Director of Operations

Job Description Director of Operations

Company: Edible Garden AG

Department: Operations

Reports To: Chief Executive Officer / Executive Leadership

Position Type: Full-Time, Leadership

Position Overview

Edible Garden AG is seeking an experienced, results-driven Director of Operations to oversee and lead all aspects of company operations, including greenhouse production, food manufacturing and packaging, inventory management, purchasing, warehousing, and logistics.

The ideal candidate will have a strong background in food production or food manufacturing, greenhouse operations, supply chain management, and transportation logistics. This individual must be a hands-on operational leader who can develop and implement processes, improve efficiencies, control costs, manage people, and ensure that production and customer commitments are consistently met.

The Director of Operations will be responsible for coordinating all operational departments to ensure the business operates efficiently, profitably, and in compliance with food safety, quality, and regulatory requirements.

Key Responsibilities

1. Overall Operations Management

• Provide leadership and direction for all daily operational activities across company facilities.
• Establish operational goals, performance expectations, and measurable objectives.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures to improve consistency and accountability.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement solutions to improve productivity and profitability.
• Ensure effective communication and coordination between production, greenhouse, warehouse, purchasing, sales, and logistics teams.
• Establish accountability throughout all levels of operations.
• Oversee multiple facilities and ensure consistent operational standards.

2. Greenhouse Operations

• Oversee greenhouse production, growing schedules, planting plans, harvesting, and inventory.
• Coordinate production requirements with Sales to ensure growing plans align with customer demand.
• Ensure proper utilization of greenhouse space, labor, supplies, and resources.
• Monitor crop yields, production efficiency, shrink, waste, and product quality.
• Establish procedures for plant inventory, crop planning, and production forecasting.
• Work with greenhouse managers to improve growing practices and operational performance.
• Ensure facilities, equipment, and growing environments are properly maintained.

3. Food Production and Packaging

• Oversee daily food production, processing, and packaging operations.
• Ensure production schedules meet customer demand and shipping deadlines.
• Establish and monitor production standards, labor efficiency, and output expectations.
• Maintain strong quality control throughout the production and packaging process.
• Ensure compliance with food safety programs, sanitation requirements, and applicable regulatory standards.
• Identify opportunities to reduce product damage, spoilage, waste, and labor costs.
• Ensure production teams are properly trained and held accountable for quality and performance.

4. Logistics, Transportation and Distribution

• Oversee inbound and outbound transportation, dispatch, shipping, and distribution.
• Manage relationships with trucking companies, freight carriers, and transportation providers.
• Ensure shipments are scheduled efficiently and customer delivery requirements are met.
• Monitor freight costs, delivery performance, and transportation efficiency.
• Develop procedures for shipping accuracy, load management, and delivery documentation.
• Resolve transportation delays, delivery issues, and customer-related distribution problems.
• Coordinate logistics activities with production, warehouse, and customer service teams.

5. Purchasing, Procurement and Inventory Management

• Oversee purchasing and procurement of raw materials, packaging, growing supplies, equipment, and operational materials.
• Establish purchasing controls and inventory management procedures.
• Negotiate with vendors and suppliers to obtain competitive pricing and reliable service.
• Monitor inventory levels to prevent shortages, overstocking, and unnecessary carrying costs.
• Establish inventory accuracy standards and regular cycle-count procedures.
• Coordinate purchasing decisions with production forecasts and customer demand.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities throughout the supply chain.

6. Financial and Cost Management

• Develop and manage departmental operating budgets.
• Monitor labor, production, freight, purchasing, and overhead expenses.
• Analyze operational costs and identify opportunities to improve margins.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure operational success.
• Provide regular operational and financial performance reporting to executive leadership.
• Ensure resources are allocated effectively and operating costs remain within budget.

7. Leadership and Employee Development

• Recruit, develop, and lead strong management teams across all operational departments.
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations.
• Hold managers and supervisors accountable for departmental results.
• Develop training programs and succession plans for key operational positions.
• Promote a culture of teamwork, communication, safety, quality, and continuous improvement.
• Address performance issues promptly and consistently.

8. Quality, Food Safety and Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure compliance with applicable food safety, workplace safety, and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain strong quality assurance and sanitation practices.
• Ensure required inspections, documentation, training, and operational records are maintained.
• Work with department managers to identify and correct operational and compliance issues.
• Promote a proactive approach to food safety, employee safety, and product quality.

Qualifications and Experience

• 7-10+ years of progressive operations management experience.
• Significant experience in food manufacturing, food packaging, produce, or perishable food operations.
• Experience managing greenhouse or agricultural production operations strongly preferred.
• Strong background in logistics, transportation, warehousing, and distribution.
• Experience with purchasing, procurement, inventory management, and vendor negotiations.
• Demonstrated experience managing multiple departments, facilities, and management teams.
• Strong understanding of production planning, labor management, cost controls, and operational efficiencies.
• Experience developing SOPs, implementing operational improvements, and establishing KPIs.
• Knowledge of food safety standards, quality control, and regulatory compliance.
• Strong financial, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.

Key Leadership Competencies

• Hands-on, results-oriented leadership.
• Strong decision-making and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced production environment.
• Strong organizational and planning capabilities.
• Ability to lead through change and improve operational performance.
• High level of accountability and ownership.
• Ability to balance strategic planning with daily operational execution.

Measures of Success

The Director of Operations will be evaluated based on:

• Improved operational efficiency and productivity.
• Consistent achievement of production and shipping schedules.
• Improved product quality and reduced waste and shrink.
• Accurate inventory management and purchasing controls.
• Reduced labor, freight, and overall operating costs.
• Improved greenhouse production performance and yields.
• Strong food safety and regulatory compliance.
• Effective management development and employee accountability.
• Improved coordination between departments and facilities.
• Achievement of company operational and financial objectives.

Overall Expectations

The Director of Operations is expected to take ownership of the company's operational performance from greenhouse production through final customer delivery. This individual must be capable of identifying problems, developing practical solutions, implementing systems, and ensuring that managers and employees are accountable for results.

The successful candidate will bring a combination of strategic thinking and hands-on operational experience, with the ability to build a disciplined, efficient, and high-performing organization.