Vice President of Operations

Vice President of Operations Harvest Hope Food Bank | South Carolina Lead the Mission. Scale the Impact. Feed South Carolina.

Every day, Harvest Hope Food Bank moves millions of pounds of food across South Carolina, connecting donors, volunteers, agencies, and communities in the fight against hunger.

We're seeking an exceptional Vice President of Operations to lead the complex network of people, processes, facilities, transportation systems, and technology that make our mission possible.

This is not a traditional operations role.

This is an opportunity to lead one of the state's most important humanitarian supply chains, ensuring that food reaches families, children, seniors, and individuals facing food insecurity across 20 counties.

If you are a strategic operations executive who thrives on building high-performing teams, optimizing complex logistics networks, driving continuous improvement, and creating measurable social impact, we want to hear from you.

Embark on a fulfilling journey at Harvest Hope Food Bank, where your talents play a vital role in our mission to end hunger. As the largest hunger-relief organization in South Carolina, serving 20 counties, we annually distribute 30 million pounds of food across the Midlands, Pee Dee, and Upstate regions. Our dynamic nonprofit values innovation, collaboration, and diversity, offering a uniquely rewarding experience for employees dedicated to making a meaningful difference in their communities.

Join our dedicated team in building a hunger-free tomorrow through active engagement with nearly 400 partner agencies. Together, we strive to address food insecurity and positively impact lives across the state.

As a member of Harvest Hope's Executive Leadership Team, the Vice President of Operations serves as the senior leader responsible for:

• Warehouse Operations
• Transportation & Logistics
• Fulfillment & Distribution
• Inventory Management
• Facilities & Equipment
• Safety & Regulatory Compliance
• Supply Chain Optimization

Reporting directly to the CEO, the VPO leads multi-site operations while partnering with organizational leaders to develop strategies that maximize efficiency, stewardship, service levels, and community impact.

This executive will help shape the future of food banking in South Carolina by ensuring that every donated dollar, every donated pound of food, and every operational decision drives greater impact for the people we serve.

Oversee daily operations across multiple branches, ensuring efficient movement of food and resources from acquisition through distribution.

Develop and execute strategies that improve:

• Inventory optimization
• Warehouse efficiency
• Transportation effectiveness
• Distribution performance
• Service to agency partners
• Overall supply chain resiliency

Lead and develop a talented team of directors and managers across operations functions.

You will:

• Coach and mentor leaders
• Build accountability and ownership
• Create pathways for professional growth
• Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement
• Ensure every team member understands how their work contributes to ending hunger

Partner with the CEO and Executive Team to:

• Develop long-term operational strategies
• Forecast human capital and capacity needs
• Evaluate facility and equipment investments
• Establish operational performance goals
• Create scalable systems that support future growth

Serve as Harvest Hope's operational compliance leader by ensuring adherence to:

• OSHA requirements
• DOT regulations
• USDA standards
• AIB requirements
• Organizational safety protocols

The successful candidate will be passionate about creating a culture where safety, accountability, and excellence are non-negotiable.

Leverage analytics, KPIs, forecasting, and operational metrics to:

• Improve performance
• Identify opportunities
• Increase efficiency
• Support executive decision-making
• Demonstrate stewardship of donor resources

You will regularly brief the CEO and leadership team on performance trends, opportunities, and operational risks.

You are an experienced operations executive who combines strategic thinking with hands-on leadership.

You are equally comfortable:

• Leading executive-level strategy discussions
• Walking a warehouse floor
• Coaching leaders through change
• Solving complex operational challenges
• Using data to drive decisions
• Building culture and…