Head of Operations

Title: Head of Ops // Director of Ops

Location: Remote

Reports to: C-Suite

Areas of Ownership include: Procurement, Contract Manufacturing, Logistics and Distribution, Quality and Sustainability, Customer Support, Regulatory Compliance, Inventory Forecasting and Planning

Ideal candidate career goal is to become COO.

Background with large CPG, start-up, and/ or consulting experience deep in supply chain management with strong analytical capabilities.

Role Summary:

The Head of Operations at First Day will be responsible for overseeing all supply chain activities, from procurement to distribution. We are looking for someone driven, skilled in operations, adept at collaborating with others, and experienced in working with both internal and external partners. This role demands a track record of success in nurturing young companies, teamwork, and dedication to achieving ambitious goals.

Responsibilities:

Operational Strategy Development:

• Identify opportunities for operational improvements, cost optimization, and efficiency enhancements.
• Provide leadership and guidance on capital projects, including automation, site expansions and new site builds.
• Own all operational strategic vendor management initiatives, cultivating and nurturing key vendor relationships to ensure optimal terms, pricing, and service delivery, while negotiating contracts and agreements to align with organizational goals and objectives.

Team Leadership and Development:

• Build and develop a high-performing operations team, providing guidance, coaching, and support.
• Set clear performance objectives, conduct performance reviews, and foster a culture of accountability and continuous learning.
• Coach and develop the customer support team, ensuring up-to-date training and practices, while monitoring performance and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Supply Chain Management:

• Own and manage all aspects of First Day’s supply chain: contract manufacturing, warehousing operations, distribution and fulfillment for First Day’s DTC and Amazon channels and the to-be-established retail channel
• Develop, manage and optimize inventory levels in all locations through improved planning processes and inventory management systems
• Optimize supply chain efficiency to minimize lead times, reduce costs, and improve overall operational performance.
• Maintain and enhance strategy for all warehousing operations including storage, assembly, fulfillment, distribution and logistics
• Develop, maintain and manage a strategic growth plan and annual budgets for resourcing for supply chain and warehousing operations - people, technology, automation etc. in collaboration with Finance

Manufacturing and Production:

• Develop and direct the management of production operations to ensure that customer orders are fulfilled complete, accurate and on time
• Ensure Company’s and contract manufacturers are operating in compliance with all customer, product certification and government regulations
• Oversee the procurement function and vendor negotiations to ensure the quality and cost effectiveness of all packaging, ingredients and finished products meet Company’s standards
• Support Quality and Food Safety initiatives
• Manage commercialization of innovation projects in deep collaboration with those responsible for innovation and R&D for both product and packaging
• Other duties as assigned

Requirements:

• Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in various operations functions including prior experience with both big and small, entrepreneurial companies
• Possess key functional expertise across supply chain, manufacturing, customer service and logistics, quality and regulatory, including direct management of contract manufacturers
• Prior leadership experience at companies that sell through DTC, online marketplace, and retail channels
• Prior leadership experience in a manufacturing environment
• Prior experience building teams and systems to support aggressive business growth
• Strong experience developing demand planning/forecasting and inventory management systems
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities, with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively at all levels of the organization.
• Knowledge of relevant regulatory requirements and industry standards.
• Ability to travel to Co-Manufacturers and Suppliers, or for other business as needed

High-Value Items:

• Experience running operations in FDA regulated industry (e.g., Dietary Supplements, Over-the-Counter, Food & Beverage, etc.)
• Strong player-coach - need to contribute and own activities while also developing team and systems around you to succeed
• Experience negotiating large, complex contracts with manufacturers and suppliers