Operations Manager

The Best Bees Company; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company holidays

PTO/Sick time

Flexible schedules

Health insurance

Commuter benefits

Pet insurance discounts

Job summary

The Best Bees Company is seeking an Operations Manager to join our Field Operations team in the Boston area. This role will oversee scheduling beekeepers, inventory, safety, and regional operations to support pollinator research and client sites.

You will manage budgets, train staff, coordinate site assessments, and ensure honey harvesting processes and data quality. The position is in-person with hybrid options after success.

Qualifications

• Beekeeping experience across several seasons/environments; Master Beekeeper encouraged to apply (but not required).
• Experience in management of teams/field operatives, supporting complex scheduling and routing needs.
• Experience in data management/data analysis or budget management.
• Familiarity with pest management.
• Familiarity with honey harvesting processes.
• Familiarity with safety standards and shop-space management.
• Ability to be active when beekeepers are on the clock.
• Strong communication and collaboration skills.

Responsibilities

• Scheduling beekeepers and creating routes related to varying beekeeping needs throughout the season.
• Oversight of the Boston facility, working closely with the Boston facility manager, including inventory and safety standards.
• General oversight of company vehicles, working closely with the Boston facility manager, helping to coordinate repairs as necessary.
• Managing regional budget in relation to scheduling hours, reimbursements, and supply ordering.
• Training and retraining of staff utilizing an internal training program facilitated through a Learning Management System.
• Coordinating complex client needs, events, and site assessments.
• Ensuring honey is harvested and jarred from client hives, meeting honey guarantee minimums.
• Data management, assessing beekeeper data collected in the field for accuracy, and prioritizing hives in need of critical care.
• General management of direct reports, including regular check-ins and performance management, supporting Best Bees' unique culture.
• Recruiting and training new staff as needed.

Skills

Beekeeping experience

Team management

Data management

Budget management

Pest management familiarity

Honey harvesting knowledge

Safety standards knowledge

Communication skills

Education

Master Beekeeper certification (encouraged)

Job description

The Best Bees Company is currently conducting a search for an Operations Manager to join our growing Field Operations team and help further our mission of promoting pollinator health in the Boston area!

Best Bees is a unique company with a mission and a culture to match. Our team is made of dedicated environmentalists working to support scientific research in honeybee colonies on buildings and in backyards across the United States. Operations Managers play a direct role in supporting our research through data management and beekeeper support, and help to grow pollinator populations each day. Our Operations Managers manage select geographic regions, schedule beekeepers, advise on beekeeping practices, and support complex operational needs.

This position is in-person with our Boston team; hybrid schedules are possible pending success in the role.

Responsibilities

• Scheduling beekeepers and creating routes related to varying beekeeping needs throughout the season
• Oversight of the Boston facility, working closely with the Boston facility manager, including inventory and safety standards
• General oversight of company vehicles, working closely with the Boston facility manager, helping to coordinate repairs as necessary
• Managing regional budget in relation to scheduling hours, reimbursements, and supply ordering
• Training and retraining of staff utilizing an internal training program facilitated through a Learning Management System
• Coordinating complex client needs, events, and site assessments
• Ensuring honey is harvested and jarred from client hives, meeting honey guarantee minimums
• Data management, assessing beekeeper data collected in the field for accuracy, and prioritizing hives in need of critical care
• General management of direct reports, including regular check-ins and performance management, supporting Best Bees' unique culture
• Recruiting and training new staff as needed

Ideal Qualifications:

• Experience with beekeeping across several seasons/environments, individuals with Master Beekeeper certification strongly encouraged to apply (but not required)
• Experience in management of teams/field operatives, supporting complex scheduling and routing needs
• Experience in data management/data analysis or budget management
• Familiarity with pest management
• Familiarity with honey harvesting processes
• Familiarity with safety standards and shop-space management
• Ability to be active when beekeepers are on the clock
• Strong communication and collaboration skills

We also look for...

• A passion for the environment
• Creative problem-solving skills and eagerness to collaborate
• Proficiency with Google Suite (Gmail, Drive, Calendar) or similar collaborative platforms
• Proficiency with Apple devices

Compensation/Benefits:

• ~18 Company Holidays with Ability to Float Holidays
• 15 days PTO/Sick Time, 1-Week Paid Winter Reset (PTO increases with tenure)
• Flexible schedules
• Health/Dental/Vision Insurance
• 401k, Commuter Benefits, Pet Insurance Discounts
• Your Own Personal Hive! Along with Beekeeping Information/Supplies/Materials/Products
• A positive ESG mission with unique culture

Who We Are

The Best Bees Company installs and maintains honeybee hives on commercial, government, and residential properties in cities and urban centers across the US. Our mission is to improve pollinator health and expand the bee population.

Since 2010, we have made a tangible, positive impact on the environment, one beehive at a time. The Best Bees Company has developed innovative approaches and data that are now used by such institutions as NASA, MIT, Harvard, and National Geographic.

The Best Bees Company is a hub for scientists, artists, and adventurers, where a culture of creativity and environmental stewardship thrive. Our staff of driven professionals dedicates themselves to developing cutting-edge and resourceful ways of ensuring bee health, global food security, and client engagement.