Marketplace Operations Specialist

About Calo 

Launched in Bahrain in November of 2019, Calo is on a mission to make healthy easy. We’re a team of dedicated people driving this mission by providing better, faster, and cheaper ways to access food through technology.
 

Role Overview

We’re looking for a Marketplace Operations Specialist to support the growth and efficiency of our online marketplace by researching trending products, managing inventory, and coordinating with vendors. This role involves maintaining product listings, assisting with subscription models, and collaborating with internal teams to support smooth operations and effective promotional campaigns.

Main Responsibilities

• Product Research & Marketplace Strategy
  • Stay ahead of the curve by researching and identifying trending healthy products for the Marketplace.
  • Evaluate market trends and customer preferences to inform product selection across multiple regions.
  • Develop and manage the product roadmap, including product categories and SKU planning.

• Vendor Sourcing & Relationship Management
  • Independently identify, reach out to, and engage with local and regional vendors (e.g., UAE, KSA) to source new products.
  • Build and maintain strong supplier and distributor relationships through proactive communication and negotiation.
  • Coordinate sample testing and product validation with internal teams (e.g., kitchen, nutrition, supply chain).

• Product & Inventory Operations
  • Oversee the onboarding of approved products to the Marketplace, ensuring timely listing and accurate metadata input (ingredients, pricing, nutrition info, etc.).
  • Monitor and manage inventory visibility, including strategies for near-expiry or slow-moving stock.
  • Coordinate daily operations with warehouse, dispatch, kitchen, and logistics teams to ensure product availability and fulfillment efficiency.

• Process Development & Workflow Optimization
  • Design and implement efficient, repeatable processes for vendor sourcing, product approval, and onboarding.
  • Continuously refine operational workflows to reduce lead time from product identification to Marketplace listing.

• Performance Tracking & Data Analysis
  • Pull and analyze product and sales data to evaluate performance and make data-driven decisions.
  • Use insights to adjust pricing, product offerings, or sourcing strategies as needed.

• Subscription & Pricing Management
  • Develop and manage Marketplace “Add-on” subscription models with flexible product swaps.
  • Set and review competitive pricing strategies across SKUs and bundles.

• Campaigns & Promotions
  • Plan and execute promotional campaigns, including clearance strategies for expiring inventory.
  • Collaborate with marketing and operations teams to ensure successful rollout of campaigns.
  • Assist in creating training materials or presentations (e.g., PowerPoint) for internal alignment or team onboarding.

Ideal Candidate

Qualifications 

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Supply Chain,  Marketing, or a related field (or equivalent work experience)
• 3 - 5 years of experience in product coordination, e-commerce, inventory management, or a similar operational role
• Experience working with vendors or suppliers
• Willingness and ability to travel between the UAE and KSA as needed

Knowledge & Competency

• Understanding of market research and consumer trends
• Basic knowledge of nutrition or food products
• Strong organizational skills with attention to detail
• Comfort with data entry and maintaining accurate product metadata (ingredients, pricing, macros, etc.)
• Proficiency with spreadsheets (Excel or Google Sheets) and content management systems (CMS) or internal dashboards
• Familiarity with inventory or product lifecycle tools; experience with e-commerce platforms

Personality

• Interests in healthy trends, products, and consumer behavior, and enjoys digging into data and finding patterns
• Metlicious about accuracy and consistency in data, especially when managing product listings and tracking inventory
• Flexible in adjusting to changing priorities, seasonal shifts, and evolving product needs
• Works well with cross-functional teams and values building strong relationships with vendors and colleagues
• Enjoys creating structure, tracking progress, and keeping things running smoothly
• Thinks about the end user’s experience when curating products or developing subscription options
• Excellent  written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple priorities
• Pleasant personality and able to lead with empathy and patience