Vice President, Operations

Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches | Richmond, VA At Nightingale Ice Cream Sandwiches, we believe the best ice cream sandwich starts with the best people. Since 2016, we've grown from a small Richmond kitchen into one of the fastest-growing premium ice cream brands in the country while staying true to our handcrafted roots. Our mission is simple: Spread Joy by making the best ice cream sandwiches possible. We're looking for an exceptional Vice President of Operations who thrives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment, loves building great teams, and is passionate about continuous improvement. The Vice President of Operations is responsible for leading all aspects of manufacturing operations, including production, planning, maintenance, warehousing, continuous improvement, safety, and operational strategy. This leader will build scalable systems that support Nightingale's next stage of growth while never compromising the quality that has built our brand. At Nightingale, quality is never sacrificed for speed, volume, or cost. Product quality and food safety are always our number one priority. Every operational decision begins with protecting our product, our customers, and our brand. The VP of Operations will work closely with the CEO and executive leadership team to develop long-term manufacturing strategies, improve efficiencies, reduce costs, invest in people, and prepare the company for significant national growth. Key Responsibilities Operational Leadership Lead all manufacturing operations across production, warehouse, maintenance, engineering, production planning, and continuous improvement. Develop and execute the operations strategy to support rapid company growth. Build systems capable of scaling from a regional manufacturer to a national brand. Establish measurable KPIs and hold teams accountable for performance. Drive operational excellence through Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives. Quality & Food Safety Champion a culture where quality is always the highest priority. Partner closely with Quality Assurance to ensure compliance with FDA, customer, and regulatory requirements. Ensure food safety and product integrity are never compromised. Build quality into every process rather than relying on inspection. Support root cause analysis and corrective action for quality issues. Foster a culture where every team member is responsible for protecting the Nightingale brand. Production & Planning Optimize production scheduling and capacity planning. Improve labor utilization while maintaining quality standards. Increase throughput without sacrificing craftsmanship. Improve OEE, yield, waste reduction, and line efficiencies. Develop systems to support new product launches and commercialization. Engineering & Maintenance Lead equipment reliability and preventative maintenance programs. Oversee capital projects, automation initiatives, and facility expansion. Evaluate and implement new manufacturing technologies. Inventory & Demand Planning Own demand forecasting across all channels — retail, foodservice, and e-commerce/direct — and connect forecasts to production, inventory, and distribution plans through a maturing S&OP process with Sales and Finance. Manage finished goods inventory to balance working capital efficiency with service levels across a growing footprint, coverage planning, and shelf-life / expiry risk. Build and refine supply forecasting models; coordinate with the commercial team on promotional windows, seasonal peaks, and new item launch planning. Proactively manage stockout and short-supply risk — flagging coverage gaps early, leading allocation decisions when supply is constrained, and communicating cross-functionally so commercial teams are never surprised. Lead procurement to improve inbound inventory management, supplier reliability, and cost of goods. Financial Performance Develop and manage the operations budget. Drive cost savings through smarter processes—not lower quality. Improve manufacturing efficiency while protecting product excellence. Monitor labor, yields, waste, and manufacturing KPIs. Systems, Process & Analytics Implement and continuously optimize operational systems — ERP, WMS, production scheduling, and PO / order management — that keep pace with the company's growth. Design and maintain dashboards and KPIs that give leadership real-time visibility into supply chain health, service levels, and margin performance. Drive process improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent methodologies. Build repeatable, scalable processes that can absorb significant volume growth without proportional headcount growth. Leadership Build, coach, and develop high-performing leaders. Create clear accountability throughout the organization. Foster a positive, respectful, and performance-driven culture. Lead through collaboration, humility, and servant leadership. Develop future leaders within the organization. Qualifications 10+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience. 5+ years leading multi-department operations within a food manufacturing environment. Experience scaling rapidly growing consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies. Strong background in frozen food, dairy, bakery, or premium food manufacturing preferred. Working knowledge of demand planning and S&OP in a perishable, seasonal category. Experience with Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or Continuous Improvement methodologies. Proven success leading large manufacturing teams. Strong financial and operational acumen. Excellent communication and leadership skills. Bachelor's degree required; Engineering, Operations, Food Science, or related field preferred. What Success Looks Like The successful VP of Operations will: Build scalable operational systems for the company's next phase of growth. Increase manufacturing efficiency while improving quality. Deliver reliable, cost-effective cold chain distribution with best-in-class fill rates and OTIF performance. Reduce waste and manufacturing costs through process improvements. Develop strong operational leaders across the organization. Successfully execute capital expansion and automation projects. Maintain world-class food safety and quality standards. Create an operation that employees are proud to be part of. Our Core Values Product Excellence – We never compromise on quality. Quality Assurance – Food safety and quality always come first. Continuous Improvement – Every day is an opportunity to get better. Transforming Objectives Into Accomplishments – We execute. Team & Family Focused – We succeed together. Why Join Nightingale? This is an opportunity to help shape one of the fastest-growing premium frozen dessert brands in America. You'll work alongside an entrepreneurial leadership team that values innovation, craftsmanship, accountability, and people. #J-18808-Ljbffr