The Operations Director is responsible for leading and overseeing all aspects of the Operations Department, including food acquisition, receiving and distributing, facilities and regulatory management, departmental culture, and personnel development. This role ensures efficient, safe, and compliant operations that align with the organization’s mission to fight hunger and serve the community. The Operations Director leads a team of staff and volunteers, manages facilities and logistics, and implements best practices in food safety, workplace safety, and nonprofit supply chain management.
This position serves as a key organizational leader who strengthens operational efficiency, standardizes processes, develops staff, and ensures a safe and effective environment for employees, volunteers, and partner agencies.
Operations & Department Leadership (75%):
- Provide day-to-day leadership and oversight for all Operations activities, including daily operations of warehouse, inventory, transportation, receiving, and distribution functions.
- Lead, supervise, coach, and develop Operations staff and volunteers, fostering a positive, accountable, safe, and collaborative work environment.
- Develop and lead the organization’s food acquisition strategy across donated, rescued, purchased, and other available food streams.
- Build and maintain sourcing partnerships that increase in-kind donations, strengthen food streams, and improve the variety and nutritional quality of available food.
- Coordinate logistics for inbound donations, purchased food, rescued food, and outbound distributions.
- Develop and maintain systems that ensure safe, accurate, and efficient inventory management and distribution workflows.
- Ensure compliance with all food safety, health, and workplace safety standards, including relevant state, federal, and partner organization requirements (e.g., OFB, Feeding America, OSHA, local health regulations).
- Manage and strengthen facilities, fleet, and equipment functions to ensure safe and reliable operations.
- Provide oversight for the implementation and adoption of warehouse technologies and tools that support operational efficiency.
- Develop and implement standard operating procedures and identify opportunities to streamline processes, reduce waste, and enhance service quality.
- Establish and maintain effective safety practices, training, documentation, and accountability systems.
- Serve as a key point of contact during audits, inspections, or emergency operational needs.
Organizational Leadership, Strategy, & Partnerships (25%):
- Serves on the Leadership Team as a key partner in shaping the vision, culture and day-to-day operations of the Josephine County Food Bank, and represents the needs of food distribution and warehouse operations in organizational planning.
- Develop and manage the Operations Department budget and contribute to organizational budgeting, capital planning, and resource allocation.
- Monitor operational metrics and use data to support planning, evaluation, continuous improvement, and decision-making.
- Collaborate across departments to support organizational goals and seamless service delivery.
- Maintain positive relationships with partner agencies, donors, vendors, volunteers, and other operational stakeholders, and represent the food bank professionally in all operational contexts.
- Other duties as assigned.
SKILLS & QUALIFICATIONS:
· Passion for the Food Bank’s mission and values, including commitment to ending hunger.
· Demonstrated ability to lead, supervise, coach, and develop staff with varying levels of experience; establish clear expectations and accountability; and foster an inclusive, collaborative, and high-performing team culture.
· Strong knowledge of warehousing, inventory management, distribution, procurement, transportation, and operational systems, preferably within food banking, food distribution, or a comparable environment.
· Ability to translate organizational goals into practical strategies, systems, work plans, budgets, and measurable outcomes.
· Strong analytical judgment and demonstrated ability to identify problems, evaluate solutions, improve processes, manage change, and move complex projects forward.
· Ability to manage competing priorities and short-, medium-, and long-term commitments while maintaining strong follow-through and attention to detail.
· Strong written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills, with the ability to adapt communication to different audiences and build effective relationships across departments and with external partners.
· Ability to use operational data, metrics, technology, and digital systems to improve efficiency, measure outcomes, and support decision-making; proficiency with Microsoft Office and ability to learn new organizational software.
· Experience developing, managing, and monitoring departmental budgets and planning for operational, equipment, facility, and capital needs.
· Knowledge of workplace safety, food safety, fleet and transportation practices, and regulatory compliance relevant to warehouse and food distribution operations.
· Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Education, Training, and Experience
· 5 + years of progressively responsible management experience in operations, including experience in some combination of procurement, warehousing, inventory management, distribution, transportation, facilities, safety, or regulatory compliance.
· Demonstrated experience leading and developing staff and achieving results through others.
· Prior food banking experience or experience leading programs and/or operations at a food-based business or organization preferred.
· Bachelor’s degree preferred; OR
· Any combination of education, training, and experience which demonstrates the candidate’s ability to perform the duties and responsibilities as described.
WORK LOCATION: This position works inside the Josephine County Food Bank main office and warehouse. This position will also work outdoors when needed. JCFB is an alcohol and drug-free workplace and a tobacco-free work environment.
WORKING CONDITIONS: Work is performed indoors and outdoors in a variety of environments, including climate-controlled office environments, warehouses, coolers, freezers, loading areas, vehicles, and donor sites. This position maintains standard workplace hours; however, early mornings, weekday evenings, and weekend hours may be required. Duties require extended periods of sitting, standing, walking, and talking or hearing. Physical labor may require occasional periods of bending, stooping, crouching, lifting (up to 50 lbs.), carrying, pushing, pulling, reaching, walking to perform tasks, and operation of warehouse equipment.
REQUIREMENTS:
· Safe driving record, valid Oregon driver’s license, current vehicle insurance and ability to be covered under the Food Bank’s auto insurance policy, and ability to use personal vehicle for JCFB business.
· Possess a current Food Handler’s Card or ability to obtain one in the first 90 days of hire.
· Possess an Advanced Food Safety Training Certification or ability to obtain one in the first 90 days of hire.
· Ability to obtain a forklift certification within 90 days of hire.
· Must pass a driving records check and be insurable through Josephine County Food Bank’s vehicle insurance policy.
· All offers for employment are contingent upon a satisfactory background check.
NOTE: Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee and the job duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
Josephine County Food Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provider. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, age, national origin, marital status, genetic information, veteran status, diverse ability, or any other characteristic protected under local, state or federal law.
Pay: $52,000.00 - $63,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
