Company Name

Alikai Health

Search Job Title

Operations Manager

Client Profile

Alikai Health is a rapidly growing provider of durable medical equipment (DME), supporting patients through physician-prescribed, home-based medical devices. Operating across multiple states, the organization has established itself as a leader within its specialty, particularly in serving workers’ compensation and clinical networks. The company maintains a fully remote workforce, supported by a mix of full-time employees and offshore contract staff, with operations spanning procurement, customer service, and logistics coordination.

The business model is highly dependent on efficient supply chain execution. Products are sourced from a mix of domestic and global suppliers, including manufacturers in Asia, and distributed directly to patients through a third-party logistics partner.

With continued growth and expansion into new markets, leadership identified the need to strengthen operational execution, particularly across procurement, logistics, and 3PL management.

Role Objectives & Challenges

The role was designed as a central operational leader responsible for managing procurement, supplier relationships, inventory planning, and third-party logistics coordination. Reporting into executive leadership, the position served as the primary liaison between manufacturers, internal teams, and the 3PL partner to ensure accurate and timely delivery of medical equipment to patients.

A key challenge was the need for stronger ownership and decision-making within the function. The organization needed someone who could take control of daily execution, resolve problems quickly, and enforce performance standards across partners.

Inventory management and supplier coordination also presented complexity. The business relied on a relatively small group of core suppliers, with a mix of domestic and international sourcing that introduced variability in lead times and availability. This required careful planning, forecasting, and reporting to ensure consistent product availability while managing working capital effectively.

Technology and process maturity were evolving. While reporting tools were in place to track inventory turnover and demand patterns, there was an opportunity to improve operational flow, streamline communication across teams, and enhance overall efficiency. The role also required close collaboration with customer service, clinical stakeholders, and quality functions to ensure a seamless patient experience.

Additionally, quality oversight was partially outsourced, creating the need for a leader who could either bring relevant experience or quickly develop competency in managing quality processes related to incoming goods, returns, and compliance standards.

Our Approach to Solve the Search

The search focused on identifying candidates with experience in procurement and logistics within fast-paced, service-oriented environments, particularly those with exposure to 3PL management and supplier coordination. While healthcare or DME experience was preferred, the emphasis was placed on operational capability, problem-solving ability, and the confidence to manage external partners effectively.

Geographic targeting was a key consideration despite the remote nature of the role. Candidates were prioritized within a one- to two-hour radius of the 3PL facility in New Jersey to allow for occasional on-site presence if needed for inventory management or operational oversight.

The search emphasized individuals who demonstrated a strong ownership mentality and the ability to operate as a true operational leader, capable of managing competing priorities across procurement, logistics, and cross-functional collaboration. Candidates with experience managing supplier relationships, negotiating terms, and implementing process improvements were heavily prioritized.

Throughout the process, close alignment was maintained with Alikai Health’s leadership team to ensure candidates not only met technical requirements but also aligned with the company’s core values, including accountability, continuous improvement, and team-oriented collaboration.

The Hire & Results

The selected candidate brought a strong background in procurement, supplier management, and operational performance improvement, with experience managing large-scale sourcing initiatives and driving measurable cost savings. Prior roles included leading sourcing programs impacting significant annual spend, developing KPI frameworks, and improving supplier performance through structured negotiation and process optimization.

The individual demonstrated the assertiveness and ownership mentality required to effectively manage third-party logistics relationships, along with the analytical capability to improve inventory planning and reporting processes. Their experience building measurement frameworks and driving operational improvements aligned closely with Alikai Health’s need to bring greater structure and accountability to the function. The hire strengthened Alikai Health’s ability to manage supplier relationships, improve fulfillment performance, and proactively address operational challenges. With a decisive and process-oriented leader in place, the company is now better positioned to support continued growth, expand into new markets, and enhance the overall patient experience through more reliable and efficient supply chain operations.