What are the responsibilities and job description for the Vice President of Fulfillment Operations position at Walden Local Meat Co.?
Job Description
Job Description
Job Title : Vice President of Fulfillment Operations
Location : Tewksbury, MA ( Onsite schedule)
Walden Local is New England and New York's leading brand of sustainable, locally-raised meat. Being a Certified B Corp on a mission to change the meat industry by displacing industrial, factory-farmed meat and seafood with sustainable and ethical alternatives, raised (and caught) locally and humanely by small, independent farmers and fishers. We connect families with farmers by distributing our delicious products directly to thousands of member households, through wholesale channels, and in select local retail locations. Our mission is to support healthier animals, people, and communities. 'Waldeneers' believe in simplicity, doing the right thing for our members, and that the little things matter.
Walden Local is seeking a Vice President of Fulfillment Operations to oversee all aspects of fulfillment - receiving, warehouse management, cold storage revenue / management, inventory control, picking and packing of orders, customer delivery, and logistics between multiple Walden facilities. Exceptional people leadership and coaching skills are the priority attributes of this Walden executive team member. At the same time, operational efficiency, cost control, safety, compliance, communication, teamwork, and continuous improvement culture are essential. This is a fast-paced, evolving environment that requires organization and operational excellence. By focusing on team development, culture, and productivity, you will facilitate overall profitability by ensuring consistency, quality, accountability, and structure for the Warehouse Operations. Additionally, as a member of the Walden Leadership Team, you will join six other senior executives to lead the overall Walden business and long-term strategy.
We seek experienced professionals with deep knowledge and a track record of success who have a hands-on, operational orientation to drive results through hard work and a "roll up one's sleeves" orientation. Walden leaders have exceptional skills, insights, and experience and lead strongly, yet we prioritize listening, humility, and collaboration.
What You'll Do
- Oversee daily operations of a state-of-the-art, 35,000-square-foot cold storage and fulfillment center, ensuring efficiency and productivity across six teams led by operations managers.
- Manage all operations functions, including receiving, inventory, cold storage, fulfillment, transportation, and personnel, while assigning work, setting objectives, and monitoring performance across all operations departments.
- Lead key responsibilities in alignment with company policies and laws, including :
- Oversee overall business unit profitability and ensure site and product integrity.
- Ensure accountability to all internal and external commitments (e.g., daily operation requirements & project execution against timelines).
- Establish, monitor, and report key KPIs (e.g., inventory levels and accuracy, cold storage revenue / profits, order error rate, pick order rate), on-time delivery, and others to assess daily operations and initiatives. Ensure delivery of team and employee scorecards reporting on recent performance.
- Set operations goals (overall, by team, by individual) in collaboration with your team, the CEO, and your executive team peers.
- Supervise Cold Storage Inventory Management : receiving, pulling orders, and organizing inventory.
- Manage carrier procurement and 3rd party carrier relationships as needed.
- Direct warehouse purchasing and logistics needs to satisfy production needs.
- Support the On Road Operations Manager in scheduling owned last-mile delivery routes for optimal efficiency.
- Oversee order fulfillment through the Fulfillment Manager and their team, ensuring accurate and efficient daily operations.
- Enforce security and loss prevention procedures.
- Ensure compliance with employee safety programs, food safety, and OSHA standards, staying current on federal and state regulations.
- Audit and report inventory levels, recommending restocks as needed.
What You'll Bring
The successful candidate will be a well-rounded operations professional with strong leadership experience within a consumer-facing company. The Vice President of Fulfillment Operations will have a strong track record of delivering results and leading people at a large fulfillment center. Leaders will demonstrate the attributes noted above to be considered for this priority Walden leadership position.
Given the dynamic nature of the business, this executive must possess excellent analytical skills, communication skills, executive presence, operational expertise, and the ability to influence and work effectively with senior management, as well as with suppliers and customers.
Requirements :
Bonus points if you have...
Don't check all the boxes? Don't worry! We know that there is no such thing as a 'perfect' candidate. Walden Local is committed to building a team that brings passion for our mission and a diverse set of experiences and opinions. Feel welcomed to bring your whole and authentic self and please apply if this is a role you feel passionately about! We read cover letters and encourage you to submit one that highlights your unique experience and interest in this role.
Working Conditions :
This is a full-time, in-person, on-site position in Tewksbury, MA. We work Monday-Friday, plus an occasional Saturday due to weather interruption of weekday delivery or year-end inventory. We understand that 'life happens' and will offer limited remote flexibility as needed, but you will be expected to be on-site 95% of the time. The warehouse work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the job's essential functions at our fulfillment center in a refrigerated and freezer environment. Temperatures range from heated / cooled office space to outdoors and ambient at or about 35°ree; Fahrenheit in the warehouse. The freezer temperature ranges from 10°ree; to -10°ree;. Attire may include Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and steel or composite-toed boots.
What We Offer
When You Join Walden...
You'll be Making Local Work - contributing to a mission-driven startup committed to reinvigorating local agricultural economies, in support of healthier communities, animals and soil. Walden Local is New England and New York's leading brand of sustainable, pastured, locally-raised meat, connecting families with farmers by distributing directly to thousands of households across the Northeast. We believe in simplicity, doing ridiculous things for our members, and that the little things matter. We're building a diverse team that shares these passions. If you're inspired by ambitious missions and working hard to solve complicated problems, we'd love to meet you!
We're proud to be an equal opportunity employer - and celebrate our employees' differences, including race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, and Veteran status. Differences make us better.
Walden Local runs a criminal background check for all employees hired to work for the company.
