Senior Director of Plant Operations and Manufacturing

POSITION: Senior Director of Plant Operations and ManufacturingCLASSIFICATION : ExemptReporting RelationshipsReports to the CEODirect Reports: Director of Coffee, Compliance Manager, Senior Operations Manager, Production/Operations LeadersKey Partners: Coffee, Wholesale, Retail, Marketing, Finance, People & CultureAbout EquatorIn 1995, Equator Founders Helen Russell and Brooke McDonnell began their values-driven path, roasting coffee in a Marin County, CA garage. Possessing an obsessive commitment to green coffee sourcing and unparalleled roasting expertise, Equator has committed over 30 years to sustainable and fair trade coffee practices all in the name of creating a remarkable coffee experience for consumers. Today, Equator Coffees is a retail and wholesale coffee roaster and coffee farm owner with twelve retail cafes throughout California—from Marin County to San Francisco to Oakland to Sonoma County and beyond. Throughout the years, Equator Coffees has spearheaded industry-leading sourcing and roasting practices, and has forged progressive partnerships with Michelin-starred chefs, specialty grocers, tech campuses, and more. Women-owned, LGBTQ-founded, and an early adopter of Fair Trade and Regenerative Organic certifications, Equator Coffees is the first California coffee roaster to achieve B Corp Certification.Position SummaryThis role leads the roastery which is the engine of all of our business channels—and builds what comes next. The Senior Director of Plant Operations & Manufacturing is responsible for the full production and supply chain ecosystem at Equator, from green coffee intake through roasting, packaging, and fulfillment across retail, wholesale, and e-commerce channels.This Is a Highly Visible Leadership Role, Responsible ForOptimizing current operationsBuilding systems and infrastructure for scaleLeading teams and developing future leadersEnsuring quality, efficiency, and consistency without compromiseYou understand that great coffee is both craft and consistency—and you know how to build an operation that honors both.What You’ll OwnEnd-to-End Coffee Production & Supply ChainOversee green coffee QA, receiving, storage and roasting, packaging, and fulfillmentOversee roast execution, cupping standards, and quality controlEnsure freshness, traceability, and consistency across all SKUs and channelsOwn supply chain flow from procurement through finished goodsRoastery & Manufacturing OperationsLead daily operations across roasting, packaging, fulfillment and distributionAlign production planning with demand across retail, wholesale, and e-commerceOptimize workflows, staffing, and scheduling in a high-mix environmentBalance efficiency with quality and craftHelp lead facility move and expansion to 20,000+ square foot SQF facility, including addition of roasting capacity and automated packaging equipmentSystems, Inventory & Production PlanningOwn production planning systems (Cropster, NetSuite ERP, and related tools)Manage green and roasted coffee inventory with accuracy and intentionImprove forecasting, reporting, and production visibilityDrive waste reduction, sustainability improvements and service level improvementsQuality, Food Safety & ComplianceEnsure compliance with GMP, HACCP, and OSHA standardsMove production facility from GMP to SQFMaintain audit readiness and strong food safety practicesBuild and reinforce quality systems across roasting and packagingPeople Leadership & CultureLead and develop managers, supervisors, and production teamsBuild a culture of accountability, safety, inclusion, and continuous improvementCoach leaders to drive performance, engagement, and team developmentPartner with People & Culture on hiring, performance management, and growthContinuous Improvement & Operational ExcellenceDrive Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiativesTrack and improve KPIs: quality, throughput, labor efficiency, waste, order accuracyIdentify opportunities for automation and smarter systemsBuild and execute operational roadmaps for scaling the businessLogistics & DistributionOversee fulfillment and distribution across all channelsOptimize cost, speed, and reliability of deliveryIdentify and resolve bottlenecks across the networkFinancial & Strategic LeadershipResponsible for COGS, labor, and efficiency metricsPartner with Finance and CEO on budgeting, forecasting, and long-range planningBuild reporting and analytics to support decision-makingCross-Functional LeadershipPartner closely with Coffee, Wholesale, Retail, and Marketing teamsEnsure operations enables—not constrains—growthSupport new product launches and seasonal programsQualifications and RequirementsBS degree in engineering, supply chain or management discipline10+ years of progressive operations leadership in food or beverage manufacturing7–10+ years of progressive responsibility leading teams of 25+ people and managers in production environmentsStrong experience in end-to-end supply chain and manufacturing operationsDeep respect for quality-driven production (coffee experience strongly preferred)Proven ability to scale operations while maintaining product integrityExperience with production planning, inventory systems, and ERP toolsStrong knowledge of SQF, GMP, HACCP, and food safety standardsFinancial acumen, including P&L ownership or influenceClear, grounded leadership style with strong communication skillsExcellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills, with the ability to influence across roasting, production, fulfillment, cross-functional and leadership teams.Preferred QualificationsDirect experience in specialty coffee roasting or specialty food productionBackground in Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and Kaizen Familiarity with Cropster or similar roasting softwareBilingual (English/Spanish)Experience in a mission-driven or B Corp organizationBenefitsAvailable to all employeesCommuter Benefits - pre-tax parking and transitEmployee Assistance Program (EAP) - Physical and mental health, financial and legal coaching available at no cost to the employee Free mental health app subscriptionEmployee discount on merchandise, coffee gear, and at Equator cafesContinuing coffee education classesFree coffeeAfter 60 days as an employee at EquatorHealthcare Benefits (for full-time employees working over 30 hours per week)100% employer-covered premium medical insurance Voluntary Insurance Plans - dental, vision, long-term disability, pet, and supplementary life insuranceEmployer covered life insurance premiumFlexible Spending Account (FSA) - healthcare and daily dependent careAfter 90 days as an employee at EquatorHoliday Pay after 90 days of employment. Eight Equator-observed holidays per yearPaid Time Off with tenured increases for full-time employees1 paid volunteer day per year After six months as an employee at Equator401K with up to a 4% company match on employee contributionsCompensation will be commensurate with experience.This position description intends to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. It is not intended to include all duties and responsibilities. Job responsibilities can change according to the operational needs of the business. The order in which duties and responsibilities are listed is not significant. Equator Coffees is an equal-opportunity employer. All aspects of employment including the decision to hire, promote, and discharge will be based on competence, performance, and business needs. We do not discriminate based on race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability or any other applicable legally protected characteristics.