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Job Announcement - Atlantic Sea Farms
Vice President of Operations
Atlantic Sea Farms (ASF) is a brand with a robust social and environmental mission and ambitious growth goals. We are building an entirely new food category in the US and are dedicated to building a supply chain with integrity - one that helps our coastal communities adapt to and mitigate some of the
effects of climate change. Atlantic Sea Farms is vertically integrated in the truest sense - creating and developing kelp seed, managing farming and harvest operations, processing kelp in house, developing products for the retail, ingredient, and food service channels and marketing and selling these products.
This position will be the first of its kind at ASF and will be responsible for overseeing and managing operations at our new, expanded, first-of-its kind facility in Biddeford, Maine as well as managing all co-packing operations.
Responsibilities will also include coordinating our vertically integrated teams to
increase efficiencies, lower COGS, innovate and produce new products and product forms, streamline harvest and logistics operations in Maine and elsewhere, set and achieve ambitious environmental impact goals, and help us amplify our positive contribution along the coast through strategic and
mission-focused growth. This position will require someone who has excellent problem solving skills, strong experience in food manufacturing and in scaling businesses, is creative and adaptable, has strong attention to detail, is optimistic and dedicated, and who is willing and able to dive deep into operational challenges to improve systems. This is a full-time, year-round position reporting to the CEO.
Essential Duties:
● Effectively manage teams responsible for manufacturing, logistics (inbound and outbound), procurement.
● Oversee innovation pipeline to create and manufacture high velocity consumer products as well manage teams to develop ingredient formats for other CPG customers.
● Empower and create efficiencies within the teams responsible for food production, food safety and quality, continuous improvement and sustainability, logistics, procurement, and harvest
● Spearhead work with operations team to help lower COGS, improve efficiencies, and exceed production efficiency forecasts
● Provide support, guidance, and strategic improvements to harvest and seeding operations
● Design and implement systems to help staff continue to create and achieve their strategic operational goals
● Support and guide operations staff to achieve sustainability goals and create important sustainability metrics
● Regularly create, and report on, key progress and metrics to ASF BOD
● Work daily and directly with CEO and BOD to address and solve operational challenges as needed
● Create and implement co-packing program to efficiently, effectively, and safely utilize our facility to its full extent
● Improve and oversee management of procurement, inventory, and sales tracking systems - and all other technology systems - to ensure real-time accuracy and tracking
● Help amplify ASF’s impact by leading innovations in processing seaweeds in other coastal regions
● Manage insurance, compliance, human resources, and personnel systems
● Clearly understand and communicate economic and environmental impacts and ensure that our mission remains at the core of all operations at all times
● Oversee and manage, in connections with key staff, our required certifications (SQF, non-GMO, organic, B Corp, etc.)
● Collaborate effectively with all teams across the vertically integrated company to ensure a high-performing, high-morale workplace - including our Sales/Marketing and Supply teams that will continue to be directly managed by the CEO
● Willingness to travel extensively throughout Maine’s coast and other areas of ASF’s supply chain expansion
● Other duties as required
Attributes:
● Must possess a strong working knowledge of manufacturing and/or infrastructure management (experience in food operations is highly desirable)
● Strong connection to - and understanding of - food systems and supply chains
● Plan capacity, expansion, outsourcing to meet needs of current and future product portfolio of the business
● Ambitious and relentless focus on meeting and exceeding team goals in order to amplify our positive impact
● Excellent management and people skills - at least ten years of management experience required
● Proven problem-solving skills with a self-starting mindset
● Highly analytical in approach with ability to both think strategically as well as an
impeccable attention to detail. Excellent computer and presentation skills to
communicate plan and progress of operating metrics.
● Establish strong standard operating procedures, processes, policies and standards across the supply chain including with company’s co-manufacturing partners.
● Excellent understanding of GMP and systems and certifications required for food and pharmaceutical grade ingredient manufacturing.
● Works collaboratively with company departments to execute on the strategic goals set by the organization
● Establish and administers the department’s budget
● Good understanding of current technology and equipment and maintains knowledge of emerging and innovative solutions in this area of manufacturing.
● Able to nurture a team, identify training and development needs and have the best-in-class operations in the industry.
● Outgoing, positive, energetic attitude
● Willingness to work in a constantly changing startup environment
● Strong attention to detail and background in high-level management of budgets and systems
● Willingness to get dirty, roll your sleeves up, and solve problems that have never been tackled before in this completely new industry in the US
● Working knowledge of equipment and facilities and an ability to identify and fix high-level mechanical problems is desired
● Strategic and long-term thinking
● Patience, a sense of humor, and a sense of humility and optimism
● Any other related duty as assigned.
Experience:
● 10+ years of experience in operations management required.
Compensation:
● This position would be paid an annual base salary, have access to the company’s health benefits
package, paid vacation, and a significant bonus structure based on individual and team
performance
To inquire, please email Briana Warner, bwarner@atlanticseafarms.com
