Operations Manager​/Director

Overview

Help Build a Healthier World

You could make a real difference, every day, for people’s health, animal , and the planet — working with a passionate vegan team?

You certainly can, at Leaf Side! We are a growing company, offering innovative 100% whole-food plant-based (WFPB) vegan meals that deliver the highest standards in lifestyle medicine. Our mission is to make optimally healthy, whole vegan eating so easy and enjoyable that it becomes a societal norm.

Leaf Side is seeking a Production Manager
to scale our operations through project management, supply chain optimization, and production automation.

As our team’s hands-on Production Manager
, you’ll be responsible for overseeing and improving the team making Leaf Side s life-changing magic meals. From supply-chain to production to fulfillment, you ll lead daily execution excellence, and key strategic improvements — while staying aligned with Leaf Side’s vision and values. Being a great manager and coach is central to this role too. Other expectations include overseeing clear & sufficient (not excessive) documentation, and data-backed reasoning & problem-solving in general

It’ll all be happening in the fast-paced environment of a growing, mission-driven company — so we’re looking for someone who will see this role as not just another job, but key to their career and aligned with their life’s calling.

This role is on-site in Tempe, AZ.

This role is:

• Hands-on leadership and coaching of staff across supply chain, production & fulfillment, and special projects therein; some cross-functional projects may also arise.
• Data-centric, with concise written analysis and reporting — including plans, briefs, tables/spreadsheets, predicting tradeoffs, doing due diligence, and sharing crisp updates to staff.
• Where progress and results are delivered by disciplined follow-through, risk tracking & mitigation, root cause analysis, and steady systems improvements.

This role is not:

• A high-level COO/Integrator role or a role with broad autonomy, at least not initially.
• Responsible for full P&L oversight; but managing costs effectively (with a strategy and prioritization) is required.

Production & Operations Execution, Reliability, and Scalability

• Keep production going to meet demand, with daily operational excellence across all Ops functions, and strategic improvements in productivity/training and quality assurance.
• Oversee SOPs, checklists, playbooks, and documentation.
• Own & maintain effective dashboards and trackers that show progress and constraints.
• Drive steady, measurable progress that lowers manual effort and costs while maintaining or raising quality.
• Strengthen supply chain forecasting, ordering cadence, and risk visibility.
• Coach and develop emerging leaders to proactively problem-solve and run their work with clarity and determination.

Leaf Side operates with high rigor. Success in this role requires readiness for:

• Writing-first thinking:
  Plans, status, decisions, and risks are concisely documented.
• Data-backed reasoning: e.g. tables, comparisons, assumptions, and proof.
• Execution within constraints of time and budget.

• 7 - 10+ years of experience in production, manufacturing, and/or supply chain (food/CPG or regulated environment strongly preferred)
• 3 - 5+ years in production leadership (manager level or above)
• Fluent with business & operations software, e.g. Google Docs/Sheets and software/operations tools
• AI-empowered and constantly learning
• Track record of coaching teams to higher standards and responsibilities

• We offer market-competitive compensation & total rewards, plus bonus, dependent on experience and qualifications.
• Total time off per year starts at 5 weeks per year. (8 paid holidays, 5 sick days, and 12 PTO days) with sick and PTO time accrued per fully employed pay period.
• Health, dental, and vision plans are offered, with full or partial coverage by the company depending on the plan chosen.
• Complimentary Leaf Side meals every workday and employee discount on Leaf Side products. Unlike most food companies, we eat our own products every day, and…