Vice President of Operations

Base pay range

$/yr - $/yr

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.

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.

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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

• 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…