We're looking for a supreme multi-tasker and passionate people person who is looking for the opportunity to gain operational experience at a fast-growing food company with a mission.

The Operations Manager (OM) is a leader who creates a community and will be responsible for supervising the day-to-day operations of the Ground Up Production Kitchen and Warehouse, as well as supporting the Director of Operations in reaching company operational goals.

The OM is responsible for managing both Assistant Operations Managers (AOM), production staff, supervising the manufacture and packaging of nut butter,  supervising warehouse and fulfillment staff, supervising customer orders and shipments.  

The OM is also responsible for creating and maintaining vendor relationships, reducing Ground Up’s expenses, supervising the execution of the Training Program, and supporting employee relations. 

Type of Position: Exempt, Full-time

Benefits: Paid Holidays, PTO Accrual, Healthcare Reimbursement 

Schedule: Varied shifts during Ground Up operating hours. Typically weekdays between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:30 pm. (Most of the year, with the exception of September through December, Ground Up runs a four day work week with Fridays off.)

Responsibilities:

Leadership

• Directly supervise Assistant Operations Managers (AOMs) in management of leads, apprentices, and associates
• Lead production planning including maintaining current inventory, updating sales and output data, and making and communicating production schedules to staff
• Lead procurement and inventory maintenance of all raw materials and supplies; manage operating budget and cost of goods
• Act as Manager on Duty and lead production and fulfillment teams when Assistant Operations Managers are not available
• Cultivate positive team culture and promote an environment in which employees are engaged, empowered, and committed to the success of the company 
• Coach, guide, train and give meaningful feedback to all staff through on-the-job training, regular evaluations, corrective action, and performance plans
• Set long-term and short-term goals and motivate staff to achieve them
• Analyze efficiency in all departments and create and improve systems and processes to optimize effectiveness
• Plan and lead team meetings,  huddles, team lunches and other staff appreciation or educational events
• Determine hiring needs based on budgets and the input of the leadership team; plan, perform, and supervise recruiting, hiring, and onboarding of new staff
• Take reasonable direction from supervisors
• All other duties as assigned    

Production

• Train Assistant Operations Managers (AOMs) to lead staff in the production and packaging of nut butter which includes but is not limited to mixing batches according to provided recipes, labeling containers and boxes, tightening lids, tampering jars, and boxing and moving product and ingredients in and out of the warehouse
• Operate and maintain production equipment such as industrial mixers, filler machines, label machines, and industrial dishwasher
• Maintain or exceed quality and safety standards for all Ground Up products
• Create and meet production goals communicated through staff motivation and encouragement
• Procure well priced ingredients for production accurately and in a timely manner
• Lead production planning including accurate data collection, forecasting, and operational strategy
• All other duties as assigned  

Safety & Good Manufacturing Practices

• Maintain high standards of quality and sanitation in line with regulatory agencies 
• Maintain GMP and Food Safety requirements through creating and maintaining systems and staff training and accountability
• Lead trainings on sanitation and protocol to stay up to date with current requirements and regulations 
• Understand and facilitate a safe work culture, ensuring compliance with all company safety/environmental and housekeeping policies 
• Ensure sanitation practices and record keeping are maintained to complaint food safety regulatory requirements
• Abide by OSHA regulations and encourage a safety culture through training and accountability
• Perform safety audits regularly
• Update safety protocols as needed
• Maintain and elevate product quality through training and accountability of AOMs in the area of quality control, tasting, and production corrections

Warehouse and Fulfillment

• Track and manage incoming and outgoing shipments through inventory management system (DEAR) using effective logging and organization
• Ensure all shipping documentation is complete and compliant
• Ensure that all orders are complete, accurate, and delivered with the time frames detailed in our order turnaround time expectations
• Supervise the procurement of corrugated and shipping supplies
• Implement process improvement initiatives
• All other duties as assigned  

Administrative Tasks

• Perform tasks in DEAR (our inventory management system) including but not limited to:  Accounts Receivable and Payable, Inventory, Assemblies, and Purchase Orders
• Oversee and audit DEAR tasks delegated to AOMs
• Support the team as a resource for DEAR questions and training
• Supervise schedule writing and labor management
• Employee HR management through Gusto with timecard reconciliation, PTO, and scheduling
• Supervise and participate in staff evaluation writing and delivery
• Cost reduction research in the areas of supplies, utilities, and shipping 
• Ensure that all customer orders are filled in a timely and accurate manner
• Order printing and packing support as needed 
• Provide excellent service to customers in person, via email, and over the phone

Preferred Skills & Qualifications

• Demonstrate the following qualities:
• Attention to detail
• Thorough and complete output standards
• Ability to independently problem-solve
• Sound judgment
• Motivation to complete projects accurately and fully
• Critical thinking
• Flexibility
• High learning agility
• Highly organized
• Effective communication in both oral and written form 
• Project Management
• Management of purchasing and labor budgets
• Staff training and performance management
• Supervisory experience 
• Trauma informed management experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of and skill to safely and effectively operate standard food service and warehouse equipment 
• Food Handler’s Certificate
• HACCP Certification
• Forklift certification 
• Proficient in Google Docs, Sheets, Powerpoint, and all other computer programs and platforms assigned
• Must be able to lift 25 lbs & able to stand on feet for extended periods with or without reasonable accommodation.

Location: 657 SE Yamhill St. Portland, OR 97214

Application: Please email resume and a letter of interest to hiring@grounduppdx.com by June 11, 2023. (We'll be reviewing applications on a rolling basis.)

At Ground Up, we maintain an open hiring policy and aim to create and cultivate a community that is diverse across race, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, identity, experience, and perspective— where every employee feels supported to apply their whole self to our collective mission.