Assistant General Manager of Production Operations

We grow the world’s BEST Strawberries & our Farm Operations team is a major reason why!

We are seeking an Assistant General Manager of Farm Operations Production who will work alongside and support the General Manager in managing daily operations of our high-tech indoor vertical farm. This role is responsible for the end-to-end operation (farm, pack, facilities, safety, security, and maintenance plus office area operations), including team development, health & safety, food safety & quality, cost, P&L, plant health, people development and service.

What you’ll be responsible for:

• Partner with the General Manager to lead, manage, build, and execute to ensure successful day-to-day operations and efficient scaling of operations with P&L ownership of the facility which includes functions such as farm, pack, facilities, safety, security, and maintenance.
• Ensure all required KPI’s are met regarding facility goals on safety, production, quality, and costs.
• Serve as the senior leader on-site during night/weekend shifts, providing strategic oversight and decision-making authority even in the absence of HR and support staff.
• Exercise sound judgment and autonomy to make decisions that align with organizational goals, resolve issues promptly, and escalate critical situations immediately to ensure operational continuity.
• Drive measurable outcomes by setting clear goals, monitoring progress, and delivering results that align with company objectives.
• Participate in day meetings to ensure alignment with organizational goals, and effectively communicate these objectives to the night team to drive results.
• Act as a conduit between executive/support teams on days and night operations, translating strategic goals into actionable plans and ensuring seamless execution.
• Leverage data and maintain systems to collect metrics, and set performance targets.
• Collect & analyze data in order to proactively identify production issues or develop plans to resolve existing issues.
• Work with the farm manager to plan shift schedules for all production staff and workforce planning to ensure high efficiency & quality.
• Maintain production areas to ensure compliance with company quality, sanitation and food safety standards.
• Implement and drive farm SOPs while Identifying and implementing methods and practices to achieve operational improvements in efficiency, quality, delivery, and operating profits.  
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement by regularly evaluating processes, identifying inefficiencies, and implementing innovative solutions to enhance operations.
• Regularly audit the work of your organization to ensure the highest standards of quality, safety, and efficiency, delivering best-in-class products for our customers.
• Foster an inclusive work culture by promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, ensuring all team members feel valued and respected.
• Plan and execute employee events, competitions, and celebrations to foster team engagement and a positive workplace culture.
• Bring diverse approaches to problems, come up with creative solutions, follow through to implement change and create the frameworks to set new processes up for scale.
• Coach, develop, and train management and hourly teams, creating an environment that aligns with Oishii values, supports career development and adheres to company policies. 
• Builds, manages, and leverages internal relationships to ensure collaboration, alignment, issue resolution, and overall improvements to maximize efficiencies and deliver results.
• Expected to understand, implement, and enforce food safety policies, including worker hygiene, sanitation, and maintaining proper documentation.
• Collaborate cross functionally with R&D, Engineering, Logistics, and other functions as needed.  

Who will love this job: Individuals who identify with our Core Values and exhibit skills within those values will thrive at Oishii. 

• One Team, One Fight!

  • Ability to quickly shift priorities to meet deadlines and effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing, clearly, concisely and with purpose. 
  • Outgoing and collaborative work style- Ability to work cross functionally at all levels and collaborate at various levels of the organization.

• Focus

  • Ability to remove obstacles in order to prioritize which could include problem solving, working through ambiguity and using fact based or sound judgment.
  • Ability to work independently, with a high attention to detail, and ability to create structure & process where none may exist. 

• GSD (Get Sh** Done!)

  • Capable of prioritizing tasks and always considering the resources available when doing so.
  • A bias for action! Ability to hold yourself accountable and take ownership of driving results that impact company outcomes.

What we’re looking for in an AGM of Operations:

• Bachelor's degree in supply chain management or a related field. 
• This is an onsite role in Philipsburg, NJ with the ability to work nights and weekends as needed. Typical Shift will be Mon-Fri 3pm-12 am 
• Warehouse logistics and/or production/manufacturing senior manager with 5+ years of experience running a food operations, CPG operations or consumer goods operation with a focus on automation. 
• Demonstrated ability as part of a leadership team in  a complex operation; such as a large scale people operations, an environment with automation, or varying functions or varying products. 
• Proven experience running large-scale night operations, including managing teams, ensuring compliance, and driving results in a 24/7 environment.
• Tech-forward and data-centric (well versed in warehouse management systems) with proven analytical thinking, project management skills, exceptional organizational abilities, as well as great attention to detail.
• Working experience with food regulators and compliance agencies such as FDA and OSHA. 
• Having an entrepreneurial mindset and a strong bias for action, with the tenacity to develop ideas, test and implement them rapidly. 

Perks at Oishii:

• Base Salary $100K and Equity 
• Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance
• 100% Employer Paid Life Insurance + Long Term Disability Insurance
• EAP Access
• Pet Insurance
• 401(k) Retirement Plan (Roth & Traditional)
• Paid Parental leave
• Office social events including happy hours, parties, and community service projects
• Employee activity groups for basketball players, Yoga Enthusiasts, runners…

Physical Requirements & Working Conditions:

• MUST NOT be allergic to bees
• Our facilities are 24/7/365 with live product requiring continuous monitoring; there may not be working members in the building at all times but the facilities/product require ongoing monitoring. 
• Ability to lift up to 49 pounds, stand for long shifts, and work in physically demanding conditions.
• Flexibility to work nights, weekends, and extended hours as needed.

About Oishii: 

At Oishii, we grow the best fruit in the world by deploying ground-breaking vertical farming technology that pushes the boundaries of agriculture. We’re the first in the WORLD to grow fruit in an indoor vertical farm at commercial scale. We started with strawberries, which we debuted at Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare, the three star Michelin restaurant considered by critics to be among the best in the world. Since then, we have supplied our strawberries to food-loving consumers, world-class restaurants, and specialty retailers across NYC. Our proprietary technology enables us to grow the very best produce year-round, at the same high level of quality, all without using any pesticides. 

Oishii has been profiled in Eater, NPR, Time Magazine, and Fortune. Oishi was also one of the Fast Companies Most Innovative Companies of 2022. 

At Oishii, everything we do works toward accomplishing our mission of transforming agriculture sustainably while bringing produce that truly delights people everywhere. This requires farmers, engineers, scientists, product managers, and members of many other backgrounds to work together day-in and day-out to innovate, while operating increasingly large farms. We have an amazing mission-driven team of highly motivated and engaged members. 

Learn More https://oishii.com/