POSITION DESCRIPTION
The Food Hub Operations Director is vital to the workings of LINC, contributing directly to the support of community-focused farms, sustainable agriculture, and local economic development in the Inland Northwest.
The Food Hub Operations Director will lead the Operations team, whose activities are central to the wholesale, contract, and direct-to-consumer market channels of LINC’s Food Enterprise. As part of this leadership role, the position will regularly interface with other teams of the Food Enterprise, helping guide strategy and evaluate team and Enterprise performance.
The Food Hub Operations Director will work closely with the Food Hub Operations Coordinator and the Food Hub Operations Associate to coordinate and implement Operations activities. The Director will facilitate communication with roles across the food hub to ensure local product is received from farmers, stored, packaged, and distributed effectively.
AREAS OF RESPONSIBILITY:
The position will manage the overall activities of the Operations team. It will also actively and regularly perform hands-on warehouse and delivery activities.
The core activities of the Operations team include:
Product Intake
- Receive and inventory food from local farmers weekly
Local Food Fulfillment
- Package and prepare orders to be distributed to wholesale and direct-to-consumer markets daily
- The Operations Director will contribute to daily packing activities
Food Hub Deliveries
- Deliver local food across the Inland NW using LINCs non-CDL vehicles
- The Operations Director will contribute to regular weekly deliveries, including occasional distance drives of 10+ hours at a time
- Act as dispatch for drivers on the road
Facilities and Equipment Oversight
- Ensure LINCs warehouse and equipment are maintained
As Operations Director, this position will also provide key leadership support to the Operations team:
Develop and lead training for new Operations employees
- Update job descriptions and set performance goals with employees in the Operations team
- Develop, communicate, and update as needed an operations schedule, acting as the point of contact for any needed changes
- Develop and implement strategies and procedures for the Operations team
- Provide feedback to fellow Operations Workers
This position will also contribute to strategy, policy and problem solving with staff across the Food Enterprise:
- Guide the exchange of information between the Operations team and other teams in the company
- Represent the Operations team in communication across the Food Enterprise and engage the Operations team regarding company-wide efforts
REQUIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE:
- Excellent communication skills
- Strong computer and organizational skills
- Experience leading a small team
- Ability to track and execute projects involving multiple variables
- Ability to work effectively with minimal supervision and collaborate with remote team members
- Interest in food systems and sustainability
- Ability to adapt to challenges in real-time and problem-solve with teammates, suppliers and/or customers
- Ability to regularly lift 60 pounds, with potential to work up to increased weight
- Ability to stand/walk for 5+ hours during packing activities
DESIRED SKILLS & EXPERIENCE
- Experience operating lift gates, pallet jacks, forklifts
- Ability to maneuver pallets containing 2,000+ pounds
- Familiarity with warehouse environments
- Experience administering team scheduling
- Experience with cooperatives, farming, brewing, food hubs, or deliveries
DETAILS:
- Hours will vary but take place between 7am and 7pm
- Hours will take place at our warehouse in Spokane Valley and on deliveries in Spokane and occasionally throughout eastern WA. Some tasks can be performed remotely.
- Benefits include health insurance reimbursement stipend, sick leave and paid vacation after 30-day trial period, 100% pay-in for PFML, and discounted pricing on LINC Box and LINC Market purchases
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:
Email the following
- Cover letter
- Resume covering relevant experience and skills
- Contact info for 3 professional references