National Operations Director

About The Common Market

The Common Market is a nonprofit local food distributor working to build a more resilient and equitable food system. We connect small and mid-scale family farms to schools, hospitals, and other institutions while upholding rigorous standards for food safety, operational excellence, and values-driven procurement.

We operate multiple warehouse and trucking operations across regions and are entering a phase that requires strong, experienced operational leadership.

Position Summary

The National Operations Director is the senior leader responsible for the end-to-end execution of warehouse operations, trucking, food safety, and operational performance across multiple sites.

This is a hands-on executive role. The Director will spend significant time in warehouses and on the road, working directly with Operations Managers, drivers, warehouse associates, and sanitation teams—while also serving as a core member of the executive leadership team responsible for strategy, systems, and performance.

This role is ideal for a seasoned operations leader who has personally owned food safety, fleet, and multi-site execution, and who is comfortable moving between the warehouse floor and the senior leadership team.

Highly skilled and experienced operations leader with hands-on warehouse, food safety, and fleet management. Adept in process and people management and business analytics that drive both performance and operational excellence through KPIs. The ideal candidate will have the aptitude and commitment to advance to VP of Operations within 12-18 months.

What You’ll Be Responsible For

Multi-Site Operations Leadership

• Lead operations across multiple warehouses, including trucking, warehouse, sanitation, and facilities
• Manage and develop Operations Managers and ensure consistent execution of SOPs across sites
• Spend regular time working out of regional warehouses when not traveling

Food Safety & Compliance (Direct Ownership)

• Own the organization’s food safety program across all sites, including SQF, FSMA, and PCQI requirements
• Lead audit readiness, corrective actions, and continuous improvement across warehouses
• Manage and support site-level SQF Practitioners and ensure backup coverage
• Oversee supplier food safety documentation and compliance systems

Fleet & Facilities

• Lead oversight of a fleet of 20+ trucks, including PM, compliance, safety, and utilization
• Ensure effective use of telematics, temperature monitoring, and maintenance systems
• Oversee facilities, refrigeration, docks, and material-handling equipment across sites

Hourly Workforce Leadership

• Provide direct leadership, coaching, and accountability for hourly warehouse and driver teams (through managers)
• Ensure strong safety culture, performance management, and clear expectations
• Partner with HR on hiring, training, performance evaluations, and corrective actions

Strategy, KPIs & Financial Management

• Develop and execute operations strategy aligned with organizational goals
• Build and maintain operational KPIs for warehouse, trucking, and food and workplace safety
• Use Excel and data from operational platforms to generate reports and dashboards
• Lead operational planning, budgeting inputs, and performance reviews

Who This Role Is For

This role is for someone who:

• Has managed operations across multiple warehouses and knows how to enforce consistency without being everywhere
• Has personally owned a food safety program for a food distributor or food manufacturer
• Has led a fleet of at least 10 trucks and understands the realities of drivers, maintenance, and compliance
• Is comfortable working directly with hourly staff and also contributing at the executive level
• Is energized by a hands-on, resource-constrained environment where leaders build systems, not inherit them
• Lives in (or is willing to relocate to) Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, or Philadelphia and expects to work out of a warehouse regularly

Who This Role Is Not For

This role is not a good fit if you:

• Prefer a fully remote or office-only executive role
• Have overseen operations only through consultants or indirect reports
• Have limited exposure to food safety audits, SQF, or multi-site compliance
• Are uncomfortable managing drivers, warehouse teams, or safety issues directly
• Expect large corporate infrastructure, extensive support teams, or abundant resources

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive operations leadership in food distribution, food manufacturing, logistics, or supply chain
• Demonstrated experience managing multi-site warehouse operations
• Direct ownership of food safety programs (SQF, FSMA, PCQI)
• Experience leading a fleet of 10+ trucks
• Strong Excel skills and ability to build, data mine, and interpret operational reports and KPIs
• Proven ability to lead hourly teams and develop managers
• Willingness to travel approximately 40% of the time
• Advanced business analytics and implementation skills

Bachelor’s degree required. Advanced degrees welcome but not required.

Why This Role Matters

This is a pivotal moment for The Common Market. The VP of Operations will play a central role in strengthening our infrastructure, supporting our teams, and ensuring we can scale our impact while maintaining safety, quality, and mission alignment.

Benefits

• Salary: $120k-$130k annual
• Make an impact by connecting institutions with healthy, local food while supporting family farms.
• Collaborate with a passionate, mission-driven team working to build a better food system.
• Opportunity for growth in a dynamic and expanding organization.
• Comprehensive benefits package.
• Health Care Plan (Medical, Dental & Vision)
• Retirement Plan (SIMPLE IRA with 100% employer match)
• Life Insurance (100% Employer Paid Life, AD&D, Short Term and Long Term Disability)
• Paid Time Off (Vacation, Sick & Public Holidays)