[Hiring] Director, Supply Chain Automation @Alo Yoga

Role Description

The Director, Supply Chain Automation leads the design, deployment, and performance of automation programs across ALO's distribution network. This role is hands-on and execution-focused, turning ALO's automation strategy into results by taking projects from business case and design through implementation, go-live, stabilization, and ongoing optimization.

• Partner with the VP to shape ALO's multi-year automation roadmap, contributing technical assessments, capacity models, and investment recommendations.
• Translate the roadmap into prioritized programs, project plans, and resource needs across ALO-operated and 3PL facilities.
• Evaluate emerging automation technologies through research, site visits, and pilots, and recommend where they can create operational and financial value.
• Benchmark automation performance against leading retail, e-commerce, and apparel distribution operations.
• Lead automated DC design for assigned programs, from conceptual design and process flow through detailed engineering.
• Assess and recommend technologies including AS/RS, goods-to-person, AMRs, robotics, sortation, conveyance, automated packaging, and vision systems.
• Develop capacity models, layouts, and simulations that support growth and peak-volume requirements.
• Partner with Technology to integrate automation with WMS, WCS/WES, labor management, and other distribution platforms.
• Own end-to-end delivery of automation projects, accountable for scope, schedule, budget, quality, and risk.
• Develop requirements, technical specifications, RFPs, project plans, and budgets, and lead vendor evaluations in partnership with the VP and Procurement.
• Lead testing, commissioning, integration, cutover, go-live, and post-go-live stabilization.
• Ensure operational readiness through system and volume testing, SOPs, training, maintenance plans, spare parts, and contingency plans.
• Build and continually improve repeatable deployment playbooks to speed up implementation across the network.
• Set and track KPIs for deployed automation, including throughput, uptime, accuracy, safety, and cost per unit.
• Implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs, spare parts standards, and escalation processes in line with the reliability strategy set by the VP.
• Lead root-cause analysis on system issues and drive continuous improvement of automated operations.
• Support lifecycle planning for automation assets, including upgrades, obsolescence, and replacement needs.
• Manage day-to-day relationships with automation providers, integrators, OEMs, and engineering partners.
• Hold partners accountable to contractual commitments, performance standards, and project milestones.
• Assess vendor solutions on capability, scalability, reliability, implementation risk, and total cost of ownership.
• Build capital business cases with ROI, payback, and total-cost-of-ownership analysis for VP and executive review.
• Lead, coach, and grow a team of automation engineers, controls specialists, and project managers.
• Build team capability across automation engineering, systems integration, reliability, and project execution.
• Create clear ownership and accountability for project delivery and system performance.
• Foster a culture of technical excellence, urgency, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Manage project budgets and track realized benefits against approved business cases.
• 30%-40% of this role will involve traveling.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Industrial, Mechanical, or Electrical Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations, or a related field.
• Master's degree or MBA a plus.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in distribution, fulfillment engineering, automation, or material handling systems.
• 5+ years leading distribution center automation projects and engineering or project teams.
• Hands-on experience taking automation projects from concept and business case through design, commissioning, go-live, and stabilization.
• Experience in DTC, e-commerce, retail, or apparel distribution strongly preferred.
• Experience managing automation vendors and integrators on complex, multi-million-dollar capital projects.
• Experience in high-growth environments where capacity, speed, and scalability are critical.
• Strong expertise in DC automation and material handling technologies, including AS/RS, goods-to-person, AMRs, robotics, sortation, and conveyance.
• Working knowledge of WMS, WES, WCS, PLC/control systems, and physical-to-software integration.
• Strong understanding of DC process design, capacity modeling, labor productivity, and operational flow.
• Proven program and project management skills, with a record of delivering on time and within budget.
• Financial acumen in capital business cases, ROI, and total-cost-of-ownership analysis.
• Analytical and data-driven, able to explain complex engineering topics clearly to operations and leadership audiences.
• Strong leadership, communication, and cross-functional influence skills.