Director, Value Added

Coastal Sunbelt Produce; Laurel (MD); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Coastal Sunbelt Produce seeks a Director of Value Added to oversee Grab & Go and Fresh Cuts processing centers, driving efficiency and profitability. You will lead strategic initiatives, build a high-performing team, and align with FreshPoint’s growth goals.

The role requires robust leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and a track record of process improvement to reduce waste and improve quality across USDA/FDA regulated operations.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 7 years of Operations management experience with progressive leadership.
• Proven ability to lead high-performing teams and drive accountability.
• Deep knowledge of production planning, performance management, and safety standards.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of all operational aspects of the processing center to ensure efficiency, safety, and compliance.
• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing production team through hiring, training, coaching, and performance management.
• Drive profitability by optimizing resources, controlling costs, and ensuring cost-effective production practices.
• Ensure strict adherence to USDA, FDA, and company food safety and quality standards across all operations.
• Partner with supply chain, quality assurance, and logistics teams for end-to-end production and distribution.
• Champion process improvements to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and strengthen operational performance.
• Establish, monitor, and achieve KPIs and production metrics aligned with goals.
• Lead and support enterprise initiatives fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Operational excellence

Team development

Production planning

KPIs & metrics

Budgeting & cost control

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Supply Chain/Operations

Job description

Job Summary

The Director of Value Added is responsible for overseeing the operations of the Grab & Go and Fresh Cuts processing center, ensuring it is both efficient and profitable. This role involves strategic leadership, continuous improvement initiatives, and cross-functional team collaboration. The Director is also responsible for building and developing a high-performing team to align with FreshPoint’s growth goals.

Job Summary

The Director of Value Added is responsible for overseeing the operations of the Grab & Go and Fresh Cuts processing center, ensuring it is both efficient and profitable. This role involves strategic leadership, continuous improvement initiatives, and cross-functional team collaboration. The Director is also responsible for building and developing a high-performing team to align with FreshPoint’s growth goals.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership and oversight of all operational aspects of the processing center to ensure efficiency, safety, and compliance.

Build, lead, and develop a high-performing production team through effective hiring, training, coaching, and performance management.

Drive profitability by optimizing resources, controlling costs, and ensuring cost-effective production practices.

Ensure strict adherence to USDA, FDA, and company food safety and quality standards across all operations.

Partner with supply chain, quality assurance, and logistics teams to ensure seamless end-to-end production and distribution.

Champion process improvements that enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and strengthen operational performance.

Establish, monitor, and achieve key performance indicators (KPIs) and production metrics aligned with organizational goals.

Lead and support enterprise initiatives while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management or a closely related field required or equivalent combination of education and related experience.

Experience

• 7 years of Operations management experience with demonstrated progressive levels of management experience

Professional Skills

Proven ability to inspire, develop, and lead high-performing teams while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and growth.

• Track record of driving operational excellence and embedding continuous improvement practices to enhance productivity, efficiency, and quality.
• Deep expertise in production planning and performance management, with the ability to define, monitor, and deliver against key operational KPIs.
• Comprehensive knowledge of USDA, FDA, and food safety regulations, with demonstrated success ensuring full compliance across complex operations.
• Strong financial acumen with experience developing and managing budgets, optimizing resources, and delivering sustainable cost efficiencies without compromising quality.

Physical Demands

Reasonable accommodations will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this job.

Must be able to occasionally lift up to 25 lbs.

Maintain a visible presence on the production floor by conducting daily walk throughs to monitor operations and ensure adherence to safety, quality, and productivity standards.

Work Environment

• Occasionally exposed to wet, hot, extreme cold and/or humid conditions; moving mechanical parts and may be required to work in confined spaces.
• The associate works non-traditional business hours including evenings, nights, weekends, holidays and on-call