Marketplace Operations and E-Commerce Specialist

SmallSmall Technology Limited is building Africa's most accessible platform for housing, products, and services by connecting vendors and customers through innovative technology solutions. We are looking for a Marketplace Operations & E-Commerce Specialist to manage and optimize the day-to-day performance of our marketplace across products, services, and housing categories.

The role is focused on ensuring that our marketplace has the right supply, well-managed vendors, quality listings, smooth order fulfilment, and a seamless customer experience. The successful candidate will work closely with internal teams and marketplace partners to improve transactions, operational efficiency, vendor performance, and overall marketplace growth.

This is a hands-on role suited to someone with practical experience in e-commerce, marketplace operations, category management, vendor management, or commercial operations.

Key Responsibilities

Marketplace Operations

• Manage the day-to-day operations and performance of SmallSmall's marketplace across products, services, and housing categories.
• Monitor marketplace activities, identify operational gaps, and implement solutions to improve efficiency and customer experience.
• Ensure products and services are properly listed, categorized, priced, and presented on the platform.
• Maintain high standards of catalogue, listing, product information, and content quality.
• Monitor orders from placement through fulfilment and identify issues affecting successful completion.
• Track cancellations, failed orders, delays, and other operational issues and work with relevant teams to resolve them.

Vendor & Seller Management

• Manage vendor acquisition, onboarding, activation, engagement, and retention.
• Ensure vendors understand marketplace processes, standards, policies, and performance expectations.
• Monitor vendor performance and proactively address issues affecting service delivery or customer satisfaction.
• Build strong working relationships with vendors and support them in improving their performance on the platform.
• Identify and address supply gaps across marketplace categories.

Category Management

• Monitor the performance of assigned categories and ensure adequate supply to meet customer demand.
• Review category trends, pricing, product availability, vendor activity, and customer demand.
• Identify opportunities to improve category performance, product assortment, and marketplace activity.
• Work with vendors and internal teams to address gaps in supply, pricing, availability, and fulfilment.

Performance & Commercial Management

• Track key marketplace metrics including orders, transactions, fulfilment, cancellations, vendor performance, conversion, revenue, and customer activity.
• Prepare regular marketplace and category performance reports for management.
• Use marketplace data and customer insights to identify operational and commercial opportunities.
• Support initiatives aimed at increasing transactions, vendor activity, customer adoption, and revenue.
• Conduct competitor and market analysis to identify relevant marketplace opportunities.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Marketing, Customer Success, Operations, Product, and Technology teams to improve marketplace performance.
• Communicate operational issues, customer feedback, and marketplace requirements to relevant teams.
• Support the implementation and testing of marketplace improvements and new features.
• Coordinate with Business Unit Heads and Category Representatives to ensure alignment and achievement of marketplace objectives.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Economics, Management, E-Commerce, or a related field.
• Minimum 3–5 years' experience in e-commerce, marketplace operations, category management, commercial operations, vendor management, or a related field.
• Hands-on experience working with an e-commerce platform, marketplace, online retail business, or technology-driven commercial environment is strongly preferred.
• Experience managing vendors, sellers, merchants, or marketplace partners.
• Good understanding of marketplace operations, including catalogue management, product listings, pricing, orders, fulfilment, vendor performance, and customer experience.
• Ability to analyze marketplace data and use insights to identify operational and commercial opportunities.
• Experience tracking performance against targets and KPIs.
• Strong organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple categories, vendors, and operational priorities simultaneously.
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and familiarity with CRM, analytics, e-commerce, marketplace, or other digital business platforms.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary
• Hybrid work environment
• Health insurance upon confirmation
• Opportunity to work in a growing technology company and contribute to the development of a multi-category marketplace
• Professional development and career growth opportunities

How to Apply

To apply, click the "Apply for this job" button below and complete the required fields.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.