Director, Operations

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee in Nashville seeks a Director of Operations to lead warehousing, distribution, inventory control, and facilities across multiple sites. This role reports to the Vice President of Operations & Logistics and drives safe, efficient day-to-day execution aligned with our mission.

You will develop people, processes, and systems, manage the annual operations budget, ensure food safety standards, and collaborate with Transportation, Manufacturing, Programs,

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business or logistics preferred.
• 7–10 years of Operations Management experience in warehousing/logistics; multi-site preferred.
• Food industry experience desirable.

Responsibilities

• Directs warehousing, receiving, distribution, inventory control, and facilities maintenance across locations.
• Collaborates with VP of Operations & Logistics and cross-functional teams to align priorities.
• Develops and manages annual Operations budget and monitors costs.
• Leads safety initiatives and ensures compliance with laws and Feeding America standards.
• Mentors staff and develops future leaders through coaching and training.
• Supports readiness for new campus operations and transition planning.

Skills

Team leadership

Operations planning

Communication

Vendor management

Data-driven decisions

Cross-functional collaboration

Culture & values

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business or logistics

Job description

We are hiring for a full time to hire Director, Operations to join the Operations Department at Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee.

Who we are: For nearly 50 years, Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee has dedicated itself to nourishing and empowering their neighbors so they can thrive. As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Second Harvest implements sustainable solutions to food insecurity through a strategically selected network of more than 600 partners across 46 counties in Middle and West Tennessee. Our partners include food pantries, congregate meal sites, shelters, childcare facilities, senior centers, group homes, and youth enrichment programs. For more information about Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee, its mission, and programs, please visit secondharvestmidtn.org.

What you’ll do:

The Director, Operations/Deputy Food Safety Officer directs and oversees the Food Bank’s warehousing, receiving and distribution, inventory management, quality control, and facilities maintenance functions across all locations. Reporting to the Vice President of Operations & Logistics, this role is accountable for safe, reliable, and efficient day-to-day execution within Operations and for developing the people, processes, and systems required to support organizational goals and neighbor needs. The Director works collaboratively with Transportation, Food Resourcing, Manufacturing/Food Safety, Programs, Technology, and other teams to coordinate resources and solve operational problems. The position evaluates facilities, equipment, workflows, and operating practices to drive continuous improvement while actively modeling Second Harvest’s mission and values and fostering a culture of inclusion, belonging, accountability, and respect.

Key Responsibilities:

• Possesses broad knowledge of warehousing and distribution and a deep working knowledge of leading operations in a complex, multi-site environment.
• Directs, supervises, and manages warehousing and distribution operations including receiving, storage, order fulfillment and distribution, inventory control, quality control, and facilities maintenance at all Food Bank locations.
• Partners closely with the Vice President of Operations & Logistics and peer leaders in Transportation, Food Resourcing, and Manufacturing/Food Safety to align priorities, capacity, and day-to-day execution.
• Builds strong cross-functional relationships with Agency Program and Services, Technology, Finance, External Affairs, and other teams; leverages organizational resources and maintains effective relationships with vendors and service providers.
• Provides effective inventory management and quality control to ensure inventory accuracy, maximize warehouse utilization, and maintain appropriate cycle count and inventory control processes at all facilities.
• Reviews and improves processes, workflows, systems, and operating practices to support safe and efficient receiving, storage, inventory control, order fulfillment, and movement of product.
• Implements and maintains operating standards that support effective utilization of Food Bank facilities and equipment and ensure work environments are functional, safe, and well maintained.
• Develops and maintains an effective equipment repair, facility repair, warehouse, and maintenance management program to support Food Bank operations.
• Develops and manages the annual Operations budget in partnership with the Vice President of Operations & Logistics and Finance; monitors operating costs, maintenance needs, vendor performance, and resource utilization.
• Serves as Deputy Food Safety Officer of the Food Safety Committee and provides direct oversight within Operations for all food safety activities including procedure development, training programs and monitoring activities supporting food bank activities.
• Provides leadership for safety within Operations and works with Human Resources and other leaders to support organizational safety programs and the Safety Committee.
• Ensures operational activities comply with applicable laws, regulations, safety requirements, Feeding America standards, food safety requirements, and organizational policies.
• Develops staff and future leaders through coaching, mentoring, clear expectations, feedback, on-the-job experience, and appropriate training.
• Supports operational readiness for the new campus, including workflow, equipment, storage, and transition planning, as requested by the Vice President of Operations & Logistics.
• Other duties as assigned.

Reports to:

Vice President, Operations & Logistics

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

Yes. Provides direct leadership and supervisory oversight to warehouse, inventory/quality control, and facilities personnel within Operations. Responsible for the direction, coordination, development, and evaluation of Operations staff and for effective management of third-party maintenance and vendor relationships.

When & Where:

HOURS

• Monday – Friday, 7:00am – 4:30pm.
• Occasional evenings and/or weekends may be required for meetings or special events.
• On occasion duties may be necessary, as well as responding to issues, outside of normal working hours (e.g., disaster response, community events, etc.

TRAVEL

• Occasional daytime travel required, up to 20% of work week within the local service area.
• Current driver’s license with copy of current auto insurance and acceptable Motor Vehicle Record (MVR) results required.

Is this you?

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in business or logistics preferred.

Experience:

7-10 years of Operations Management experience within warehouse and logistics environment. Food industry experience desirable. Multi-site experience preferred.

Skills & Capabilities

• Organize, coordinate, and direct projects and operational priorities.
• Hire, train, coach, and effectively manage performance across a team of salaried exempt, salaried nonexempt and hourly employees.
• Communicate clearly and effectively in both oral and written form with leaders, staff, partners, vendors, and other stakeholders.
• Strong vendor, negotiation, and third-party management skills.
• Use data, KPIs, and operational systems to identify opportunities, solve problems, and improve performance.
• Build strong cross-functional partnerships and leverage shared resources to achieve organizational goals.
• Ability to develop, and sustain, a culture that aligns with the values of a mission-driven organization, creating a space for employees to grown, develop and provide feedback to improve their day-to-day work.

Allowable Substitutions:

Combination of education, experience, and/or training that provides the required knowledge and skills for the position may be considered in lieu of education/experience at the organization’s discretion.

Job Family Competencies:

Coaching/Developing Others, Leadership/Strategic Thinking, Influence, and Project Management

Other requirements:

Our pre-hire process requires acceptable results from the following: professional reference feedback, criminal background, Motor Vehicle Record. Current Driver’s License and automobile insurance are also required. Criminal backgrounds are evaluated on a case-by-case basis considering several factors (timing, frequency, severity and job relation).

What Second Harvest has to offer:

Work with a purpose: As one of middle Tennessee’s largest nonprofits, our local hunger relief work is uniquely rewarding, hands on and solutions oriented. We are innovative, mission-focused, diverse, collaborative, values-driven and focused on results. A career with Second Harvest ensures that you not only earn a paycheck, but also help your local community through meaningful work. If you are passionate about serving your neighbors in need and are committed to our mission to nourish and empower people, we invite you to join our 120+ person team in the fight against hunger, as we work to achieve our vision of a community where everyone has equitable access to the food and resources they need.

Award winning workplace: we are a best‑in‑class workplace because we are passionate and people focused – we listen, respect, care and challenge each other, so that our neighbors can count on us. Our employees have identified us among The Tennessean’s Top Workplaces based solely on employee surveys and feedback. There is ample opportunity to be engaged, have work-life-balance and grow with Second Harvest.

Compensation & Benefits: Second Harvest is proud to offer rich and affordable total compensation packages. Full-time employment includes 34+ days off, medical (employee‑only is 100% employer paid), dental, vision, 403b retirement (up to 3% match, 5% base, length of service vesting), disability insurance (short and long term) and long-term care insurance.

DEIB & Equal Employment Opportunity:

Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee provides equal employment to all applicants and employees based on merit, qualifications, and abilities.We do not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.We believe that inclusion and belonging strengthen our team, drive innovation, and enhance our ability to serve our community.