Operations Manager

Farmer's Fridge Careers

  • Chicago, IL
  • $115,000-130,000 per year
  • Permanent
  • Full-time
  • 10 days ago
  • Apply easily
Farmer’s Fridge makes fruits and vegetables accessible and approachable for everyone. We offer a variety of fresh, healthy, ready-to-eat meals and snacks through our fresh food vending machines, wholesale partners, and our office pantry solution — providing chef-curated meals to customers within seconds. Today, we operate a network of Fridges and partner with clients nationwide in high-foot-traffic areas, such as airports, hospitals, universities, and large office buildings — where there is limited accessibility to fresh, healthy, grab-n-go options.We care deeply about what we’re creating and aspire to make sure our customers feel that through every touchpoint. This shows up in many ways across the business. We are committed to prioritizing food safety, we are passionate about product quality, we value our employees, we champion the best idea no matter where it comes from, and we’re committed to making an overall positive impact as we scale.About this Role: As the Operations Manager at our fresh food production facility, you will play a critical leadership role in overseeing the daily execution of operations while driving long-term improvements across production, warehousing, quality assurance, and other plant functions. This role is at the heart of our facility’s performance, ensuring that people, processes, and priorities are aligned to deliver safe, high-quality, and efficient food products every day.You’ll be responsible for leading and supporting a diverse team, fostering accountability, and enabling a culture of continuous improvement through Lean and operational excellence principles. In this hands-on leadership position, you’ll work closely with department leads to coordinate activities, solve problems at the root cause, and optimize how teams work together—from receiving raw materials to delivering finished goods.What You’ll Do…
  • Work with the planning team to ensure production planning is appropriately designed to maximize resources such as labor and material.
  • Collaborate with the Planning team to ensure production plans maximize the use of labor, materials, and equipment.
  • Optimize production shift schedules to align with cost targets and capacity requirements.
  • Evaluate and improve processing and assembly sequences to unlock additional throughput.
  • Establish operational guardrails to inform future product design and scalability.
  • Create interdepartmental systems of operation and communication to ensure operational alignment on common goals.
  • Design and implement systems that align interdepartmental operations around shared goals.
  • Standardize key communication tools, including shift handoffs, escalation protocols, and information-sharing channels.
  • Resolve recurring cross-functional issues that disrupt plant efficiency.
  • Lead team through best practices on labor management, process design and execution.
  • Lead teams in applying best practices in labor planning, process execution, and team management.
  • Drive adoption of Lean and Six Sigma principles through structured change management.
  • Standardize hourly workforce practices across departments—including scheduling, timecard oversight, holiday coverage, and temporary staffing.
  • Enable growth for the manufacturing plant through shift expansion, facility layout optimization, and planning.
  • Develop and implement process improvements to enhance productivity through Lean Six Sigma principles.
  • Create systems of accountability throughout the process to ensure customer-critical tasks are executed.
Who You Are…
  • Prior Ready-to-Eat Food Manufacturing experience preferred
  • 5+ Years of experience managing production, warehouse, and other plant-related operations required
  • Proven track record of managing teams
  • Lean/ Six Sigma training preferred
  • Demonstrated Continuous Improvement experience preferred
  • Operations resource planning experience preferred (Labor, material, capacity etc)
The base salary range for this role is $115,000-$130,000. The base pay offered will be determined by factors such as experience, skills, training, certifications, education, and any applicable minimum wage requirements.In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for company performance-based bonuses and equity.We provide a comprehensive benefits package, including:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance (multiple plans available)
  • 401(k) with immediate employer match vesting
  • Paid time off (including vacation, sick leave, and holidays)
  • Paid sabbatical after 5 years of service
  • Employee discounts
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Benefits at Farmer's Fridge:In This Together - We stay connected, whether in person or virtually. We encourage business transparency through monthly town hall meetings and weekly financial updates. We set out to make the best product on the market, and we believe we’ve done it. We value your input in the new menu creation process. From regular tasting panels, where employees provide new menu feedback.Happier Workdays - Each day at work should fill you with joy. We're a fun and passionate group, and we don't take ourselves too seriously. Bring your unique self to work, dress comfortably, and always feel free to share your thoughts and opinions. We encourage curiosity; there's no hierarchy here when we're all swapping ideas.Never run on empty - Daily Farmer's Fridge meal and office snacks are just some of the offerings to make sure you aren't distracted by a growling stomach. Recharge with our paid sabbatical program after five years of service.Innovate & Elevate - We're all teachers and learners. You'll grow and help grow the company through cross-functional collaboration, open access to leadership, and regular business updates. You have a direct impact on the company’s bottom line. You can also impact your bottom line by participating in our 401(k) plan that includes a company match with immediate vesting.Farmer’s Fridge Diversity Statement:"Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Farmer’s Fridge, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.”Farmer’s Fridge is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices, including hiring, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. View our disclosures related to External Agencies and Applicants below: https://www.farmersfridge.com/careerdisclosuresPowered by JazzHR

Farmer's Fridge Careers