Job Description

Position Title: Director of Operations

Department: Operations

FLSA Status: Full Time Hourly/Exempt

Schedule: 40 Hours per Week/Monday-Friday 8:00am-4:30pm (Includes 30-minute unpaid meal break).

Benefits: Eligible for Full Time Employee benefits including health, dental, and vision insurance, 12 paid Holidays, 1 Floating Holiday, generous PTO, administered 401(k) after 1 month with employer match after 1 year, $100 annual boot credit, eligible employer for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program for federal college loans, and more.

Reports To: Chief Operations Officer (COO)

Salary Range: $90,000-$111,000/annually

Revision Date: 03/20/26

WHO WE ARE:

Food Bank of Central New York is a not-for-profit organization leading the effort to eliminate hunger in our region, by partnership with others in our community, through education, advocacy, and distribution of nutritious food. We partner with 360 community partners in the counties of Cayuga, Chenango, Cortland, Herkimer, Jefferson, Lewis, Madison, Oneida, Onondaga, Oswego, and St. Lawrence.

The core of our work is achieved by partnering with local agencies that distribute food to individuals and families in need. The key partners that make up our emergency food network are food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency shelters. Other not-for-profit agencies such as day care centers, rehabilitation centers, senior centers, and group homes are able to utilize membership as a way to supplement their agency food needs.

Our Vision is to see a community where everyone has access to nutritious food and no one is hungry.

Our Mission is leading the effort to eliminate hunger in our region, by partnership with others in our community, through education, advocacy, and distribution of nutritious food.

Hunger is a very serious problem in the United States today. Despite its great wealth, an estimated one in eight Americans rely on emergency food assistance. Among the thousands of people who depend on charitable food programs in central and northern New York, and the Mohawk Valley:

· 29% are children 18 or younger

· 10% are without health insurance

· 68% have been unemployed for more than two years

· 32% have a working family member

· 91% are below the federal poverty line

· 41% earn less than $12,000 annually

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting to the Chief Operations Officer, the Director of Operations provides leadership and strategic direction for all operational functions that support the distribution of food and resources across the emergency food network. This role ensures that all Operations departments function safely, efficiently, and in alignment with organizational standards for food safety, regulatory compliance, and service reliability. The Director is expected to maintain a high level of accuracy and service. The Director of Operations coordinates cross-department operations, develops management capacity, and ensures consistent implementation of operational systems that support the mission of Food Bank of Central New York to provide nutritious food to people in need while addressing the root causes of hunger.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Operational Leadership

• Develop, coordinate, and lead the day-to-day operations in assigned operational departments, ensuring alignment with mission and priorities. Current assigned departments are: warehouse, transportation, food rescue, and facility operations.
• Exercise sound judgment and independent decision-making within scope of responsibility, while escalating issues appropriately.
• Promote and model leadership that supports Food Bank of Central New York’s values and strategic direction.
• Collaborate effectively with other departments and leadership to support cross-functional initiatives and organization-wide goals.
• Ensure consistent execution of operational procedures.
• Monitor overall operational performance and throughput and address operational bottlenecks and inefficiencies.
• Maintain awareness of budgetary impact, resource needs, and compliance requirements relevant to their teams and grants.
• Participate in leadership meetings and contribute to organizational planning, policy updates, and performance improvement efforts. 

Manager Development & Accountability

• Provide direct supervision, coaching, and support to assigned staff, including regular one-on-one meetings, performance evaluations, professional development planning, team compliance with policies and procedures, and conflict management.
• Monitor departmental performance indicators. 
• Support managers in resolving operational challenges. 
• Ensure managers maintain appropriate safety and sanitation standards. 
• Reinforce accountability and consistent management practices. 

Safety and Risk Oversight

• Ensure operational activities are conducted in a safe manner consistent with organizational policies and regulatory requirements.
• Oversee safety practices in all operational areas. 
• Review incident reports and ensure corrective actions are implemented. 
• Coordinate safety training and communication. 
• Support development and maintenance of safety policies and procedures
• Monitor trends related to equipment damage, injuries, and near misses. 

Food Safety & Compliance Oversight

• Support organizational compliance with food safety and regulatory requirements.
• Ensure operational departments follow food safety procedures. 
• Monitor sanitation and facility standards.
• Ensure that all operational areas are ready for inspections and that corrective actions are completed. 
• Coordinate with staff responsible for documentation and compliance tracking.

Operational Systems & Continuous Improvement

• Continuously improve operational efficiency and reliability across assigned departments. 
• Identify opportunities to improve workflows and coordination.
• Implement standardized operational procedures where needed.
• Support data collection related to operational performance. 

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to occasionally continuously lift and maneuver heavy items weighing 60+ pounds.
• Capable of standing, walking, bending, and lifting for extended periods.
• Ability to work in various climates, including a 40-degree cooler and 0 degree freezer (appropriate gear/PPE will be provided).
• Ability to operate or oversee the operation of warehouse equipment such as forklifts and pallet jacks.
• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Able to move about the office and warehouse environments as needed.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for employees who require them due to medical conditions or disabilities.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Logistics/Supply Chain, Business Administration, Industrial Management, or related field; or equivalent combination of education and experience (see Experience Requirements Below).
• Valid driver’s license required.
• Food safety certification preferred.
• OSHA safety training or certification preferred.
• This position will receive a pre-employment background check. Food Bank of Central New York complies with all applicable state and federal laws pertaining to drug testing and background checks, including Article 23-A.

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in operations, warehouse management, fleet management logistics, regulated food environments, OSHA safety programs, and/or continuous improvement processes.
• Minimum of 3 years in a supervisory or management role.
• Experience in nonprofit, food banking, or regulated food environments a plus.
• Experience managing budgets, operational metrics, and process improvement initiatives.
• Experience with warehouse management systems (WMS) or logistics software.

SKILL REQUIREMENTS

• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to develop, implement, and evaluate operational procedures.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Effective communication skills across diverse teams and functions.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications and inventory management software.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Food Bank of Central New York.
• Bi-or multi-lingual as plus.

The purpose of this job description is to provide an overview of the scope of the position. This is not a comprehensive list of duties/responsibilities. Other duties and responsibilities may be assigned.