Distribution Manager (West)

Farmer's Fridge Careers; Vernon (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid Time Off

Sabbatical after 5 years

Employee discounts

EAP

Job summary

Farmer's Fridge in Vernon, CA is seeking a Distribution Manager to lead driver and fulfillment operations across our California markets. You will build structure, accountability, and consistency for a growing network, overseeing salaried and hourly teams with hiring, coaching, and development.

You’ll drive cross-dock operations, fleet performance, and fulfillment execution while improving SLAs and metrics. Travel within CA is required, including LA and San Diego.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of management in distribution/logistics/operations.
• Experience managing hourly and salaried teams in a fast-paced setting.
• Strong communication, accountability, and coaching skills.
• Willingness to travel within CA and work hands-on in field.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily driver, fulfillment, and cross-dock operations across CA markets.
• Own people-management cycle from onboarding to performance management.
• Lead weekly metric reviews to improve SLAs and efficiency.
• Oversee vehicle maintenance and cross-dock processes with vendors.
• Develop delivery processes, SOPs, and quarterly bonus programs.
• Collaborate with Distribution, Logistics, Sales, Production, Data, and Tech.
• Support new market launches with hiring and training.
• Maintain regulatory compliance including health, fire, and zoning.
• Manage airport signatory and driver badging; maintain Salesforce records.
• Step into operations as needed to cover routes and workflows.

Skills

People management

Data-driven

Cross-functional

Operations leadership

Driver/fleet oversight

Field operations

Communication

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in a related field

Tools

Salesforce

Slack

Zendesk

Asana

UKG

NextMove

Google Workspace

Microsoft Office

Job description

Farmers Fridge makes fruits and vegetables accessible and approachable for everyone. We offer a variety of fresh, healthy, ready-to-eat meals and snacks through our fresh food vending machines, wholesale partners, and our office pantry solution - providing chef-curated meals to customers within seconds. Today, we operate a network of Fridges and partner with clients nationwide in high-foot-traffic areas, such as airports, hospitals, universities, and large office buildings - where there is limited accessibility to fresh, healthy, grab-n-go options.

We care deeply about what we’re creating and aspire to make sure our customers feel that through every touchpoint. This shows up in many ways across the business. We are committed to prioritizing food safety, we are passionate about product quality, we value our employees, we champion the best idea no matter where it comes from, and we’re committed to making an overall positive impact as we scale.

About this Role

We’re looking for a Distribution Manager to lead driver and fulfillment operations across our California markets, building the operational structure, accountability, and consistency needed to support a growing distribution network. Based in Vernon, California, you will oversee both salaried and hourly team members, with responsibility for hiring, performance management, coaching, and employee development while fostering a strong culture of execution, safety, and ownership.

You’ll oversee cross-dock operations, fleet performance, and fulfillment execution, while driving process improvements that strengthen SLAs, operational metrics, and overall team performance. This role requires a hands‑on leader who is comfortable reviewing and auditing metrics to identify opportunities for improvement, while also stepping directly into the field when needed to cover routes, support fulfillment workflows, or tackle other operational priorities.

This role will require travel within our California markets, including Los Angeles and San Diego.

What You’ll Do

• Lead day-to-day driver, fulfillment, and cross-dock operations across our California markets, including oversight of salaried supervisors, hourly drivers, vehicles, daily and weekly scheduling, and end-of-day reporting
• Own the full people-management cycle for the distribution team, from phone screen to offer, onboarding, coaching, performance management, corrective action, and terminations, while fostering a culture of accountability, safety, and ownership
• Lead weekly metric reviews to identify gaps, improve SLAs, and make data-driven decisions related to operational efficiency, capacity, and on-time, in-full delivery
• Oversee van maintenance and repairs with third-party vendors, and maintain and develop cross-dock processes in alignment with Farmers Fridge policies
• Develop and iterate on delivery processes, SOPs, training programs, and quarterly bonus requirements, gathering employee feedback to prioritize the most impactful changes
• Partner cross-functionally with Distribution, Logistics, Sales, Production, Data, and Tech teams to solve issues seen in the field, align on metrics, and share best practices across markets
• Support new market launches by hiring and training new team members and leaders, identifying cross-dock and process flow, and ensuring all first stocking dates are met
• Maintain compliance with state, county, and city regulations related to Farmers Fridge assets, including owning the Department of Health inspection process and managing fire safety and zoning requirements
• Manage airport signatory and driver badging, including tracking badges for all drivers, keeping badging information up-to-date in Salesforce, and partnering with Sales Ops to service new and re-opening Fridges
• Step directly into the operation when needed, including covering routes, supporting fulfillment workflows, cross-dock operations, or other critical operational priorities

Who You Are

• 3-5 years of management experience in a distribution, warehouse, logistics, or operations environment
• Experience managing and developing both hourly and salaried team members in a fast-paced operational setting
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to build trust, drive accountability, and navigate difficult conversations effectively
• Comfortable working in a highly operational, hands-on environment, including time in refrigerated coolers (~38°F), with the flexibility to adapt quickly to changing business needs
• Data-driven mindset with the ability to review metrics, identify operational gaps, and implement process improvements
• Experience working cross-functionally across operations, logistics, fulfillment, or field teams
• Proficient with Google Workspace and/or Microsoft Office, along with operational tools such as Slack, Zendesk, Salesforce, Asana, UKG, and NextMove
• Valid driver's license with the ability to travel between Los Angeles and San Diego as needed
• Ability to obtain and maintain airport signatory and restricted badging access
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required
• Bilingual in Spanish is a plus, but not required

The base salary range for this role is $100,000 - $110,000. The base pay offered will be determined by factors such as experience, skills, training, certifications, education, and any applicable minimum wage requirements.

In addition to base salary, this position is eligible for company performance-based bonuses and equity.

Benefits

We provide a comprehensive benefits package, including:

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance (multiple plans available)
• 401(k) with immediate employer match vesting
• Paid time off (including vacation, sick leave, and holidays)
• Paid sabbatical after 5 years of service
• Employee discounts
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

Benefits at Farmers Fridge

In This Together - We stay connected, whether in person or virtually. We encourage business transparency through monthly town hall meetings and weekly financial updates. We set out to make the best product on the market, and we believe we’ve done it. We value your input in the new menu creation process. From regular tasting panels, where employees provide new menu feedback.

Happier Workdays - Each day at work should fill you with joy. We're a fun and passionate group, and we don't take ourselves too seriously. Bring your unique self to work, dress comfortably, and always feel free to share your thoughts and opinions. We encourage curiosity; there's no hierarchy here when we're all swapping ideas.

Never run on empty - Daily Farmers Fridge meal and office snacks are just some of the offerings to make sure you aren't distracted by a growling stomach. Recharge with our paid sabbatical program after five years of service.

Innovate & Elevate - We're all teachers and learners. You'll grow and help grow the company through cross-functional collaboration, open access to leadership, and regular business updates. You have a direct impact on the company’s bottom line. You can also impact your bottom line by participating in our 401(k) plan that includes a company match with immediate vesting.

Farmer's Fridge Diversity Statement

"Don't meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they meet every single qualification. At Farmers Fridge, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your past experience doesn't align perfectly with every qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyways. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles."

Farmers Fridge is an equal-opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices, including hiring, without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, disability status, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. View our disclosures related to External Agencies and Applicants below: https://www.farmersfridge.com/careerdisclosures