Director of Operations

Willing Hands • Norwich, VT

169d • $85,000 - $95,000 • Onsite

About The Position

Willing Hands is seeking a Director of Operations to provide senior leadership for its core operations, including warehouse, fleet, facilities, and food recovery efforts. This role ensures these operations run safely and smoothly to distribute fresh food to the community. The ideal candidate is a strategic, hands-on operational leader who enjoys building teams, managing complex logistics and budgets, and supporting mission-driven work focused on equity, sustainability, and community impact.

Requirements

• Strong experience with financial management and operational leadership in a nonprofit or small-business setting.
• Proven ability to supervise and support diverse teams across multiple functional areas.
• Clear communicator with strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to translate complex operational needs into simple systems and checklists.
• Comfortable balancing office-based work with hands-on operational oversight.
• Commitment to safety, equity, and mission-driven decision making.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in an operations leadership role, with non-profit experience preferred.
• Strong operational leadership experience, preferred in nonprofit, agricultural, food systems, logistics, or small-business environments.
• Experience supervising staff and managing multi-department systems.
• Budget development, expense management, and financial reporting experience required; nonprofit finance preferred.
• Proficient with computer systems and technology.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with warehouse, logistics, farming, and food systems is helpful but not required.
• Non-profit experience preferred.
• Nonprofit finance preferred.

Responsibilities

• Oversight of all warehouse and delivery operations, including supervising the Operations Manager and supporting the operations team in SOP development, leading food recovery logistics, food sourcing, food pickup, and delivery.
• Responsible for facilities and fleet management, including safety, maintenance, and capital planning.
• Contribute to organization-wide strategic planning and support the development team by providing operational insight and impact information.
• With the Executive Director, oversees all organizational budgeting and expense management. With the management team, leads short-term financial planning.
• Ensure warehouse workflows support safe, efficient sorting, packing, and storage of fresh food.
• Work with the Operations Manager and Delivery Lead to maintain effective delivery routes and schedules.
• Uphold food safety procedures and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
• Support the development of clear, written SOPs across operational areas.
• Supports stewardship of existing and new food recovery partners.
• Manage maintenance and inspection schedules for all vehicles, refrigeration, and buildings.
• Create or maintain checklists and tracking systems for routine facilities upkeep.
• Support long-term planning for equipment and vehicle replacement.
• Oversees IT systems and IT assets.
• Provide consistent supervision, coaching, and annual evaluations for direct reports.
• Help develop organization-wide systems that improve clarity, communication, and safety.
• Support implementation of the organization’s strategic plan in collaboration with the Executive Director.
• Foster a positive, mission-focused, safety-oriented workplace culture.
• Oversee the development and manage the organization’s annual operating and capital budgets.
• Work with team leads to monitor departmental expenses, update projections, and provide monthly reports.
• Provide operational cost information needed for grant reporting and for tracking in-kind and restricted funds.
• Track spending on fleet, facilities, and equipment to support accurate forecasting.
• Serve on committees as assigned, including Strategic Planning.
• Serve on the Management Team.
• Other related assignments as necessary.

Benefits

• 4 weeks of Earned Paid Time Off in the first year
• 12 Paid Holidays
• 100% Employer Paid Health Care, Dental, and Vision available
• 403b Retirement plan with 3% discretionary employer match after 6 months
• Employer Paid Family and Medical Leave up to 8 weeks for eligible employees
• Mileage is reimbursed at the current federal reimbursement rate for all approved work travel with a personal vehicle.
• Opportunity to set professional development goals with a supervisor
• Regular meetings of Willing Hands staff

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Education Level: No Education Listed