Operations Coordinator

Company Description R&D International Foods is a Toronto-based food distribution and import/export company specializing in premium seafood and protein supply across North America. We connect world-class producers with foodservice, retail, and restaurant group accounts — and we take pride in knowing every link in the supply chain, from the harvest floor to the dock door. We move quickly, operate lean, and we are at a point where we need another sharp person in operations to help us keep pace and help build the systems that do not exist yet. If you are someone who notices a gap in a process and fixes it without being asked, this role was built for you. Role Description This is a full-time, on-site Operations Coordinator role based in Toronto, ON, reporting directly to the Operations Director. The playbook is still being written — and you will help write it. This is not a role for someone looking to follow existing processes. It is a role for someone who wants to build them. What you will be doing Fulfillment & order coordination - Own the daily order flow from PO entry through dispatch and delivery, coordinating across carriers, our fulfillment team, and driver - Track order status in real time, flag delays before they become problems, and keep the sales team informed without being asked - Manage route changes, stock shortages, and last-minute exceptions — calmly and quickly Carrier, broker & vendor communications - Draft and send professional communications to freight carriers, customs brokers, and suppliers — independently and on time - Follow up on delivery exceptions, RFQs, and carrier performance issues - Build real relationships with our logistics partners, not just transactional email threads - Continuously evaluate and optimize our carrier network, identifying more cost-effective options without compromising service levels Import/export support - Support cross-border shipment preparation and tracking, including HS codes, CoAs, and labelling compliance - Monitor open import shipments and flag delays to the Operations Director before they escalate - Ensure all products are handled, stored, and transported in accordance with CFIA requirements and our cold chain standards Documentation & process improvement - Document processes as you learn them — you are building our internal SOP library, not just following one - Spot inefficiencies and propose fixes. We want to hear what you notice Reporting & data - Track carrier performance metrics and produce weekly summaries for the team - Support inventory reconciliation and flag discrepancies - Prepare ops data for regular team and sales reviews What you need to bring High agency. When you hit a problem, your first move is to figure it out — not wait for direction. You escalate when necessary, but you do the thinking first. Process curiosity. You build a checklist after the second time something goes sideways. You notice when something could be better and you say so. Clear written communication. You write professionally and concisely. AI can help you draft, but you can spot a bad draft and fix it. Detail orientation under volume. Food distribution means multiple SKUs, multiple carriers, and multiple compliance requirements running at the same time. Mistakes have consequences. Tech-comfortable. You learn new tools quickly and are willing to integrate AI into your workflow from day one. Nice to have — we will train the rest - 1–3 years in logistics, freight, food distribution, or CPG operations - Experience with freight carriers, customs brokers, or 3PL coordination - Familiarity with Google Workspace, spreadsheets, or basic inventory systems - Any exposure to cross-border or import/export documentation We care more about how you think than how many years you have been in the industry. If you have spent two years in a warehouse and noticed everything that was broken about how it ran, we want to hear from you. What you will get Structured onboarding — a 30/60/90 day plan with clear ownership milestones and direct mentorship from the Operations Director Real ownership early — within 30 days, you will own real deliverables, not shadow someone else's work Room to grow — we are a small team building something. The person in this role has a direct line to shaping how we operate