Job Description
Job Description
Counter Culture Coffee was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Durham, NC, with regional offices in 12 major cities across the country. Counter Culture Coffee has been continuously innovating in the coffee industry and we’re looking for passionate, dynamic, diverse team members to help us expand our efforts.
Counter Culture Coffee is :
- A relentless pursuit of coffee perfection
- A dedication to real environmental, social, and fiscal sustainability
- A commitment to creating cutting edge coffee people
Our Core Values are :
Quality Coffee | We continue to cultivate relationships with growers and organizations around the world in order to build trust, improve quality, and foster transparency.Education | We believe the pursuit of coffee perfection includes educating ourselves, our partners, and our customers about the coffee supply chain and the best methods of preparation.Sustainability | Our commitment to affecting positive change in every community to which we are connected is driven by our belief that we can–and should–always strive to improve upon the present.Transparency | We are committed to sustainability and holding ourselves and our peers accountable for creating a more sustainable future of coffee.Position : Vice President of Operations
Department : Operations
Location : Durham, NC
Reports To : CEO
FLSA Status : EXEMPT, 8810
Overview :
As the Vice President of Operations, you will be responsible for overseeing and optimizing all manufacturing and supply chain operations. You will play a critical role in ensuring the efficient and cost-effective roasting and packaging of our coffees while maintaining industry leading quality standards.
Reporting to the CEO, and as a member of the Senior Leadership Team, the VP of Operations works collaboratively with leaders across the company to develop and implement capacity expansion plans, identify and achieve productivity targets, and support the development and launch of new products, all in support of our Long-Range Plan and Annual Operating Plan. The VP of Operations does this while also being the go-to person responsible for three simple things : making safe food safely, upholding Counter Culture’s reputation for providing the best coffee in the world, and shipping in full and on time to the customers that count on us. In addition, you will continue to develop and evolve an operations capability and organization to meet the needs of a rapidly changing business and marketplace.
The ideal candidate has extensive experience leading people, working productively across functions, adapting to change in a fast-paced, growing company, and understanding how stuff works, from the ERP and other technologies we run, to the machines we operate, to the global supply chain we participate in.
Responsibilities :
Strategic Planning : Develop and implement operational strategies aligned with the company's overall objectives, focusing on improving efficiency, enhancing product quality, and implementing new product capabilities.Production Management : Manage all aspects of production, including scheduling, capacity planning, and quality control, to meet customer demand while minimizing waste and downtime for both Roasting facilities.Supply Chain Management : Optimize the supply chain from sourcing non-coffee raw materials to delivering finished products, ensuring timely and cost-effective procurement, transportation, and distribution.Co-Manufacturing Management : Oversee strong partnerships with current and future co-manufacturing partners that make Counter Culture Coffee branded products.Inventory Management : Ensure the optimal inventory levels at our facility and at partner distributors, balancing our needs for managing waste while meeting demand.Team Leadership : Build and lead a high-performing operations team, providing guidance, mentorship, and support to department heads and staff.Continuous Improvement : Drive a culture of continuous improvement, implementing Lean and Six Sigma principles to identify and eliminate operational inefficiencies.Quality Assurance : Establish and enforce strict quality control measures to maintain the highest product quality and safety standards, complying with all relevant regulations. Own the outcome of both regular and ad hoc audits.Budget Management : Develop and manage the operations and CAPEX budgets, tracking expenses, and working to optimize cost-effectiveness in close partnership with Finance.Vendor and Supplier Relations : Build strong relationships with key suppliers and vendors, negotiating contracts and terms to ensure reliability and cost efficiency. Help identify opportunities for outsourcing in partnership with Product Development.Health and Safety : Promote a safe and healthy work environment, adhering to all safety regulations and fostering a culture of safety awareness.Reporting and Analysis : Provide regular reports to the CEO, members of the Senior Leadership Team, and Board of Directors on operational performance, identifying trends, areas for improvement, and opportunities for growth.Information Systems : Evaluate current state of and make recommendations for data management in the plant.Senior Leadership : Active participation in weekly Leadership Team meetings. You are responsible for shaping the future of the business and executing the now.Regulatory Compliance : Ensure that Counter Culture Coffee is in compliance with regulatory guidelines.Requirements :
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Operations and / or equivalent combination of education and experience. (MBA preferred)10+ years in manufacturing management, ideally with most of that in a food production environment.Five years’ experience in lean manufacturing or continuous improvement processes.Strong leadership and team-building skills with the ability to motivate and develop people.In-depth knowledge of supply chain management, quality control and regulatory compliance.Understanding of Food Safety programs including FDA and USDA.Excellent communication, interpersonal skills, and organizational ability.Ability to communicate our mission and vision, motivate workforce, develop effective teams, and build peer relationships.Displays excellent communication skills including presentation, persuasion, and negotiation skills required in working with customers and coworkers including the ability to communicate effectively and remain calm and courteous under pressure.Must be able to work autonomously while also comfortable in providing clear communication up and out.The ability to focus on Team One (the Senior Leadership Team) and the Operations Function simultaneously.Physical Aspects of this Job :
The physical activity of this position :
Reaching : extending hand(s) and arm(s) in any direction;Standing : particularly for sustained periods of time;Walking : moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another;Fingering : picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling;Grasping : applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm;Feeling : perceiving attributes of objects, such as size, shape, temperature or texture by touching with skin, particularly that of fingertips;Talking : expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word, those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to other workers accurately, loudly, or quickly;Hearing : perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction, ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations in sound;The physical requirements of this position :
Light work - exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and / or up-to 10 pounds of force frequently, and / or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects.The visual acuity requirements (including color, depth perception, and field vision) of this position :
Requires close visual acuity to perform an activity such as : preparing and analyzing data and figures; transcribing; viewing a computer terminal; and extensive reading.The conditions the worker will be subject to in this position :
Subject to environmental conditions - protection from weather conditions but not necessarily from temperature changes; subject to noise - there is sufficient noise at times to cause the incumbent to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level.90 Day Goals :
Attend New Employee Orientation, where applicable.Strong understanding of LEAN, GGOB, B-CORPStrong understanding of Counter Culture’s vision, mission, values, and planComplete required management trainingProficient with inventory control and work processesHigh competence with leading weekly meetings and daily huddlesConsistently using departmental scorecards to track key metricsParticipate in a quarterly strategic meetingPCQI certificationBenefits : Currently, the offered benefits include group health (medical, dental and vision), available the first of the month after 30 days of employment; Flexible Spending Accounts for Healthcare and for Dependent Care; short- and long-term disability; life insurance; Wellness Benefits; 401(k) program; paid time off; eight company holidays; Stock Option Plan; A Stake in the Outcome.
Counter Culture Coffee a growth-oriented company, team of coffee driven individuals working together on continuous improvements.
Counter Culture Coffee is an Equal Opportunity Employer in both policy and practice.
Counter Culture Coffee assesses candidates for employment based on their knowledge, skills, and abilities to perform the job for which they are applying and without regard to any non-job-related category as protected by federal, state or local law.
Finalist candidates for employment will be required to demonstrate USA employment eligibility - per federal and state law, Counter Culture Coffee participates in the federal E-Verify program. Candidates must have the legal right to work in the United States without sponsorship.
