
LOJEL is about refocusing on how people move, but more importantly, why: connection. Putting the purpose of our journeys at the forefront of the discussion opens up opportunities for innovation. This process of discovery is what lets us empower people to move better and focus on what truly matters.
Our mission is to spark the human connections that make the world a better place—by empowering people’s journeys with thoughtful carry essentials for travel and everyday movement. We are Driven By Diversity, Intentional By Design and Purposely Positive—core values upholding our ultimate goal to inspire movement within communities and across the globe.
LOJEL is an international carry essentials brand—founded in Japan in 1989, currently headquartered in Hong Kong with teams in North America, Europe, and the Asia Pacific—and is sold in 15 territories across the globe.
SUSTAINABILITY AT LOJEL
At LOJEL, we're committed to driving positive change. As a certified B Corp, we're dedicated to doing business differently and making sustainability central to everything we do. But we're not stopping there.
We've achieved climate neutrality and continue to ensure our products are crafted from recycled or sustainable materials. To make this vision a reality, we're building a team ready to take action and drive impact.
ABOUT THE ROLE
We are seeking a Production Operation Manager to oversee the production process and manage relationships with suppliers. This position requires a highly organized and detail-oriented individual with exceptional communication and negotiation skills. The successful candidate will be responsible for managing all aspects of the production process, including sourcing, managing suppliers, ensuring timely delivery of finished products and quality standards are met. This role promotes continuous improvement, manages resources, and ensures compliance with regulatory and company policies.
1. Production Management
- Plan, coordinate, and oversee production schedules to meet demand and delivery deadlines.
- Monitor production metrics (efficiency, yield, downtime) and proactively implement corrective actions when needed.
- Optimize workflow by managing labor, equipment, and materials to maximize output while minimizing costs.
2. Vendor Management & Sourcing
- Manage and develop relationships with outsourced factory partners (specializing in hard goods, soft goods, and injection molding for luggage/wheels/handles).
- Conduct regular factory audits to ensure compliance with ethical manufacturing standards, social compliance, and brand-specific capability requirements.
- Negotiate manufacture pricing, payment terms, and lead times; work to achieve annual cost reduction targets without compromising quality.
- Onboard new vendors as needed to support product development and capacity scaling.
3. Safety & Compliance
- Champion a culture of safety; ensure all operations follow environmental and industry-specific regulations.
- Conduct regular safety audits, risk assessments, and incident investigations with Quality Assurance.
- Enforce quality standards and collaborate with Quality Assurance to resolve non-conformances.
4. Continuous Improvement
- Lead initiatives like Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other process improvements to reduce waste, improve throughput, and enhance quality.
- Implement and track key performance indicators (KPIs) such as downtime and scrap rates.
- Drive root cause analysis and problem-solving for recurring issues.
5. Resource & Budget Management
- Develop and manage the production budget, including labor, consumables, and maintenance costs.
- Coordinate with maintenance to ensure equipment reliability and minimal unplanned downtime.
- Manage inventory levels of raw materials and supplies in collaboration with the supply chain.
6. Cross-Functional Collaboration and sustainability
- Partner with Product development, Quality, and Logistics to align production with business goals.
- Communicate production status, risks, and achievements to senior leadership.
- Apply and support related sustainability initiatives
DESIRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE
- Deep understanding of manufacturing processes including injection molding, aluminum extrusion, sewing, and assembly.
- Strong proficiency in Excel and ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Netsuite, or similar) for tracking production data and inventory.
- Strong commercial acumen with experience in vendor contract negotiation.
- Ability to bridge the gap between brand expectations and factory realities; fluency in English and Mandarin are required.
- 7+ years of experience in production, sourcing, or operations management within hard goods.
- (Mandatory) Specific experience with luggage, bags, or injection-molded lifestyle products (suitcases, backpacks, travel accessories).
- Proven track record of managing outsourced manufacturing partners in Asia (China, Vietnam, Indonesia or similar regions).
Immediate availability is a highly preferred
