Vice President of Operations
7 days ago
Houston
Job DescriptionAbout The Common Market The Common Market is a nonprofit local food distributor working to build a more resilient and equitable food system. We connect small and mid-scale family farms to schools, hospitals, and other institutions while upholding rigorous standards for food safety, operational excellence, and values-driven procurement. We operate multiple warehouse and trucking operations across regions and are entering a phase that requires strong, experienced operational leadership. Position Summary The Vice President of Operations is the senior leader responsible for end-to-end execution of warehouse, trucking, food safety, and operational performance across multiple sites. This is a hands-on executive role. The VP of Operations will spend significant time in warehouses and on the road, working directly with Operations Managers, drivers, warehouse associates, and sanitation teams—while also serving as a core member of the executive leadership team responsible for strategy, systems, and performance. This role is ideal for a seasoned operations leader who has personally owned food safety, fleet, and multi-site execution and is comfortable moving between the warehouse floor and the senior leadership team. What You’ll Be Responsible ForMulti-Site Operations Leadership • Lead operations across multiple warehouses, including trucking, warehouse, sanitation, and facilities, • Manage and develop Operations Managers and ensure consistent execution of SOPs across sites, • Spend regular time working out of regional warehouses when not travelingFood Safety & Compliance (Direct Ownership), • Own the organization’s food safety program across all sites, including SQF, FSMA, and PCQI requirements, • Lead audit readiness, corrective actions, and continuous improvement across warehouses, • Manage and support site-level SQF Practitioners and ensure backup coverage, • Oversee supplier food safety documentation and compliance systemsFleet & Facilities, • Lead oversight of a fleet of 20+ trucks, including PM, compliance, safety, and utilization, • Ensure effective use of telematics, temperature monitoring, and maintenance systems, • Oversee facilities, refrigeration, docks, and material-handling equipment across sitesHourly Workforce Leadership, • Provide direct leadership, coaching, and accountability for hourly warehouse and driver teams (through managers), • Ensure strong safety culture, performance management, and clear expectations, • Partner with HR on hiring, training, performance evaluations, and corrective actionsStrategy, KPIs & Financial Management, • Develop and execute operations strategy aligned with organizational goals, • Build and maintain operational KPIs for warehouse, trucking, and food and workplace safety, • Use Excel and data from operational platforms to generate reports and dashboards, • Lead operational planning, budgeting inputs, and performance reviews Who This Role Is For This role is for someone who: • Has managed operations across multiple warehouses and knows how to enforce consistency without being everywhere, • Has personally owned a food safety program for a food distributor or food manufacturer, • Has led a fleet of at least 10 trucks and understands the realities of drivers, maintenance, and compliance, • Is comfortable working directly with hourly staff and also contributing at the executive level, • Is energized by a hands-on, resource-constrained environment where leaders build systems, not inherit them, • Lives in (or is willing to relocate to) Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, or Philadelphia and expects to work out of a warehouse regularly Who This Role Is Not For This role is not a good fit if you: • Prefer a fully remote or office-only executive role, • Have overseen operations only through consultants or indirect reports, • Have limited exposure to food safety audits, SQF, or multi-site compliance, • Are uncomfortable managing drivers, warehouse teams, or safety issues directly, • Expect large corporate infrastructure, extensive support teams, or abundant resources Qualifications • 10+ years of progressive operations leadership in food distribution, food manufacturing, logistics, or supply chain, • Demonstrated experience managing multi-site warehouse operations, • Direct ownership of food safety programs (SQF, FSMA, PCQI), • Experience leading a fleet of 10+ trucks, • Strong Excel skills and ability to build and interpret operational reports and KPIs, • Proven ability to lead hourly teams and develop managers Why This Role Matters This is a pivotal moment for The Common Market. The VP of Operations will play a central role in strengthening our infrastructure, supporting our teams, and ensuring we can scale our impact while maintaining safety, quality, and mission alignment. Benefits • Salary: $130k annual, • Make an impact by connecting institutions with healthy, local food while supporting family farms., • Collaborate with a passionate, mission-driven team working to build a better food system., • Opportunity for growth in a dynamic and expanding organization., • Comprehensive benefits package., • Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision), • Retirement Plan (SIMPLE IRA with 100% employer match), • Life Insurance (100% Employer Paid Life, AD&D, Short Term and Long Term Disability), • Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)