Regional Operations Manager

Job Summary Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Regional Operations Manager will oversee and lead day-to-day operations across our East Coast facilities. This role is critical in driving operational excellence, ensuring consistent product quality, and maintaining efficient logistics and warehouse performance from intake through dispatch. The ideal candidate brings strong leadership experience in fresh produce operations, a deep understanding of cold chain logistics and ripening processes, and a proven ability to manage multi-site teams while upholding safety, quality, and performance standards. Responsibilities 1. Copacker Relationship Management Serve as primary liaison between Westfalia and third-party copackers (3PLs). Oversee daily production schedules, capacity planning, and raw material coordination. Support/monitor compliance with food safety standards, certifications and customer requirements. Ensure adherence to product specifications, pack styles, and service level agreements. Evaluate and onboard new copackers or ripening partners to meet regional or seasonal demand spikes. 2. Ripening Program Oversight Coordinate ripening schedules and protocols with third party logistics and in-house teams to meet customer specifications (stage, color, firmness). Implement and monitor ripening quality controls, including temperature, airflow, and ethylene usage. Troubleshoot and resolve ripening-related issues to ensure consistent product quality. Collaborate with QA teams to align ripening outcomes with customer requirements. 3. Cross-Functional Coordination Work closely with sourcing, planning, QA, and sales teams to align operational execution with forecasted demand. Support S&OP processes through capacity planning, throughput visibility, and operational feasibility inputs. Lead issue resolution for service failures, production delays, and quality deviations. Manage vendor onboarding and contract compliance in collaboration with procurement and legal teams. Drive operational enhancements to increase efficiency and reduce costs 4. Continuous Improvement & Cost Management Identify and implement operational improvements in warehousing, ripening, and copacking activities to reduce cost and improve service. Track operational KPIs and analyze trends to drive decisions around efficiency and scalability. Negotiate performance improvement plans with underperforming vendors or partners. Champion initiatives to reduce waste and optimize packaging materials across copacker and third party logistics activities. 5. Reporting & Compliance Maintain accurate operational reports (inventory, yields, production, shipments). Ensure documentation compliance with regulatory requirements (FDA, USDA, FSMA). Monitor third party logistics/copackers’ adherence to workplace health and safety protocols and OSHA regulations. Lead or support internal and external audits involving third party logistics or copacker operations.   Requirements Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Operations, Agribusiness, Food Science, or a related field required. 5+ years of experience in operations or supply chain roles within the fresh produce or perishable goods industry, ideally across multiple sites. Proven experience in distribution or produce operations management, preferably in the agricultural or food production industry. Strong organizational and problem-solving skills. Proven leadership in multi-site management Excellent communication and collaboration abilities. Produce Pro or similar a plus A decision maker with an analytical, strategic, project management mindset. Innovative and able to challenge existing processes. Willingness to travel domestically; up to 70%. Salary Range $90K -$110K Benefits What can Westfalia Fruit offer you? We offer 8 paid holidays. Floating Holidays. Health Insurance; Medical, Dental, and Vision at 100% coverage. Life Insurance. 401K and company matching. Paid Vacation. Paid Sick Time.   We’re an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to age, ethnicity, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, family or parental status, national origin, or veteran, neurodiversity or disability status.