THE ROLE:The Director of Operations will lead Cornbread Hemp's supply chain, inventory management, fulfillment, and logistics operations. This role is pivotal to both the strategic direction and day-to-day execution of the Fulfillment, Supply Chain, and Warehouse functions, with a focus on driving operational efficiency, cost savings, and scalable processes. The Director will own procurement, inventory, warehousing, and fulfillment; manage co-packer and 3PL partner relationships; lead the build-out of new workflows in our recently implemented Acumatica ERP system; and build out our distribution infrastructure to support the company's growth.
TEAM YOU'LL LEAD:This role currently oversees the following functions and direct reports, with the org structure expected to evolve as the team scales:
- Internal Supply Chain Manager - sources all gummy ingredients, packaging, and processing materials for internal production at our manufacturing plant
- External Supply Chain Manager - sources all beverage ingredients and packaging, manages beverage co-packers and cartoning plus other external co-manufacturers
- Inventory Manager - manages inventory accuracy for finished goods and raw materials, aging, and cross-functional inventory needs
- Warehouse Manager - order fulfillment execution including systems, staffing, fulfillment materials, and processes
- Systems Administrator - software access, integrations and troubleshooting across Shopify, Acumatica, etc.
WHAT YOU'LL DO:Leadership & Management- Provide clear direction, structure, and accountability for the Fulfillment, Supply Chain, and Warehouse teams.
- Implement effective systems for team management, process improvement, and performance tracking.
- Research and propose tools, vendors, or technologies that improve capabilities and performance.
- Collaborate cross-functionally across all departments to align operational execution with business goals.
- Mentor operations team members, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
- Ensure safety and compliance protocols are followed across all facilities, warehousing, and shipping practices.
Supply Chain, Inventory & Demand Planning- Oversee end-to-end inventory management, ensuring accuracy and efficiency across all warehouse locations and SKUs, including proactive monitoring of low-supply products.
- Lead demand planning efforts, using our financial projections to forecast inventory and production needs to meet customer demand while minimizing stockouts and excess inventory.
- Coordinate and optimize ordering of supplies, raw materials, and production schedules to maintain ideal stock levels.
- Drive improvements to the product launch process (pre-sell timing and production lead time) to avoid inventory crunches.
ERP & Systems- Serve as the operational lead on Acumatica (ERP/WMS), managing purchasing, digital item card creation (SKU/UPC), inventory, order processing, fulfillment workflows, and reporting.
- Drive the continued build-out of new workflows, automations, and process improvements within Acumatica following its recent go-live.
- Drive automation and integration between systems to streamline operations and reporting.
Cost Management & Reporting- Monitor and manage Cost of Goods Sold (COGS), shipping expenses, and fulfillment labor cost per order with a focus on margin optimization.
- Own end-of-month (EOM) COGS and inventory reporting, partnering with Accounting to ensure an accurate close to the finished goods and raw materials inventory accounts.
- Identify opportunities to reduce costs across procurement, production, and logistics without sacrificing quality or service.
Logistics, Warehousing & E-commerce Fulfillment- Oversee warehouse operations, space utilization, location mapping, and fulfillment workflows to ensure timely, accurate order processing of more than 10,000 e-commerce orders per week, 15,000+ during peak season.
- Manage relationships with 3PL partners and evaluate new freight carriers and shipping partners to ensure timely, accurate, and cost-effective fulfillment.
- Guide proactive fulfillment staffing decisions with the Warehouse Manager based on company projections, including hiring, temporary 3PL resources, performance management, and backfilling.
Beverage Supply Chain & Distribution Fulfillment- Own the beverage supply chain, managing co-packer relationships across beverage production and cartoning.
- Scale distributor fulfillment operations for the beverage line as the channel grows.
- Lead the build-out of distribution infrastructure to support the company's ramp in this channel.
Partner & Vendor Management- Lead the supply chain team to negotiate pricing, contracts and performance SLAs with external vendors, co-packers, and 3PL providers.
- Build and manage incentive/bonus structures for the supply chain team tied to COGS and freight performance metrics.
WHAT YOU'LL NEED:- 5+ years of experience in operations leadership, ideally within CPG, consumer products, or another fast-paced, high-growth environment.
- Hands-on experience owning an ERP/WMS platform (Acumatica, NetSuite, or similar) through implementation and day-to-day operation.
- Proven track record managing co-packer, 3PL, and vendor relationships, including contract negotiation and SLA management.
- Strong command of COGS, inventory accounting, and margin optimization; comfortable partnering closely with Finance.
- Experience managing and developing multiple direct reports and functional managers across fulfillment, inventory, and supply chain teams.
- A hands-on, in-the-warehouse leadership style paired with the ability to think strategically about scaling systems and processes.
- Comfortable building structure and SOPs in a fast-moving environment with frequent day-to-day problem solving (order issues, shipping, inventory firefighting).
- Strong cross-functional communicator, able to proactively flag operational impacts of decisions made in Marketing, Sales, or Product.
- Beverage, DTC e-commerce, or regulated product (hemp/CBD, food & bev) experience a plus.
- Bachelor's degree in supply chain, business, or a related field preferred, or equivalent professional experience.
- Willingness and ability to work on-site at the Louisville, KY facility.
Compensation: This is a high-impact operations role with compensation structured to reward growth and efficiencies while maintaining high operational standards.
Base Salary: $120K - $150K, plus quarterly incentives. Actual salary based on experience.
Benefits: Full benefits package including 401k, health, dental, and vision insurance. We cover 50% of monthly health insurance costs for the base tier, and 100% of monthly costs for vision and dental.
PTO: 18 days of annual leave
Product: $75 monthly product stipend plus 50% off all other orders.
What We Offer:- The opportunity to step into a well rounded operations team for a high-growth, nationally recognized brand in one of beverage's hottest categories.
- A direct line to senior leadership with significant strategic autonomy to own and grow your department.
- A collaborative, supportive work environment rooted in Kentucky heritage and organic integrity.
- Professional development and career advancement as our organization scales.
