VP, Fulfillment

Recruitly; Chicago (IL); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 270,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with employer match

Paid time off including holidays

Sabbatical after 5 years

Job summary

Recruitly in Chicago is looking for a Vice President of Fulfillment to lead the national fulfillment organization, spanning distribution, fridge operations, routing, and fleet management. You will build scalable operating models, drive cost efficiency, and elevate service levels while aligning cross-functional teams.

The ideal candidate brings 10+ years of leadership in fulfillment/logistics, proven success scaling operations in a high-growth environment, and strong strategic/financial acumen.

Qualifications

• Degree in operations, supply chain, or business; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in fulfillment, logistics, or operations.
• Experience leading geographically distributed operations and scaling in high-growth settings.

Responsibilities

• Define long-term vision and strategy for the national fulfillment organization.
• Oversee distribution, fridge operations, routing, fleet, and fulfillment technology.
• Establish KPIs, operating rhythms, and scalable operating models.
• Drive continuous improvement, cost optimization and cross-functional alignment.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Fulfillment operations

Logistics and distribution

Data-driven decision making

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in operations, supply chain, or business

Master's degree preferred

Tools

Tableau

HEX

TMS & routing systems

ERP systems

Job description

************************HYBRID - CHICAGO, IL************************

Our fast-growing client makes fruits and vegetables accessible and approachable for everyone. They offer a variety of fresh, healthy, ready-to-eat meals and snacks through fresh food vending machines, wholesale partners, and office pantry solution — providing chef-curated meals to customers within seconds. Today, they 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.

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

About this Role: The Vice President of Fulfillment is responsible for the strategy, performance, and continued evolution of the company's national fulfillment organization. This leader oversees distribution operations, fridge operations, centralized logistics and routing, fleet management, fulfillment technology, safety, and operational excellence. This leader collaborates with cross-functional stakeholders to construct scalable operating models that ensure superior service levels while optimizing delivery costs and execution. Success is defined by establishing robust management systems, empowering management teams, and driving organizational alignment around a unified fulfillment strategy.

This role is ideal for a leader who enjoys creating structure, improving execution, and building scalable operating models within a fast-growing business. The successful candidate will be equally comfortable setting long-term strategy and solving complex operational challenges.

What You’ll Do…

• Define the long-term vision, operating strategy, and priorities for the fulfillment organization.
• Implement operating rhythms, management systems, and prioritized KPIs that foster performance and accountability.
• Develop the operating model and organizational capabilities needed to support continued growth.
• Foster a culture of operational excellence, accountability, continuous improvement, and strong cross-functional partnership.

Distribution Operations

• Provide executive leadership for field distribution operations through the General Manager of Distribution.
• Develop and empower the distribution leadership team to deliver safe, efficient, and consistent execution.
• Establish operating standards that improve consistency, productivity, and scalability.
• Oversee end-to-end fulfillment execution.

Fridge Operations

• Lead the strategy and performance of the national fridge network.
• Oversee procurement, maintenance, repairs, inventory, and parts management while supporting relocations and new fridge deployment
• Maximize fridge uptime, reliability, and asset utilization.
• Collaborate with key teams to drive growth and operational performance.

Logistics, Routing & Central Operations

• Lead centralized routing, planning, dispatch, badging, and logistics functions.
• Support and refine routing and capacity planning strategies to improve service levels and delivery cost.
• Facilitate and empower market expansion initiatives.
• Manage third-party logistics strategy and partners.

Operational Excellence

• Lead continuous improvement across the fulfillment organization.
• Develop standardized operating procedures and management systems.
• Drive data-driven decision making and structured problem solving.
• Improve productivity, simplify operations, and eliminate waste.
• Partner with Supply Chain Technology to define and prioritize the fulfillment technology roadmap.
• Champion technology solutions that elevate driver experience, operational performance, and execution.
• Drive adoption of new technologies and leverage analytics to improve end-to-end fulfillment.

Fleet, Safety & Compliance

• Oversee fleet strategy, repairs and preventative maintenance strategy and asset utilization.
• Promote a culture of safety and regulatory compliance across the fulfillment organization.
• Establish safety standards, reporting, and accountability mechanisms.
• Own the Fulfillment P&L, budget, and long-range operating plan.
• Drive productivity across all fulfillment functions.
• Ensure accountability against financial and operational targets.

Cross-Functional Leadership

• Partner with leaders across the organization to align fulfillment priorities with broader business objectives.
• Support strategic initiatives, network expansion, and operational readiness.

Who You Are…

• Bachelor's degree in Operations, Supply Chain, Logistics, Business Administration, or a related field required.
• Master's degree preferred.
• 10 + years of progressive leadership experience in fulfillment, logistics, transportation, supply chain, or operations.
• Experience leading geographically distributed operations.
• Proven success scaling operations in a high-growth environment.
• Experience developing operating models, management systems, and scalable processes.
• Experience managing distribution, routing, logistics, transportation, and field operations.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational change and continuous improvement.
• Experience in cold chain, food manufacturing, food distribution, or similarly complex operational environments preferred.
• Proven ability to lead through leaders and build high-performing management teams, while remaining hands-on and deeply engaged in day-to-day execution.
• Strong organizational leadership skills with the ability to simultaneously oversee multiple operational functions while personally driving high-priority projects.
• Exceptional strategic thinking and financial acumen, paired with a disciplined project management and complex problem-solving skill set.
• Deep operational expertise in fulfillment, logistics, routing, and transportation, with a demonstrated ability to diagnose and optimize performance.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and cross-functional leadership skills.
• Strong analytical capability to turn data into actionable insights and drive continuous improvement.
• Excellent communication and cross-functional leadership skills, with a track record of driving results in fast-paced, high-growth environments.

Personal Attributes

• Builder's mindset with a passion for operational excellence.
• Comfortable creating structure and leading organizational change.
• Equally comfortable thinking strategically and solving complex operational challenges.
• Results-oriented with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Thrives in a fast-paced, high-growth environment.

Technical Skills

• Proficiency with Google Workspace and Microsoft Office.
• Experience with business intelligence tools such as Tableau and HEX.
• Experience with transportation management systems (TMS), routing optimization platforms, fleet management systems, ERP systems, and operational analytics.

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.

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