Director Of Operations - The Food Group

Job Title: Director of Operations

Program/Dept: Operations

Location: New Hope, MN

Manager: Executive Director

This is a full-time exempt position, 40 hrs/wk, Mon-Fri, with a competitive benefits package. The hiring salary range is between $71,000 - $98,200.

Job Summary

The Director of Operations will lead all aspects of The Food Group’s Operations including warehouse operations, inventory control, human and food safety programs, facilities management, security, fleet management and transportation, and IT. This position will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of these areas, leading and inspiring a team of 17 people, and ensuring effective and efficient operations. This role also manages organizational-wide process mapping and will facilitate cross-functional process improvement work to enhance The Food Group’s ability to deliver on its mission. The Director of Operations plays a key role on The Food Group leadership team and will be relied upon for providing thought leadership for the short- and long-term strategic direction of the organization; including organizational design and resource planning, capital and expense budgeting, and a technology and data roadmap.

Core Job Functions

1. Leadership and Process Improvement

1. Serve as an effective people leader for the Operations team, directly supervising the Warehouse Manager and Transportation Manager.
2. Set Operations Team vision and direction, ensuring each team member sees and understands their contribution to the department and organizational mission.
3. Providing coaching, goal setting, accountability, and professional development opportunities to team members.
4. Serve as a contributing member of the Leadership Team by actively participating in strategic planning processes, attending weekly meetings, and leading cross-functional improvements.
5. Create and manage annual department budgets
6. Recruit and retain qualified staff.
7. Foster collaboration and communication across all departments at The Food Group, specifically working closely with the programs department to ensure smooth operations and logistics of our programming in the community.
8. Provide recommendations for continuous process improvements and areas of cost-savings and operational efficiency for the organization.
9. Think strategically about the longer-term infrastructure needs of the organization and manage the long-range capital plan.
10. Commit to individual work and growth around issues of equity and support your team to create a culture of equity and belonging.

1. Warehouse, Facilities, and Transportation

1. In partnership with the Warehouse Manager, ensure that the warehouse complies with all regulations and that staff is trained on accurate and safe processes and procedures.
2. Maintain the warehouse food safety program with written procedures and specific responsibilities of each team member written in an operations manual.
3. Ensure warehouse complies with OSHA, federal, state and local safety regulations and ordinances.
4. Use supply chain management skills to ensure that food distribution strategies are safe, efficient, and meet the needs of community partners.
5. Responsible for proactive inventory management and compliance with government food distribution programs (TEFAP) and associated documentation
6. Responsible for facilities maintenance, fleet management and maintenance and risk management. Identify and make recommendations for facilities investments, including the farm.
7. In partnership with the volunteer team, ensure Operations supports the needs of volunteer groups packing food in the warehouse.
8. Create and maintain facility maintenance calendars for all three organizational locations: New Hope, St. Paul, and Marine on St. Croix.
9. Manage and approve contracts and oversee vendor relationships including contractors, copiers, and snow removal.
10. Create and track ongoing metrics to assess and enhance warehouse operational efficiency.
11. Manage an infrastructure plan and capital budget that supports the short- and long-term strategic direction of the organization
12. Work with staff to continuously review and optimize transportation routes and ensure that community partner food needs are met.
13. In partnership with the Transportation Manager, oversee the fleet of trucks and ensure all repairs and maintenance are completed and equipment meets all safety standards.
14. Manage and coordinate all aspects related to the transportation department including DOT compliance.
15. Create efficiency metrics related to our transportation efforts and measure annual success related to these metrics.

1. Technology and Systems Management

1. Own and manage the organization’s technology architecture strategy, implementation and maintenance.
2. Develop and implement a strategy for how The Food Group can advance the use of data, insights and analytics to inform performance, investments and key decisions
3. Lead the documentation of all key operations processes and ensure that they are followed (SOPs).
4. Document and keep updated technology architecture, data flow, and process diagrams.
5. Develop a culture of continuous learning and continuous improvement within the Operations Department and work to encourage this work across the organization.
6. Create and manage the IT budget and be the main contact for all IT vendors.
7. Ensure that all software subscriptions are current and technical support is provided as needed.
8. Understand and build process for IT security including managing cyber-security risk.

Position Requirements

1. Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Must be able to work effectively with partners who are significantly diverse with respect to age, race, ethnicity, gender orientation, socio-economic status, nationality, and religion.
• Must be able to work effectively in an organization that has recognized its own issues related to equity and is seeking to be more representative of the community.
• Knowledge of local, state and federal laws relating to food handling, safety and DOT preferred.
• Knowledge of ERP, WMS, and/or inventory management systems.
• Demonstrated commitment to The Food Group’s mission, vision and values, including a personal commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Excellent verbal and written communications skills with a focus on providing excellent customer service.
• Strong relationship, problem-solving, and organizational leadership abilities.
• Ability to develop and implement strategies that lead to results and impact for the organization
• Experience working collaboratively across multiple functions – comfortable working/influencing outside one’s area of expertise
• Willingness to represent The Food Group with key stakeholders including donors, community partners, government officials, industry forums and in public speaking engagements.
• Experience developing and owning budgets/budget processes.

This position requires a minimum of five years’ experience managing a team and ten years of demonstrated success in overseeing operations based on significant technology and process infrastructure. Experience with food and or warehouse operations a plus but not required.

1. Licenses and Certifications

1. Dependable transportation as needed.

Working Conditions and Environment

This position is housed within an office and warehouse setting. The building is accessible and smoke free. This position works during normal business hours and includes some evening and/or weekend hours. Start times are flexible to adjust to bus, biking, or other transportation schedules. The person employed in this position must be able to lift a minimum of 50 pounds and operate warehouse equipment.

All employees must be able to work effectively in a mission-driven agency whose clients and staff exhibit significant diversity with respect to race, ethnicity, gender orientation, socio-economic status, nationality, and religion.

People of Color and LGBTQ people are strongly encouraged to apply. The Food Group is an equal opportunity employer.

Organization Overview

The Food Group (TFG) is a local food equity nonprofit. For more than 45 years we have worked to provide nutritious food to those who need it most in our community. We work at the intersection of food access, equity, and nutrition issues related to food and hunger in Minnesota. We work across the food system and our programs include anti-hunger initiatives, affordable grocery, advocacy, and sustainable farming.

Our culture and environment can be described as high-trust, cooperative, collaborative, open, and fun. We are team of approximately 60 people with three locations in New Hope, St. Paul, and Marine on St. Croix.

We are a workplace that is full of people who genuinely appreciate each other and work best when tackling big ideas as a team. We value individuals who bring their life experiences to their work, knowing that the ways that they have experienced racial, economic, or gender injustice drive their passion to create change. We are a team of passionate, dedicated people who work alongside each other.

Equity is fundamental to our mission to fight hunger and nourish our community. Where we live, how much money we make, or the color of our skin currently influences access to healthy and culturally connected foods. We must address the roots of these inequities so everyone in our community has the opportunity to live their best life. We believe in working with our community and organizations to improve food access and make systemic changes. To do so, equity is a part of all aspects of our work. We invite individuals from different abilities, ethnicities, genders, races, religions, sexual orientations, and socioeconomic backgrounds to take part in and shape the work in the community.

Benefits:

• Medical & Dental
• 401k Employer Contribution
• Employer-paid life insurance/AD&D up to 2x the employee’s annual salary
• 16 days of Paid Holidays
• Up to 18 days of Paid Time Off
• Volunteer Time Off
• Paid Parental Leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Many more!

How to apply

Interested parties should send a cover letter and current resume via the organization’s website at Job Opportunities - The Food Group (thefoodgroupmn.org).

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until December 13, 2024.

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