Senior Operations Associate - Network

Relay is fundamentally reshaping how goods move in an online era. Backed by Europe’s largest-ever logistics Series A ($35M), led by deep-tech investors Plural (whose portfolio spans fusion energy and space exploration), Relay is scaling faster than 99.98% of venture-backed startups. We're assembling the most talent-dense team the logistics industry has ever seen

Relay’s Mission is to free commerce from friction. Today, high delivery costs act as a hidden tax on e-commerce, quietly shaping what can be sold online and limiting who can participate. We envision a world where more goods move more freely between more people, making the online shopping experience seamless and accessible to everyone.

THE TEAM
• ~110 people, more than half in engineering, product and data
• 45+ advanced degrees across computer science, mathematics and operations research
• Thousands of data points captured, calculated, analysed and predicted for every single parcel we handle
• An intellectually vibrant culture of first‑principles thinking, tight feedback loops and relentless experimentation

Work Alongside Industry Leaders

Karthik Harith - VP Operations

Karthik is an operator and GM with a track record scaling multi-channel retail and operations across the UK, Germany, and France. Prior to Relay, he operated at VP/General Manager across multiple markets and brands (Getir, Gorillas, and Frichti). He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering (Brown) and an MBA in Finance (HEC Paris). At Relay, Karthik leads Operations, bringing rigorous execution and scaling experience to solve hard, real-world logistics problems end-to-end.

Relay’s Mission

Relay exists to free commerce from friction. Today, high delivery costs act as a hidden tax on e-commerce, quietly shaping what can be sold online and limiting who can participate. We envision a world where more goods move more freely between more people, making the online shopping experience seamless and accessible to everyone.

The Opportunity

Relay's network runs on forecasts. Every day, models predict how many parcels will arrive, which ones to sort tonight, how many shifts to release, and how many bags each route needs. The Network squad owns those forecasts and the operational processes that turn them into action. When teams plan to the right number, the network runs efficiently. When they over-plan, capacity goes to waste; when they under-plan, cost surges and operational performance suffers.

At a high level, the outcome you will drive is excellent day-to-day forecast guidance -ensuring teams across the network plan to the right number every day. This is one of the most powerful cost levers in the business.

As Senior Operations Associate, you will own the day-to-day operational processes that drive this outcome. You will be the squad's operational backbone: the person who keeps the network on track, steps in when things break, and coordinates the right teams when the operation is under stress.

This is fundamentally an operational role - high-context, high-ownership, and central to how the network runs every day. Alongside the day-to-day execution, you will have the opportunity to keep critical projects moving forward across the squad.

As a Senior Operations Associate, Network at Relay at Relay, you'll:

• Own the quality of day-to-day forecast guidance. Co-build and operate the systems that decide how much volume flows through our network every day, ensuring teams plan to the right number - neither over- nor under-planning. Continually improve these systems, partner with other Operations teams to resolve issues, and maintain a clear specification for Data and Engineering to automate further as resources become available.

• Plan the business through scheduled operational moments. When demand is going to deviate from the norm - busy shopping periods, holidays, planned promotions - you will develop the operational plan and make sure all relevant teams are prepared, aligned, and acting on the same source of truth.

• Lead the response to unplanned incidents. When something disrupts the network - adverse weather, supply-side shocks, or unexpected client behaviour - you will step in to own the recovery and run the retro process to ensure follow-ups are actioned.

• Work shoulder-to-shoulder with the data team. When forecasts look off or operations flag a problem, you will dig into the numbers, interrogate the models, and help the Data Scientists and Analysts pinpoint where the models are creating real-world friction. You will not be building the models - but you will be a trusted partner in pressure-testing them.

• Help keep the squad's programme of work on track - beginning with coordination and follow-up, and growing into a role that guides what the squad prioritises as you build context and credibility.

Who Will Thrive in this role?

• Resilience and high ownership. You enjoy being at the centre of how the network runs each day. The work spans daily execution and complex, ambiguous problem-solving, and you take real pride in owning the outcome of both - including stepping in when other teams or processes need support.

• Project literacy. You have run projects or worked closely with Programme Managers in prior roles. You're comfortable absorbing the administrative scaffolding of a programme without requiring a senior PM to direct you.

• A bias for action. You would rather get something working today than design the perfect solution for next quarter. You know when to escalate and when to just fix it.

• Strong written communication. At Relay, a well-structured doc or one-pager is often how you get things done - it's how you align people, define problems, and create momentum without a meeting.

• 3–5 years of experience in operations, programme management, consulting, or a similar function - ideally somewhere fast-moving where the playbook was being written in real time.

• Data literacy. Comfortable with SQL and able to query data independently to investigate operational issues. You can articulate the data and insight you need with sufficient clarity that an AI agent or analyst can act on it. You don't need to be building dashboards yourself - but you should be capable of pulling your own numbers when you need to.

The qualifications and experiences above act as a loose guide to what we're looking for. We'd still love to hear from you if you have more or less experience, so long as the core skills can be demonstrated.

Fast and Focused Hiring Process

1. Talent Acquisition Interview - 30 min

2. Hiring Manager Interview - 45min

3. Case Exercise - 90min

4. Final Interview w/ VP Operations - 30min

5. Decision and offer within 48 hours, our process mirrors our pace of work, typically completed in a week.

Who Thrives at Relay?

• Aim with Precision: You define problems clearly and measure your impact meticulously.

• Play to Win: You chase bold bets, tackle the hard stuff, and view constraints as fuel, not friction.

• 1% Better Every Day: You believe that small, consistent improvements lead to exponential growth. You move quickly, deliver results, and learn from every experience.

• All In, All the Time: You show up and step up. You take ownership from start to finish and do what it takes to deliver when it counts.

• People-Powered Greatness: You invest in your teammates. You give and receive feedback with care and candour. You build trust through high standards and shared success.

• Grow the Whole Pie: You seek out win-win solutions for merchants, couriers, and our customers, because when they thrive, so do we.
  
  If these resonate, and you combine strong technical fundamentals with entrepreneurial drive, let’s connect.

Relay is an equal-opportunity employer committed to diversity, inclusion, and fostering a workplace where everyone thrives.