Director of Operations
The Director of Operations is responsible for leading all manufacturing, production, and supply chain efforts across coffee roasting, packaging, and cold brew concentrate lines. This role ensures operational excellence by driving efficiency, quality, food safety, cost control, and team development. The ideal candidate combines hands-on manufacturing leadership with strategic planning capabilities, and thrives in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.Essential Duties and Responsibilities: -Other duties may be assignedOperational LeadershipOversee day-to-day operations across roasting, grinding, packaging, cold brew brewing and extraction.Develop and implement production strategies to meet demand plans, maximize throughput, and optimize plant capacity.Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Kaizen, 5S, or similar methodologies.People LeadershipManage and develop a cross-functional team including Production Managers, Roasters, Packaging Supervisors, Maintenance, and Quality personnel.Foster a high-performance culture focused on accountability, teamwork, and professional growth.Own staffing plans, training programs, and succession development.Quality & Food SafetyEnsure all products meet or exceed SQF, HACCP, FDA, and internal quality standards.Partner with the Quality team to investigate issues, implement CAPAs, and maintain audit readiness.Supply Chain & InventoryCoordinate with Procurement and Planning to ensure raw materials (green coffee, packaging, ingredients) are available to support production schedules.Oversee inventory accuracy, material flow, and warehouse operations.Maintenance & Equipment ReliabilityOversee and Partner with Maintenance to implement preventive and predictive maintenance programs.Support capital equipment upgrades and automation initiatives.Financial & KPI ManagementDevelop and manage department budgets, labor efficiency, yield, scrap, and OEE targets.Track and report performance metrics; identify and address bottlenecks or cost drivers.QualificationsRequired7+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing; food & beverage or CPG strongly preferred.Experience in coffee roasting, beverage processing, or similar operations (thermal processing, brewing, extraction, bottling, etc.).Strong understanding of GMP, HACCP, and food safety regulations.Proven track record of scaling production, improving efficiency, and leading cross-functional teams.PreferredExperience with SQF Certification, ERP/MES systems, and industrial automation.Lean Six Sigma training or certification.Bachelor’s degree in operations, Engineering, Food Science, Business, or related field.Traits of a Successful CandidateHands-on, floor-focused leadership style with strong follow-through.Data-driven decision maker with a continuous improvement mindset.Calm under pressure and able to thrive in a fast-paced, growing environment.Excellent communicator who can collaborate across departments.