Director of Operations at Harbor Foodservice – Kent, Washington

Harbor FoodService
Director of Operations

US-WA-Kent

Job ID: 2026-7718
Type: Full Time
# of Openings: 1
Category: Operations/Trans/Warehouse
Kent

Overview

General Summary

The Harbor Foodservice Director of Operations includes Fleet, Facilities, Warehouse, Transportation, Food Safety/Quality and Inventory Control functions. The Director of Operations works with both our unionized environment and non-union team members and departments and the executive role responsible for the strategic direction, profitability, and daily management of operations, and with the critical addition of managing complex labor relations. This role requires maintaining high productivity and efficiency while adhering strictly to Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBAs), managing grievances, and fostering constructive relationships with union leadership as well as non-union departments across the company.

Compensation: $145K - 175K + generous executive bonus program

Benefits Summary: Benefits for Harbor Team Members include vacation, sick time, personal floating holiday, paid holidays, medical, dental, vision, and life insurance, 401(k) retirement plan with a generous employer match and some great Harbor perks.

Key Competencies

• Operations Leadership: Builds and maintains a strong, people first culture by leading with integrity, accountability, and respect. Sets the standard for leadership behavior, develops leaders at all levels, and ensures operational decisions reflect company values, team member safety, and fair labor practices with acumen and astute capabilities in people management.
• Labor Relations Management: Establish strong, productive relationships with union stewards and leadership, participating in or overseeing contract negotiations and grievance procedures.
• Contract Compliance: Ensure all operational decisions, including staffing, discipline, and changes in working conditions, comply with the negotiated Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA).
• Operational Execution: Plan, direct, and coordinate, day-to-day operations to ensure efficiency and cost-effectiveness, particularly in foodservice delivery logistics, or field services paramount to customer-first sales and revenue production.
• Performance & Productivity: et performance standards, monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), and implement continuous improvement coaching to drive profitability.
• Budgeting & Resource Management: Develop operating and capital budgets, manage staffing requirements, and oversee procurement to optimize resources.
• Safety & Compliance: evelop, enforce, and monitor workplace safety standards and procedures to ensure compliance with OSHA and company policies.
• Change Management: Navigate operational changes, such as new technology implementation or process improvements, while managing the labor impact.

Responsibilities

ESSENTIAL JOB RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Direct Operations functions to achieve budgeted results and other financial criteria and to preserve capital funds invested in facilities and equipment.
• Appraise and evaluate results of overall operations regularly and systematically and report these results to the President and company leadership.
• Prepare and recommend annual Operations budget. Monitor actual expenses and manage operations within established budget goals.
• Select, train, evaluate and develop subordinate managers to ensure achievement of individual and distribution center performance goals.
• Prepare long-range plans by reviewing current and future customer needs and matching department projects and focus on meeting those needs.
• Ensure sound working relationships within the department and with other departments through effective communication with team members and managers. Set priorities and requirements to help develop plans of action. Communicate resolutions of plans, plans of action, priorities, and deadlines. Monitor and follow up on results.
• Perform employee relations functions by meeting with Operations team members and both unions to resolve any problems as they occur and to help prevent future problems.
• Knowledge of warehouse production processes, quality control, costs, and other techniques for maximizing the effective processing and distribution of warehouse goods.
• Knowledge of customer service principles and processes for providing excellent customer service. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
• Knowledge of governing food regulations including HACCP and FSMA.
• Hold period meetings for high engagement and communication with the team.
• Plan, negotiate and ensure consistent implementation of Collective Bargaining Agreements as needed.
• Oversee procurement of equipment by meeting with suppliers and Operations managers to establish specifications, product design, price, scheduling to maximize investment in capital goods and minimize expenses.
• Oversee daily movement of products to ensure effective selection and loading of customer orders and timely delivery.
• Monitor inventory control by reviewing receiving and shipping problems to minimize the impact of product shortages and support the inventory process.
• Review organization and staffing plans to ensure that they are consistent and adequate for attainment of operations department objectives.

Qualifications

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor or Associate degree in Business Administration or Logistics or relevant field of study or experience equivalent to this education preferred.
• Ten (10) years of warehouse distribution, facilities or transportation experience with an emphasis on facilities, transportation or warehousing in a high-volume, highly competitive customer-first environment; foodservice/institutional/chain eatery/restaurant strongly preferred.
• Experience within a unionized transportation/delivery environment.
• Strong skills in Microsoft Office suite programs required.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills; ability to work well with all levels of team members essential.
• Labor relations, computer networking systems, financial management, with budgetary oversight required.
• Must have the ability to organize, prioritize, negotiate, manage and solve problems.

License and Certifications:

• Attainment of relevant certificates a plus.
• Peer networking via involvement in industry groups.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/protected veterans