What are the responsibilities and job description for the Operations Manager position at La Bodega Catalogue Services?
La Bodega Catalogue Services is a catalog-driven e-commerce business that delivers care packages to incarcerated individuals housed in New York State DOCCS facilities. We operate a zero-inventory "insta-cart" type model: orders come in via catalog mail-in, phone, web, and Securus messaging, and we buy-to-order from a network of online suppliers, pack at our warehouse, and ship direct to facilities under DOCCS-approved package programs.
We're small, growing, and moving fast. The founder is stepping back from day-to-day operations and needs a reliable, hands-on operator to run the floor.
The Role
You will own the daily operating rhythm of the business. This is not a strategy job — it is the person who makes sure orders go out, the right products get bought at the right price, customers get answered, and the team shows up and ships. You are the most senior person in the building on most days.
What You'll Do
Product Buying (~30%)
- Source and purchase product from online suppliers (Amazon Business, wholesale grocers, specialty distributors) against incoming orders and catalog SKUs
- Maintain the SKU list in the admin platform: pricing, weights, availability, substitutions
- Negotiate vendor terms; identify cheaper or higher-margin alternatives
- Manage the buy-sheet workflow daily so packing isn't blocked
Pack Station Supervision (~25%)
- Supervise warehouse staff packing care packages to DOCCS facility specs (weight limits, prohibited items, labeling)
- Quality control — wrong items, wrong facility, wrong inmate is a returned package and a refund
- Manage daily throughput; flag bottlenecks
- Keep the floor organized and DOCCS-compliant
Customer Channels (~25%)
- Respond to inbound Securus messages from incarcerated customers (order assistance, catalog questions, complaints)
- Run outbound Securus marketing campaigns when scheduled
- Take phone orders and process associated credit deposits
- Resolve order issues with families and inmates
Operations & Team (~20%)
- Open and close the facility
- Manage 2–4 warehouse/pack staff: scheduling, payroll inputs, performance
- Receive inbound shipments from suppliers; reconcile against POs
- Coordinate with carriers on outbound shipments
- Handle facility issues (deliveries, mail, building)
Pay: $20.00 - $25.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
Salary : $20 - $25