Director of Operations

Wild Fox Foods is a pioneering company in the food and snack industry, known for its commitment to producing cleverly clean, craveable snacks without compromising on quality. Founded with a vision to revolutionize snacking, Wild Fox Foods prioritizes high-protein, flavor-forward products that contain no artificial ingredients, seed oils, or refined sugars. This founder-led, fast-growing brand is backed by a seasoned consumer packaged goods (CPG) team that values innovation, integrity, and excellence in everything they do. Located in Modesto, California, Wild Fox Foods operates in a dynamic environment that encourages creativity, boldness, and relentless energy to fuel a mission-driven approach to healthy snacking.

The role of Director of Operations at Wild Fox Foods is a significant leadership position that demands a hands-on, proactive operator dedicated to ensuring the seamless functioning of the company's production and supply chain operations. This full-time, in-office role offers a competitive salary range of $150,000 to $200,000 annually, commensurate with experience, alongside opportunities for equity participation and career growth within an entrepreneurial team.

As the Director of Operations, you will be the linchpin in the organization’s operational excellence, overseeing a broad spectrum of functions including procurement, logistics, customer service, inventory management, quality assurance, and research and development (R&D) support. Working closely with company leadership and key partners, you will be responsible for ensuring that the company delivers products on time, to specification, and aligned with the brand's high standards. This is a fast-paced role where adaptability, strategic problem-solving, and a roll-up-your-sleeves mindset are essential.

Your day-to-day responsibilities will encompass sourcing high-quality ingredients and packaging materials, negotiating with suppliers, managing vendor relationships, and overseeing raw material purchasing to maintain production schedules. Furthermore, you will supervise the daily operations of the production plant, coordinate with manufacturing teams to optimize efficiency, enforce food safety and quality standards, and implement improvements to standard operating procedures (SOPs). You will also manage partnerships with co-packers and external manufacturers to ensure smooth production flows and troubleshoot any operational challenges.

Inventory and demand planning are critical elements of the role, requiring precise management of raw materials, packaging, and finished goods while utilizing internal tools to forecast and maintain inventory accuracy. The logistics aspect involves coordinating inbound and outbound shipments, managing freight logistics, and collaborating with third-party logistics (3PL) providers to guarantee timely order fulfillment.

Quality assurance and compliance are paramount at Wild Fox Foods. You will oversee supplier approval processes, maintain documentation such as Certificates of Analysis, ensure compliance with certifications like Paleo, Keto, Gluten-Free, and Non-GMO, and uphold rigorous food safety and regulatory standards across all operational facets. Supporting the R&D team by archiving product formulas, managing project timelines, and facilitating the scale-up of new products from development to full production is also an integral part of your duties.

To thrive in this role, candidates should bring 6 to 10+ years of experience in food manufacturing, CPG operations, supply chain management, or plant operations, with a proven track record in managing food production environments. Strong knowledge of food safety protocols, quality systems, and operational processes, combined with exceptional organizational and project management skills, will set you apart. A proactive and collaborative approach, coupled with experience engaging with co-manufacturers, suppliers, and logistics partners, is essential for success.

At Wild Fox Foods, you’ll join a humble yet ambitious team fueling life’s adventures with bold, clean snacks. The company’s core values emphasize being uncompromising in quality, clever in problem-solving, wild in adventurous spirit, and relentless in energy and dedication. This role offers an exciting opportunity to be part of a category-defining brand poised for significant growth, within a creative, mission-driven workplace where your contributions will directly impact the company’s success and innovation.