Vice President, Operations

About Ridwell Ridwell is a service that inspires people to create a future without waste. Today, we make it easy to reuse and recycle more by identifying recyclable and reusable items that the city doesn't collect, picking them up from our customers' doorsteps, and matching them with local partners that can use them sustainably. Our future plans go much further and include making zero waste a reality for millions. As a B Corp-certified company, sustainability isn't just a company value—it's a fundamental part of our purpose and interests. Our mission is to empower communities to waste less, and every success our team celebrates means more waste saved from the landfill and more valuable donations in the hands of local non‑profits. We’re funded and growing quickly and can't wait to add to our team. We offer a strong benefits package, a flexible work and vacation schedule, and a team invested in the personal growth of its employees. Joining our team provides an opportunity to make a meaningful impact with an evolving young company! Our Values Our member is our hero. Our members are at the core of our company. Only by empowering them can we accomplish our vision. We Never Settle. We are relentlessly pursuing the exceptional and challenging the status quo–always making our service, experience, and company better. We Take Our Success Personally. We all have a stake in the success of Ridwell. You are empowered to make an impact. Purpose Drives Our Actions. Knowing why we are doing something enables us to focus on what is truly important. We Are Stronger Together. Every person is critical to our success. We need diverse perspectives to execute on creative solutions. By fostering collaboration and connection at every level, we can be phenomenal. About the Role You are an exceptional operations leader who will serve as a key member of Ridwell's executive team. Reporting into Ridwell’s CEO & co‑founder, you will be responsible for leading and sustaining the 200+ person operations organization that enables Ridwell to deliver exceptional service today while thoughtfully scaling our impact for the future. Ridwell has built a successful, multi‑state operation across both our pick‑up service and growing mail‑in recycling business. We are looking for a leader who can build on that success, bringing the required strategic thinking, operational rigor, and leadership to thoughtfully scale operations while maintaining the exceptional service levels and operational stability that have made Ridwell successful. You will lead a distributed operation through a team of leaders, setting strategy, building organizational capability, and driving performance across the business. This role is responsible for ensuring that the people, vehicles, and systems are in place to support operational excellence and sustainable growth. The ideal candidate is an experienced executive leader who has helped scale a high‑growth or early‑stage company, successfully grown multi‑site operations, and built high‑performing leadership teams. They bring significant experience leading a predominantly hourly workforce, with a strong track record of developing frontline leaders, driving employee engagement, and delivering operational excellence at scale. Founder or startup executive experience is strongly preferred, and experience working in unionized environments is a plus. How to Succeed in this Role Operations Strategy & Execution Oversee all operational functions supporting Ridwell's doorstep pick‑up service, including transportation, warehouse operations, fleet support, field leadership, operational safety, and operational performance across all markets. Develop and execute an operations strategy that supports Ridwell's continued growth, increasing complexity, and long‑term scalability. Ensure operational decisions support sustainable performance across efficiency, quality, and safety objectives. Ensure Ridwell's operational network is structured and scaled to efficiently support the continued growth of our mail‑in recycling business. Leverage data to set priorities, identify opportunities, test hypotheses, and drive continuous improvement. Advance the use of technology and AI to improve operational performance, decision‑making, and scalability. Own key operational performance metrics and deliver predictable, high‑quality results. Partner closely with Product, Finance, People Operations, Partnerships, and Member Success to align operational capabilities with company objectives. Network Design & Expansion Evaluate customer density, transportation costs, processing capacity, and operational efficiency to inform strategic investments. Determine how Ridwell's doorstep pickup and mail‑in operations can most effectively leverage shared infrastructure and resources. Partner with the executive team to evaluate and execute network growth opportunities, while owning facility strategy, warehouse planning, and capacity optimization. Lead operational planning and execution for new warehouse, market, and site launches. Build systems and processes that allow the business to scale efficiently while maintaining a strong member experience. Frontline Employee Experience Maintain a strong connection to frontline employees and operational realities. Regularly spend time in markets, warehouses, and field operations to understand challenges firsthand. Ensure operational decisions support both business performance and employee success. Foster a culture where employees at all levels understand how their work contributes to Ridwell's success. Foster positive labor relations by partnering effectively with union representatives, operational leaders, and frontline employees to support a safe, engaged, and high‑performing workforce. Champion a culture of safety across all operations, ensuring employees have the training, resources, accountability, and leadership support needed to work safely while continuously improving safety performance. Leadership & Team Development Lead and develop a team of operational leaders responsible for driving performance, execution, and results across the business. Ensure the organizational structure remains effective and scalable as the business grows and operational complexity increases. Effectively manage leaders with different skill sets while creating alignment around company priorities and goals. Identify, develop, and advocate for top performers across the organization. Establish clear accountability, strong communication, and high‑performance standards throughout the operations organization. Serve as a role model for Ridwell's values and leadership expectations. Influence company strategy as a member of the executive team, championing the needs of operations team members as part of Ridwell’s goals. Measures of Success A strong team culture across all markets where employees at every level are engaged, performing well, and are proud to work at Ridwell. Consistent achievement of operational performance metrics, including service quality, efficiency, and safety. Successful launch and stabilization of new facilities and operating locations. Strong financial performance supported by healthy unit economics, market profitability, and scalable systems. Efficient utilization of facilities, transportation assets, and operational resources across both doorstep and mail‑in services. Development of high‑performing operational leaders capable of growing with the business. A track record of process improvements driven through leadership, training, technology, and continuous improvement initiatives. We're Open to a Variety of Backgrounds and Experiences, But Here Are the Skills and Experience We're Looking For Requirements Experience as an executive leader within a high‑growth or early‑stage company. Founder or startup executive experience strongly preferred. 10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience. Demonstrated ability to connect with and inspire frontline employees. Significant experience scaling multi‑site operations across multiple geographies. Ownership of large portions of a company's P&L. Experience leading operations organizations that include represented, unionized employees, with a demonstrated ability to build productive labor‑management relationships while maintaining strong operational performance. Demonstrated success in building operational systems, teams, and processes that support rapid growth. Experience in one or more of the following areas: logistics, transportation, fulfillment, warehouse operations, marketplace businesses, subscription services, or complex service operations. Strong analytical skills and a data‑driven approach to decision‑making. Experience leveraging technology and product solutions to improve operational performance. Experience leading leaders, including regional or market‑based management structures. Exceptional communication, leadership, and organizational development skills. Passion for sustainability, circular economy solutions, and mission‑driven businesses. Ability to travel nationally to support company operations, growth initiatives, and leadership engagement, generally averaging one trip per month. Benefits Comprehensive healthcare benefits, including medical, vision and dental Flexible vacation and sick leave policy Paid holidays Paid parental leave Flexible spending account for transportation Life insurance and disability Employee Assistance Program (EAP) Discount on a monthly Ridwell subscription 401(k) plan $180,000 - $220,000 a year The compensation range represents our best estimate, with the final offer subject to internal compensation benchmarks, candidate experience, and market data. Individuals seeking employment at Ridwell are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, marital status, ancestry, physical or mental disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation. #J-18808-Ljbffr