Director of Operations
About The Position
Women's Bean Project is a Denver-based food production nonprofit that uses employment and workforce development to help women transform their lives. As Director of Operations, you will lead the operations of its food manufacturing business, which produces soups, dips, and snacks through a transitional employment program. You will help expand the organization's reach while supporting a workplace where women build confidence, stability, and futures through employment. This is a visible, hands-on leadership role requiring technical depth, business acumen, disciplined execution, and a patient, respectful, trauma-informed approach. The role leads daily production, safety and quality, people development, operational finances, growth and capital projects, technology transformation, and supply chain activities. Strong training, clear systems, and steady leadership are important because participants are expected to transition to jobs outside the organization. The position is on-site at the Denver production facility and includes regular time on the production floor. The Director must be able to stand for long periods and safely lift and move boxes weighing up to 30 pounds.
Requirements
- At least 5 years of progressive leadership in food, beverage, CPG, or another regulated manufacturing environment, including production management.
- Experience with operational budgeting, cost management, and continuous improvement.
- Working knowledge of food safety and quality systems, GMPs, and regulatory compliance.
- Experience with production planning, inventory management, procurement, and supplier management.
- Comfort with technology and hands-on experience with ERP/MRP systems.
- Experience with, or a strong commitment to learning, trauma-informed leadership practices.
- Ability to stand for long periods and safely lift and move boxes weighing up to 30 pounds.
Nice To Haves
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, food science, supply chain, or a related field.
- Experience participating in an ERP selection, implementation, or migration.
- Experience helping an operation grow, such as expanding capacity, adding equipment, or leading capital projects.
Responsibilities
- Lead daily production operations to optimize labor, materials, workflows, capacity, and productivity; manage key performance measures and use data to identify and resolve losses and risks.
- Champion workplace safety, food safety, and quality through GMP, sanitation, audit, root-cause analysis, and corrective-action systems that meet regulatory and certification requirements.
- Coach and develop managers and production staff through clear expectations, floor presence, and training, using a trauma-informed approach to supervision and team culture.
- Manage operational budgets, cost controls, and variance analysis, and lead continuous improvement to reduce waste, downtime, and costs without compromising safety, quality, or service.
- Develop capital and technical investment plans and lead projects from concept through startup.
- Oversee plant systems, infrastructure, maintenance, and process improvements that expand capacity.
- Represent operations in selecting and implementing a new ERP system, contribute to process mapping and production and inventory requirements, and help the team adopt new tools.
- Oversee production planning, inventory, procurement, supplier performance, and delivery.
- Partner with Finance, Sales, and Marketing on new products, reformulations, and cost savings.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
Education Level
No Education Listed
