VP of Plant Ops

Brief Description About Fresh Direct

Fresh Direct is a leading online fresh food grocer dedicated to delivering the freshest, highest-quality groceries directly to customers' homes and businesses. Since our founding, we have transformed the grocery experience by combining best-in-class sourcing, state-of-the-art fulfillment operations, and an unwavering commitment to quality and customer satisfaction. Our purpose-built facility, advanced supply chain, and talented team enable us to deliver fresh produce, premium proteins, prepared foods, and everyday essentials with exceptional speed and accuracy.

At Fresh Direct, innovation, operational excellence, food safety, and continuous improvement are at the core of everything we do. We are seeking an accomplished operational leader who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume environment and is passionate about building high-performing teams, driving operational excellence, and delivering exceptional customer experiences.

The Vice President of Plant Operations is a key member of the Operations Leadership Team and is responsible for the strategic direction and execution of Fresh Direct's manufacturing, fulfillment, warehousing, shipping, and inventory operations. This executive will lead large, cross-functional teams while driving operational excellence across a complex, high-volume food production and distribution environment. The VP of Plant Operations will oversee day-to-day operations while developing long-term strategies that improve productivity, quality, safety, service, and profitability.

This role carries full operational accountability, including workforce planning, production performance, inventory management, capital planning, continuous improvement initiatives, financial performance, and operational scalability to support company growth.

• Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for all plant operations, including production, warehousing, fulfillment, shipping, inventory control, and sanitation.
• Oversee all operational staff and ensure efficient day-to-day execution across multiple departments.
• Develop and execute operational strategies that support Fresh Direct's growth, customer service objectives, and long-term business goals.
• Monitor and evaluate operational processes to identify opportunities for continuous improvement, increased efficiency, enhanced quality, and reduced costs.
• Drive plant-wide financial performance through full P&L ownership, including overhead management, labor optimization, productivity improvement, cost-per-order performance, and budget accountability.
• Develop, manage, and monitor annual operating budgets, forecasts, and capital expenditure plans.
• Establish and track key operational KPIs and performance metrics related to safety, quality, productivity, labor efficiency, inventory accuracy, customer service, and financial performance.
• Lead manufacturing excellence initiatives utilizing Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Ensure compliance with all FDA, USDA, OSHA, SQF, HACCP, GMP, and applicable regulatory requirements while fostering a culture of food safety and workplace safety.
• Direct strategic planning for manufacturing capacity, facility optimization, automation, and operational scalability.
• Lead capital improvement projects from concept through implementation while ensuring return on investment objectives are achieved.
• Ensure all manufacturing, warehousing, and fulfillment processes are effectively planned, executed, measured, and continuously improved.

• Lead and develop a high-performing Operations Leadership Team while fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Build a culture focused on safety, operational excellence, innovation, engagement, and customer satisfaction.
• Hold managers accountable for achieving departmental goals and operational performance metrics.
• Establish clear performance expectations and provide regular coaching, feedback, and performance evaluations.
• Develop succession planning and leadership development programs to strengthen organizational capability.
• Champion employee engagement initiatives that support retention and professional development.
• Promote effective communication across all levels of the organization through regular operational meetings and transparent leadership.
• Partner closely with Human Resources to support workforce planning, talent acquisition, organizational development, and employee relations.

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or a related field; MBA preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience overseeing manufacturing, distribution, warehouse, or fulfillment operations within a complex, high-volume environment, preferably within food manufacturing, grocery, or consumer packaged goods.
• Demonstrated experience leading…