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Director of Operations

Cranford, NJ

Hi, we're Nuts.com!

Nuts.com is a self-funded, profitable, rapidly growing multi-channel DTC specialty food and wellness company with over 550 people on our team. We're changing the landscape of snacking on nuts, dried fruit, chocolate and more! We planted our roots in Newark, New Jersey during the Great Depression, selling premium nuts on Mulberry Street's open-air market. We've come quite a long way since then, taking our multi-generational family business online in 1999. Even after 96 years, we continue to pride ourselves in expertly sourcing the highest quality foods and treating our customers like family.

What's our team like? We're driven, collaborative and entrepreneurial. Energy and passion power our business and we look for candidates who share in that excitement to help us continue to build something special.

The role:

The Director of Operations will own the strategic and tactical leadership of all manufacturing, repackaging, warehousing, fulfillment, and operational planning functions. This role demands a proven operational leader who can blend analytical rigor with a hands-on approach to drive measurable performance improvements. The ideal candidate brings deep experience implementing Lean methodologies, optimizing cost structures, and fostering a culture of ownership, accountability, and operational discipline.

What you'll do:

Operational Strategy & Leadership

  • Collaborate with the COO to set and execute a long-term vision for scalable, flexible operations that support multi-channel growth across DTC, B2B, and retail.
  • Build a culture rooted in operational discipline, Lean thinking, and continuous improvement across production, supply chain, and fulfillment teams.
  • Lead, inspire, and develop a high-performance operations organization through clear KPIs, coaching, and structured problem-solving.

Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

  • Embed Lean principles into the DNA of the operation—developing standardized work, visual management systems, and tiered accountability routines.
  • Lead kaizen events, Gemba walks, and root-cause problem-solving efforts to drive sustainable process improvements and reduce operational friction.
  • Foster cross-functional collaboration to eliminate non-value-added activities and build flow across the supply chain.

Cost Optimization & Financial Stewardship

  • Serve as a cost transformation champion—identifying and attacking margin leakage through improved labor efficiency, reduced waste, and smarter material usage.
  • Collaborate with leadership and Finance to develop zero-based budgeting practices and implement cost models that improve transparency and drive ownership at all levels.
  • Assist in capital planning and operational investments with ROI focus and long-term scalability in mind.

Data-Driven Decision Making

  • Build and maintain robust operational dashboards and analytical frameworks to evaluate performance across key metrics—OEE, labor utilization, yield, inventory turns, etc.
  • Use data to proactively identify bottlenecks, forecast future constraints, and model cost-saving opportunities.
  • Champion the use of digital tools, automation, and systems integration to increase visibility and decision velocity

Quality, Food Safety & Compliance

  • Partner with Quality and Regulatory teams to ensure every process meets or exceeds all food safety standards (FDA, GMP, HACCP, SQF).
  • Create feedback loops between quality assurance, frontline operations, and leadership to proactively mitigate risks.
  • Drive ownership of quality outcomes within every team member through training, empowerment, and clear expectations.

Employee Safety & Engagement

  • Champion a “safety-first” philosophy—building systems and behaviors that prevent injuries and promote wellness.
  • Establish a proactive safety culture through behavioral observations, audits, and continuous training.
  • Promote operational excellence through frontline empowerment, structured performance management, and meaningful career development.

What you’ll bring:

  • 8+ years of progressive leadership experience within food manufacturing or similar consumer packaged goods (CPG) environment.
  • Proven track record of implementing Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma frameworks to achieve measurable, sustained results.
  • Deep understanding of end-to-end cost drivers in a food production environment, including labor, materials, utilities, and yield.
  • Exceptional analytical skills; fluency in operational KPIs, financial modeling, and systems such as ERP, WMS, MES, and BI platforms.
  • Strong knowledge of food safety and regulatory frameworks (FDA, HACCP, GMP, SQF).
  • Bachelor’s degree in Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field; MBA or Lean Six Sigma Certification a strong plus.
  • Strong financial acumen and experience managing operational budgets and capital investments.
  • Experience in HACCP, allergen control, GMP, and sanitation
  • Bilingual in English/Spanish is a plus

What we offer

  • A high-growth and rewarding role in a foundationally strong and rapidly evolving business
  • Annual Salary Range: $170,000 - $190,000 plus annual bonus
  • Excellent benefits including a 401K Match
  • Paid Maternity, Adoption and Paternity leave
  • And all the Nuts.com snacks your heart desires + a 40% employee discount

 

EEO STATEMENT

Nuts.com is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, immigration status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local laws.

Applicants with disabilities who require assistance or accommodation during the application or interview process should reach out to us at people@nuts.com

 

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