Vice President of Operations

About 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 For

Multi-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 traveling

Food 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 systems

Fleet & 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 sites

Hourly 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 actions

Strategy, 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
• Willingness to travel approximately 40% of the time

Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degrees welcome but not required.

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)