Vice President of Operations

Position Title: Vice President of Operations

Department: Warehouse Operations

Reports to: Chief Operations Officer

Position Type: Full-Time 40 hours

The Vice President of Operations provides strategic and operational leadership for the nonprofit organizations distribution network warehouse operations center operations production activities transportation inventory management safety logistics facilities readiness and operational performance. Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer this role ensures the safe efficient compliant and effective movement of food throughout the organizations multi-site network in support of agency program and community needs.

As a member of the Vice President Leadership Team the Vice President leads through operational directors managers and functional leaders to translate organizational priorities into coordinated operational plans performance expectations capacity strategies and continuous improvement initiatives. This position is responsible for strengthening day-to-day operational execution while building the systems talent processes and infrastructure needed to support long-term growth and mission impact.

The Vice President of Operations partners closely with the Chief Operations Officer VP of Food Sourcing VP of Impact Procurement Finance Philanthropy Transformation and other leaders to align food flow inventory availability transportation capacity production capabilities safety practices and facilities resources with organizational priorities. This role directly oversees the Director of Warehouse & Inventory Director of Centers & Production Director of Transportation and Safety Manager.

Operational Strategy & Network Performance

• Develop and execute multi-year operational strategies that support organizational goals distribution effectiveness service responsiveness safety compliance and mission impact.

• Provide senior leadership for the organizations warehouse inventory center production transportation logistics safety and operational readiness functions.

• Ensure operational strategy workflows staffing models equipment facilities technology and resource allocation support organizational growth and service needs.

• Balance operational capacity food flow product availability transportation resources production needs agency demand and program priorities across the network.

• Identify opportunities to improve operational effectiveness throughput quality service levels productivity financial stewardship and cross-functional coordination.

Warehouse Inventory & Food Flow Leadership

• Provide oversight for warehouse operations inventory management receiving storage order fulfillment staging redistribution and product movement across the organizations operating network.

• Ensure inventory standards controls reconciliation practices reporting data integrity and inventory accuracy are consistently maintained across locations.

• Partner with Food Sourcing Impact Programs Finance and site leaders to support forecasting product flow allocation decisions inventory visibility and operational planning.

• Optimize warehouse capacity space utilization labor deployment cross-shift coordination inventory utilization and product availability.

• Support operational strategies that maximize product movement minimize waste maintain food safety and support agency and program needs.

Centers Production & Multi-Site Operations

• Provide oversight for center operations production activities food processing and facility-based operations across multiple locations.

• Partner with Volunteer Services leadership to align volunteer capacity with operational needs across warehouse production repack and distribution activities.

• Ensure production processing inventory utilization and distribution activities are aligned with product volume urgency shelf life facility capability labor resources and service needs.

• Support safe compliant and efficient protein processing and other production activities including inspection readiness and adherence to applicable standards.

• Partner with site leaders to strengthen operational consistency facility readiness equipment planning maintenance coordination and infrastructure improvements.

• Build a coordinated system-wide approach to food distribution production inventory management and service delivery across the operating network.

Transportation Logistics & Distribution

• Provide strategic oversight for transportation operations logistics planning routing fleet utilization driver safety and distribution effectiveness.

• Develop transportation and logistics strategies that improve service route efficiency reliability cost management safety and responsiveness across the service area.

• Partner with Warehouse Centers Food Sourcing Agencies Programs and external partners to ensure timely coordinated and effective movement of food.

• Use operational and logistics data to optimize routes capacity scheduling fleet planning and distribution network performance.

• Support emergency response seasonal operations disaster recovery and business continuity efforts by mobilizing transportation and logistics resources effectively.

Safety Compliance & Operational Readiness

• Lead and strengthen the organizations operational safety culture in partnership with the Safety Manager operational leaders and cross-functional partners.

• Ensure compliance with OSHA DOT USDA food safety workplace safety training audit inspection and regulatory requirements.

• Oversee operational readiness across facilities equipment maintenance planning documentation practices emergency preparedness and infrastructure needs.

• Lead continuous improvement efforts that reduce risk improve safety performance strengthen compliance and support safe operating environments for staff volunteers partners and visitors.

• Support organization-wide business continuity disaster recovery emergency response and operational risk management efforts.

Continuous Improvement Technology & Performance Management

• Develop and manage operational performance metrics and reporting to guide decision-making resource allocation capacity planning and continuous improvement.

• Ensure operational service levels meet agency partner and program expectations through reliable distribution product availability communication responsiveness and continuous improvement.

• Analyze operational data trends costs capacity quality productivity service levels safety performance and compliance indicators to identify opportunities and risks.

• Lead process improvement technology enhancement automation standardization and operational best practice initiatives that improve safety accuracy productivity consistency and service.

• Evaluate capital investments equipment purchases facility needs technology tools and operational improvements through business case development and return-on-investment analysis.

• Partner with Transformation and other leaders on major initiatives that require project management change management process redesign or cross-functional implementation.

Financial Management & Resource Stewardship

• Develop and manage budgets for assigned operational functions including warehouse operations inventory centers production transportation safety equipment maintenance and capital projects.

• Promote financial discipline resource stewardship productivity and cost-effective service delivery across operational teams.

• Identify opportunities to improve resource utilization labor planning facility capacity fleet effectiveness and operational return on investment.

• Collaborate with Finance and operational leaders to support forecasting budget planning variance analysis and long-term operational planning.

• Provide strategic oversight of facilities operations across all locations.

• Develop facility maintenance replacement and capital improvement strategies.

• Lead infrastructure planning to support organizational growth and operational effectiveness.

• Ensure facilities meet safety regulatory food safety and operational requirements.

• Partner on expansion renovation and major capital projects.

Organizational Leadership

• Serve as a member of the Vice President Leadership Team and contribute to organizational planning budgeting resource allocation and operational decision-making.

• Collaborate with internal leaders to align impact strategies with operational capabilities fundraising priorities communications and financial stewardship.

• Build and maintain succession plans leadership development strategies and workforce capability plans that ensure continuity of operations and organizational readiness.

• Support grant development funder engagement outcome reporting and storytelling related to operations.

• Represent the organization with professionalism credibility integrity and a commitment to community partnership and mission excellence.

• Perform other related duties responsibilities and special projects as assigned or required.

• Lead coach and develop the Director of Warehouse & Inventory Director of Centers & Production Director of Transportation Safety Manager and Director of the Northwest Center.

• Represent Operations in organizational initiatives cross-functional planning emergency response and special projects as assigned or required.

• Lead with an organizational mindset while maintaining disciplined focus on operational execution safety service quality and mission impact.

• Lead through leaders by empowering directors and managers while maintaining accountability for results compliance and operational performance.

• Translate organizational priorities into clear operational strategies measurable goals resource plans and consistent execution.

• Foster collaboration across departments and functions helping teams align around shared outcomes and organizational priorities.

• Balance strategic leadership with accountability for measurable results operational excellence and mission impact.

• Use data operational insight performance trends safety metrics and partner feedback to guide decision-making and continuous improvement.

• Develop future leaders through coaching succession planning feedback and professional development.

• Champion safety compliance food quality accountability communication collaboration and continuous improvement across all operating locations.

• Balance daily operational needs with long-term capacity planning infrastructure readiness and organizational growth.

• Build and sustain a values-driven high-performing culture where team members thrive while advancing organizational mission and values.

• Bachelors degree in Supply Chain Management Logistics Operations Management Business Administration Food Systems or a related field required; masters degree preferred or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

• Minimum of ten (10) to fifteen (15) years of progressive leadership experience in operations logistics warehousing inventory management production transportation distribution supply chain food distribution manufacturing or a related environment.

• Minimum of five (5) years leading managers directors or multiple operational functions across a complex or multi-site environment.

• Demonstrated experience overseeing warehouse operations inventory management transportation facilities food safety workplace safety production distribution or logistics functions.

• Strong knowledge of operational performance management inventory controls food safety workplace safety DOT requirements OSHA expectations audit readiness and regulatory compliance.

• Experience leading multi-shift or multi-site operations and managing complex product flow capacity planning labor planning equipment facilities and logistics decisions.

• Demonstrated ability to analyze operational data develop performance metrics manage budgets allocate resources evaluate capital investments and drive continuous improvement.

• Knowledge of Lean Six Sigma process optimization warehouse automation transportation optimization operational technology ERP WMS or related systems preferred.

• Strong leadership communication problem-solving change management project management and relationship-building skills.

• Experience building high-performing teams and developing leaders through coaching performance management succession planning and professional development.

• Commitment to fostering a culture of safety accountability collaboration continuous improvement operational excellence and mission impact.

• Ability to represent the organization with professionalism credibility integrity and a strong commitment to service and mission.

• The starting salary range for this position is to be determined based on skills and experience.

• This positions working schedule is generally Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with some nights and weekends required based on operational needs.

• This position is based out of the organizations regional center with regular travel to other organizational locations and partner sites.

• Some local travel required. Must have dependable transportation and ability and flexibility to travel throughout the organizations 13-county service area as needed.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities duties or responsibilities required of the employee and is subject to change based on the needs of the department and/or the organization.

Required Experience:

Exec