Contract Packer Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

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.

Why Join Cornbread Hemp? Cornbread Hemp is positioned to win the THC beverage category with a Kentucky-grown, family-owned brand people trust and a distribution engine expanding every month. What we need is the operational excellence to support that momentum with a reliable, scalable, and cost effective supply chain.

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.

Cornbread Hemp is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees.