Location: Far East

Department: Procurement

About Yoto

Yoto is a screen-free interactive audio platform for kids. We make carefully connected audio players that kids control, with no microphones, cameras or ads. We have a catalogue of audio that inspires creative play and learning with 1,000+ titles in our card store from top creators, publishers and labels - think Disney, Marvel, Roald Dahl and Universal Music. We also create Yoto Originals like this one.

• Featured in Bloomberg’s 25 UK startups to watch in 2023.
• Ranked 9th in Fast Company's Most Innovative Companies in 2024; and featured in the Sifted 100 fastest-growing startups across the UK&I by revenue growth.
• Second fastest growing tech company in the UK, in Deloitte Fast50 2023.
• Named one of TIME Magazine’s Top 100 Inventions of 2020
• We’re 140+ employees spread across the UK, US and France.. and growing!

We’re on a mission to be the soundtrack of childhood, and help families on their own unique adventures. By creating products that inspire independent play, we help families discover and grow with an inspiring world of audio - and we would like you to help us achieve it! 

Job Summary

The Manufacturing Operations Manager will sit within the Procurement team and oversee all manufacturing activities in our Far East facilities, ensuring efficient production processes, quality standards, and timely delivery of products. This role involves leading cross-functional teams, implementing best practices, and driving continuous improvement initiatives to meet the company’s operational goals.

What you’ll be doing:

• Developing rapport with partners and detailed knowledge of "how the factory works", both its capabilities and limitations.

• Ensuring production processes meet the highest standards to deliver best-in-class quality on all of Yoto’s products

• Overseeing and managing daily operations at our partners.

• Leading and collaborating with all aspects of the supply chain to resolve any production and quality issues

• Supporting the Yoto product team with development builds, production verification and transition into mass production

• Working with our partners optimising manufacturing processes to drive cost improvements

• Fostering a culture of continuous improvement within the Yoto supply chain

• Growing a manufacturing, feet on the ground, support team including quality, sourcing and procurement functions

• Collaborating with supply chain and procurement teams across multiple organisations to ensure timely availability of materials and components.

What you'll bring:

• A minimum of 8-10 years experience managing large-scale manufacturing partners and cross-functional teams in the Far East.

• Experience with consumer electronic manufacturing technologies (preferred) in the areas of design, process, commodity cost, factory cost, supply and quality management.

• Exceptional communication skills (in both Mandarin Chinese & English)

• Ability to establish relationships and exert effective influence in a matrix organisation

• Proficient in lean manufacturing principles and continuous improvement methodologies.

• Strong understanding of supply chain management

• Demonstrated leadership in driving solutions to challenge

• Willingness to travel to maintain direct communication with Yoto HQ in London and also explore new manufacturing partners in global locations