Head of Finance Operations

Plot twist. We're actually looking for a COO.

Yes, you read that correctly.

We're hiring a Chief Operating Officer, but we have a sneaking suspicion that someone with a strong finance and operations background could be exactly what we're looking for.

Because great finance leaders do a lot more than manage budgets. They understand what drives a business, know how to make resources go further and have a knack for balancing competing priorities without losing sight of the bigger picture.

Requirements

• Sound familiar? Here's why we think you'd be a great fit.

• You know where the money goes. You don't just look at budgets. You question spending, spot inefficiencies and find smarter ways to get better results.

• You're a brilliant negotiator. Whether it's supplier contracts, competing priorities or difficult conversations, you know how to find a solution that makes commercial sense.

• You can juggle a hundred moving parts. Deadlines, budgets, people and unexpected challenges don't throw you off. You know how to prioritise what matters.

• You love turning data into decisions. You can look at a spreadsheet, spot a problem and translate the numbers into practical action.

• You understand that people drive performance. Behind every budget, target and KPI is a team of people. You know that getting the best results means getting the best out of them.

• You're commercially sharp. You understand how everyday decisions affect profitability, customer experience and long-term growth.

• You're always looking for a better way. Just because something has always been done a certain way doesn't mean it's the smartest way to do it.

• So, what's the actual job?

• At Runway, we're looking for a Chief Operating Officer who can build a team people want to join and lead an operation customers can trust.

• We're a fast-moving online shopping business that loves finding better, smarter and more efficient ways of doing things.

• We set high standards, challenge ourselves to keep improving and believe that great results come from great people.

• And while we take our work seriously, we don't believe we need to take ourselves too seriously. Expect plenty of collaboration, shared wins, laughs and the occasional practical joke.

• As COO, you'll bring together people, performance and operations, balancing commercial discipline with the kind of leadership that makes people want to do their best work.

• Your impact

• Hire and develop great people

• Partner with recruitment to attract and hire top talent.

• Coach managers and team leaders to become stronger leaders.

• Build effective onboarding, training and succession plans.

• Make performance management meaningful

• Establish clear, measurable outcomes for every role.

• Use daily and weekly reporting to monitor performance and identify opportunities.

• Lead regular performance reviews, provide feedback and support improvement.

• Lead people and culture

• Take ownership of people, HR performance and recruitment processes following your six-month probation.

• Build a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

• Help people grow while ensuring the business delivers on its goals.

• Deliver operational excellence

• Improve warehouse productivity, stock accuracy, deliveries and returns.

• Own logistics budgets, supplier negotiations and operational costs.

• Use data to identify inefficiencies, improve processes and protect profitability.

• Keep the customer experience at the centre of operational decisions.

• Build for growth

• Develop a logistics strategy capable of supporting twice today's revenue with greater efficiency.

• Make smart decisions about people, processes, systems and resources.

• Build an operation that can scale without costs growing at the same rate.

• What success looks like

• Stronger leaders and more accountable teams.

• Faster, more effective hiring.

• Consistent performance management.

• Improved productivity and cost efficiency.

• Happier customers and a scalable operation.

• You might be our person if...

• You've built your career in finance, financial operations, commercial management or a related field, and you're the kind of person who wants to influence more than just the numbers.

• You enjoy working with people, solving real-world problems and turning insights into action.

• You're comfortable challenging decisions, negotiating with suppliers, developing teams and getting involved in the day-to-day realities of running a business.

• You don't need a traditional warehouse or logistics background, but you do need to be curious, hands-on and excited to learn.

• Ready to take your skills beyond the spreadsheet?

• We'd love to hear how your finance and operations experience could make you a brilliant COO at Runway.

• MyRunway is committed to transformation and redressing of past inequalities. Our employment equity goals will be taken into account in our selection process.