Looking for a job

Daniel Cardenas

@danielcardenas

Operations Manager with 10+ years across hospitality, aquaculture, R&D and family office. Multi-site, international logistics, Google PM certified.

Panama

Message

What I'm looking for

A full-time remote Operations Manager or Head of Operations role at a company with multi-site, international, or logistics complexity — startup or scaleup preferred. I'm Panama-based (UTC-5) with full US business-hours overlap and bilingual EN/ES coverage of LATAM. Available worldwide via EOR or as a contractor.

I'm an Operations Manager with 10+ years building the operational backbone for complex, multi-site organizations across hospitality, aquaculture, R&D technology, and family office management. I've worked across Panama, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, and on board international cruise operations.

My specialty is being the central coordination point — the person who keeps leadership, field teams, vendors, and external stakeholders aligned while budgets, logistics, and deliverables stay on track. I've designed SOPs from scratch for three regional offices, managed international 3PL and import/export for technical field deployments to Saudi Arabia and Mexico, and run culinary operations and payroll for 250+ crew on the world's largest cruise ship.

Currently consulting as Project & Strategy lead for a Panama-based family office and STR portfolio, plus a manufacturing PMO engagement in Mexico. I'm actively looking for a full-time remote Operations Manager or Head of Operations role at a company where complex coordination, financial discipline, and cross-cultural execution actually matter.

Google PM certified, bilingual English/Spanish with professional Portuguese and conversational French and Italian. Based in Panama City (UTC-5) — full overlap with US Eastern and Central business hours, available worldwide via contractor or EOR.

Open to startups (Series A–C), scaleups, and mid-size companies in hospitality tech, short-term rentals, logistics, agritech, hardware-adjacent operations, or any business with multi-site or international complexity.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Operation Manager & PMO Consultant

Current

Spongi / TPU

Jul 2025 - Present (11 months)

Operations Manager for a Panama family office and STR portfolio while serving as PMO for a Mexican manufacturing entity. Designed SOPs for 24/7 property service. Lead vendor management, procurement, financial oversight, and cross-functional remote team coordination. Manage project sprints via Jira and Microsoft Planner.

Operations Management Family Office Management Short Term Rentals Vendor Management SOP Development Project Coordination PMO Manufacturing Operations

R&D Operations & Technical Lead

Innovasea

Jan 2021 - Dec 2024 (3 years 11 months)

Directed R&D operations for oceanographic deployments across Panama, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico. Managed international 3PL, import/export, customs compliance, and supply chain for 10+ device deployments. Coordinated vendor budgets, regulatory documentation, and field execution. Bridged engineering and leadership teams. Owned budget tracking and financial reporting.

Technical Support Workflow Automation Retention Operations Management International Logistics 3PL Management Vendor Management Project Coordination Budget Management Wireshark 3PL Coordination Supply Chain Management Stakeholder Management

Office Manager

Open Blue Sea Farms

Feb 2017 - Dec 2020 (3 years 10 months)

Managed supply chain logistics, ensuring compliance and accuracy in shipping and customs processes. Supported project managers in delivering high-quality deployments for aquaculture infrastructure, optimizing operational efficiency.

Supply Chain Logistics Project Management Compliance Management Inventory Management Team Coordination Operations Management Process Optimization

Reservations Executive

Exclusive Traveler Club

Mar 2016 - Oct 2016 (7 months)

Maximized client satisfaction by managing customer service and booking management, while optimizing upsell opportunities for premium travel packages.

Customer Service Upselling Workflow Optimization Communication Skills Problem Solving

Reservations Executive

Exclusive Traveler Club

Mar 2016 - Oct 2016 (7 months)

Maximized client satisfaction by managing customer service and booking management for premium travel packages. Collaborated with teams to optimize workflows and reduce service delays, enhancing overall service efficiency.

Customer Service Upselling Workflow Optimization Team Collaboration Communication Problem Solving Time Management

Operations Manager

ClubVentos

Jun 2015 - Feb 2016 (8 months)

Enhanced guest experience by managing team logistics and product shipments in a hospitality setting. Improved operational efficiency through staffing roster optimization and vendor relationship management.

Logistics Operations Management Team Leadership Process Improvement Communication Problem Solving

Operations Manager

ClubVentos

Jun 2015 - Feb 2016 (8 months)

Enhanced guest experience by managing logistics and product shipments in a hospitality setting. Improved operational efficiency through staffing roster optimization and vendor relationship management.

Logistics Team Coordination Communication Skills

Culinary Operations Coordinator

Royal Caribbean International

Dec 2012 - Feb 2014 (1 year 2 months)

Supported culinary operations by managing budgets, procurement, and crew coordination onboard Oasis-class vessels, contributing to seamless execution of culinary services.

Budget Management Procurement Support Operations Team Management Quality Assurance Communication Skills Problem Solving

Culinary Operations Coordinator

Royal Caribbean International

Dec 2012 - Feb 2014 (1 year 2 months)

Supported culinary operations onboard Oasis-class vessels by managing budgets, procurement, and crew coordination. Contributed to seamless execution of culinary services in a high-pressure environment.

Budget Management Procurement Pressured Environment Team Collaboration Communication Problem Solving Time Management

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

César Ritz Colleges

Swiss Higher Diploma, Culinary Arts & Restaurant Management

2010 -

Swiss Higher Diploma in Culinary Arts & Restaurant Management, focusing on the principles of culinary arts, restaurant management, and operational excellence in the hospitality industry.