Director of Operations

Build the Operations Behind the Next Generation of Collectibles

Pulse Trading Cards is hiring a hands-on Director of Operations to turn a growing slate of sports and licensed products into finished releases delivered on time, to specification, and at the planned margin.

About Pulse

Since launching in late 2023, Pulse has expanded across baseball, football, basketball, and hockey, with products including Aura, Foundry, Drift, and Big League Chew. Our business serves hobby distributors, specialty shops, major retailers, and collectors directly.

This is an opportunity to build the processes, systems, and team that support our next stage of growth. You’ll report jointly to the CEO and COO and work closely with Athlete Relations, Creative, Licensing, Sales, project managers, and our internal development team.

What You’ll Own

• Manage outbound and inbound card shipments, insured tracking, and chain of custody.
• Track turnaround times, inspect returned cards, and oversee sticker application.
• Maintain autograph inventory, authentication, serial numbering, and chase-card tracking.
• Partner with Athlete Relations to resolve delays before they affect releases.

• Manage domestic and overseas print and manufacturing partners.
• Negotiate costs and oversee specialty finishes and packaging.
• Establish quality standards and inspection procedures.
• Ensure collation, pack-out, hit rates, and product configurations match specifications.

• Oversee fulfillment for major retailers, club accounts, hobby distributors, and specialty shops.
• Manage routing guides, EDI, advance shipping notices, labeling, palletization, allocations, and delivery windows.
• Prevent avoidable chargebacks and manage disputes.

• Build and maintain one operating calendar covering artwork, approvals, autograph returns, manufacturing, and shipping.
• Identify risks early and coordinate solutions across teams.
• Give Sales and leadership reliable delivery commitments.

• Coordinate licensor submissions and approvals.
• Manage royalty reporting and minimum guarantee tracking.
• Coordinate applicable product safety and testing requirements.

• Own landed cost and cost of goods sold by SKU.
• Maintain inventory accuracy and improve forecasting.
• Work with our development team to improve ERP workflows, purchase orders, bills of materials, and reporting.

• Build and lead a lean operations team.
• Establish clear responsibilities and accountability.
• Coordinate operational needs for product launches and trade shows.

REQUIRED

• 5+ years of experience in operations, production, or supply chain, including at least 2 years leading a team or function.
• Direct experience shipping physical products into major retailers, including routing guides, EDI, advance shipping notices, delivery windows, and retail compliance.
• Hands-on experience with print, packaging, or consumer product manufacturing, including reviewing specifications and holding vendors accountable for quality, cost, and timing.
• Strong ERP, inventory management, and spreadsheet skills, with the ability to build and maintain product cost models.
• A demonstrated ability to build processes and systems in a growing business.
• Experience managing multiple launches, vendors, and competing deadlines.
• Clear communication, sound judgment, and the confidence to flag unrealistic commitments early.
• Willingness to work directly with samples, inventory, quality inspections, and pack-out reviews.
• Ability to work primarily from our Monmouth County, NJ office and travel periodically.

STRONGLY PREFERRED

• Trading card, collectibles, toy, or game industry experience.
• Experience managing autograph programs, redemptions, memorabilia, or high-value inventory.
• Familiarity with insured shipping, chain of custody, and loss or damage claims.
• Experience serving both mass retail and hobby or specialty distribution.
• Licensed product experience, including approval workflows, brand guidelines, and royalty reporting.
• Overseas manufacturing, freight, and landed cost management.
• Experience coordinating children’s product safety testing and compliance.

You should be comfortable starting with a small team, building structure as you go, and taking responsibility for results.

• Health coverage.
• Paid time off.
• 401(k).
• Performance bonus tied to on-time delivery, margin, and company results.
• Direct access to the CEO and COO, with meaningful influence over operational decisions.
• Opportunity to build and lead the operations function across sports trading cards and new licensed product categories.