Vice President of Operations - GourmetLand LLC

GourmetLand LLC is seeking a Vice President of Operations. The Vice President is a strategic and hands-on leader responsible for overseeing operational excellence across vendor management, contract manufacturing, product engineering, inventory management, warehousing, and supply chain execution. This role will partner closely with R&D, Engineering, Quality, Procurement, and Commercial teams to ensure products are developed, manufactured, and delivered efficiently while maintaining high standards of quality, cost control, and customer satisfaction.

The ideal candidate brings extensive engineering and R&D experience, strong contract manufacturer and co-packer management expertise, and a proven ability to drive operational improvements. This executive must be highly organized, analytical, and willing to roll up their sleeves to conduct research, solve problems, and implement solutions. We are a startup company, and the Vice President of Operations will need to be very hands on to build the business and the team. We offer a competitive salary plus the opportunity to earn an annual company/individual performance bonus up to 30% of the salary.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead and optimize end-to-end operations, including manufacturing, supply chain, warehousing, inventory management, logistics, and vendor relationships.
• Develop and execute operational strategies that support company growth, profitability, and scalability.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational metrics to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Identify operational risks and implement mitigation strategies.

Vendor & Contract Manufacturer Management

• Manage relationships with contract manufacturers, co-packers, suppliers, and strategic vendors.
• Negotiate contracts, pricing, service levels, and performance expectations.
• Evaluate and onboard new manufacturing partners and vendors as needed.
• Monitor vendor performance, quality standards, production capacity, and delivery requirements.

Product Engineering & R&D Collaboration

• Partner closely with Product Development and Engineering teams to support new product introduction and commercialization efforts.
• Provide operational and manufacturing input throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Drive cross-functional collaboration between Engineering, R&D, Quality, Procurement, and Operations.
• Support research initiatives, technical evaluations, and manufacturing feasibility assessments.

Inventory & Warehouse Management

• Oversee inventory planning, forecasting, control, and optimization.
• Ensure efficient warehouse operations, material flow, storage practices, and fulfillment processes.
• Implement systems and processes that improve inventory accuracy and reduce carrying costs.
• Develop strategies to minimize stockouts while optimizing working capital.

Continuous Improvement

• Lead operational efficiency initiatives focused on productivity, cost reduction, quality improvement, and process standardization.
• Utilize data analysis and operational research to identify opportunities for improvement.
• Implement best practices in manufacturing, supply chain management, and operational execution.
• Champion a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Team Leadership

• Build, mentor, and lead high-performing operational teams.
• Provide coaching, performance management, and professional development for direct reports.
• Foster collaboration and alignment across departments and external partners.
• Ensure organizational capabilities support current and future business needs.

GourmetLand is a startup company in the Food and Beverage space. We are in the development stages of some exciting products. We are a well-funded company with a great vision for growth and success. Our owner has previously found incredible success and the Founder of BuzzBallz. Come join us is you're ready for hard work, collaboration, and a fun family atmosphere.