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Job description
Vice President of Operations
Harvest Hope Food Bank | South Carolina
Lead the Mission. Scale the Impact. Feed South Carolina.
Every day, Harvest Hope Food Bank moves millions of pounds of food across South Carolina, connecting donors, volunteers, agencies, and communities in the fight against hunger.
We're seeking an exceptional Vice President of Operations to lead the complex network of people, processes, facilities, transportation systems, and technology that make our mission possible.
This is not a traditional operations role.
This is an opportunity to lead one of the state's most important humanitarian supply chains, ensuring that food reaches families, children, seniors, and individuals facing food insecurity across 20 counties.
If you are a strategic operations executive who thrives on building high-performing teams, optimizing complex logistics networks, driving continuous improvement, and creating measurable social impact, we want to hear from you.
About Harvest Hope Food Bank
Embark on a fulfilling journey at Harvest Hope Food Bank, where your talents play a vital role in our mission to end hunger. As the largest hunger-relief organization in South Carolina, serving 20 counties, we annually distribute 30 million pounds of food across the Midlands, Pee Dee, and Upstate regions. Our dynamic nonprofit values innovation, collaboration, and diversity, offering a uniquely rewarding experience for employees dedicated to making a meaningful difference in their communities. Join our dedicated team in building a hunger-free tomorrow through active engagement with nearly 400 partner agencies. Together, we strive to address food insecurity and positively impact lives across the state.
About the Role
As a member of Harvest Hope's Executive Leadership Team, the Vice President of Operations serves as the senior leader responsible for:
Warehouse Operations
Transportation & Logistics
Fulfillment & Distribution
Inventory Management
Facilities & Equipment
Safety & Regulatory Compliance
Supply Chain Optimization
Reporting directly to the CEO, the VPO leads multi-site operations while partnering with organizational leaders to develop strategies that maximize efficiency, stewardship, service levels, and community impact.
This executive will help shape the future of food banking in South Carolina by ensuring that every donated dollar, every donated pound of food, and every operational decision drives greater impact for the people we serve.
What You'll Do
Lead a Mission-Critical Supply Chain
Oversee daily operations across multiple branches, ensuring efficient movement of food and resources from acquisition through distribution.
Develop and execute strategies that improve:
Inventory optimization
Warehouse efficiency
Transportation effectiveness
Distribution performance
Service to agency partners
Overall supply chain resiliency
Build Exceptional Teams
Lead and develop a talented team of directors and managers across operations functions.
You will:
Coach and mentor leaders
Build accountability and ownership
Create pathways for professional growth
Foster a culture of collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement
Ensure every team member understands how their work contributes to ending hunger
Drive Strategic Growth
Partner with the CEO and Executive Team to:
Develop long-term operational strategies
Forecast human capital and capacity needs
Evaluate facility and equipment investments
Establish operational performance goals
Create scalable systems that support future growth
Champion Safety and Compliance
Serve as Harvest Hope's operational compliance leader by ensuring adherence to:
OSHA requirements
DOT regulations
USDA standards
AIB requirements
Organizational safety protocols
The successful candidate will be passionate about creating a culture where safety, accountability, and excellence are non-negotiable.
Use Data to Make Better Decisions
Leverage analytics, KPIs, forecasting, and operational metrics to:
Improve performance
Identify opportunities
Increase efficiency
Support executive decision-making
Demonstrate stewardship of donor resources
You will regularly brief the CEO and leadership team on performance trends, opportunities, and operational risks.
Who You Are
You are an experienced operations executive who combines strategic thinking with hands-on leadership.
You are equally comfortable:
Leading executive-level strategy discussions
Walking a warehouse floor
Coaching leaders through change
Solving complex operational challenges
Using data to drive decisions
Building culture and accountability
Most importantly, you believe operational excellence can create meaningful social impact.
Qualifications
Required
Bachelor's degree or equivalent combination of education and experience
10+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, distribution, logistics, manufacturing, supply chain, or related fields (15+ years preferred)
Proven success leading multi-site operations
Strong leadership and team development experience
Expertise in warehouse operations, logistics, inventory management, and process improvement
Excellent analytical, communication, and organizational skills
Experience with ERP systems
Ability to travel regularly among South Carolina locations
Preferred
Oracle NetSuite experience
Food banking or nonprofit operations experience
USDA food acquisition and compliance knowledge
AIB experience
DOT compliance experience
Continuous improvement, Lean, Six Sigma, or related operational excellence training
Why Harvest Hope?
At Harvest Hope, operations are not simply about moving products.
They're about moving hope.
Every pallet received. Every route optimized. Every inventory decision. Every warehouse improvement.
Each contributes directly to feeding neighbors in need throughout South Carolina.
This is an opportunity to use your operational expertise to create lasting impact while leading an organization committed to innovation, stewardship, and community transformation.
If you're ready to build high-performing teams, strengthen one of South Carolina's most important hunger-relief networks, and help shape the future of food banking, we invite you to apply.
Harvest Hope Food Bank is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We value diversity, inclusion, and the unique perspectives that strengthen our mission. We are committed to creating a workplace where every team member can thrive and contribute fully to serving our communities.
Join us. Lead with purpose. Help end hunger in South Carolina.
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Worksite address
columbia, SC, 29228, US
Who can apply
Review the original listing for work authorization, qualifications and employer requirements.