Distribution Operations Manager Jobs in Aiken, SC

The Director of Bakery Operations is responsible for leading and scaling Edgar’s Bakehouse through a centralized Hub & Spoke production model. This role owns the end-to-end production ecosystem, ensuring the central hub operates as a high-efficiency production engine while spokes (retail, café, wholesale, event, and e-commerce channels) are consistently supplied with high-quality product. Serving as both a strategic and operational leader, this position carries full accountability for production performance, financial outcomes, retail location performance, quality assurance, e-commerce execution, and workforce development. The Director will balance business discipline with mission alignment, supporting workforce training initiatives while driving operational excellence, scalability, and sustainable growth across all revenue channels.

OPERATING MODEL OVERVIEW

The Director leads a Hub & Spoke model consisting of:

• Hub (Central Production Facility): High-volume batching, baking, packaging, and distribution
• Spokes (Revenue Channels): Retail cafés, mobile units, wholesale accounts, event-based production, and community partnerships
• E-Commerce Operations: Online ordering, fulfillment coordination, shipping/logistics, digital product merchandising, and customer experience management across all e-commerce channels

In addition, the Director is responsible for the operational and financial performance of all retail bakery locations operating within the Hub & Spoke model, ensuring alignment between production capacity, customer demand, profitability targets, and brand standards.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES & CORE COMPETENCIES

Operational Leadership & Production Excellence

Leads the design, execution, and continuous optimization of centralized bakery production operations, ensuring the hub functions as a high-output, efficient production engine. Oversees production scheduling, batching strategy, workflow design, and capacity planning to maximize throughput while eliminating bottlenecks. Demonstrates strong operational leadership by aligning labor, equipment, and systems to support multi-channel demand, while maintaining flexibility to respond to fluctuations in volume and seasonal spikes.

Demand Alignment, Forecasting & Spoke Enablement

Translates business demand into actionable production plans by leveraging data, historical trends, and event forecasting. Ensures seamless alignment between hub production and spoke requirements across retail, wholesale, and events, maintaining high service levels and eliminating stockouts or overproduction. Builds reliable forecasting models and inventory strategies that support freshness standards while optimizing volume and distribution efficiency.

Financial Management & Business Acumen

Maintains full ownership of Bakehouse financial performance, including P&L accountability, cost management, and margin optimization. Applies strong financial acumen to manage COGS, labor productivity, and waste reduction while developing pricing strategies and evaluating profitability across product lines and channels. Conducts break-even analyses and builds pro formas to support expansion decisions, capital investments, and seasonal scaling strategies.

Quality Assurance, Brand Integrity & Compliance

Ensures consistent execution of product quality, presentation, and brand standards across all production outputs. Establishes and enforces rigorous food safety, sanitation, and quality control protocols, maintaining compliance with all regulatory requirements. Leads daily operational checks and embeds a culture of accountability for product excellence, protecting and elevating the Edgar’s Bakehouse brand.

Systems, SOP Development & Scalable Infrastructure

Designs and implements standardized operating procedures across production, packaging, and distribution to ensure consistency, efficiency, and scalability. Builds systems that reduce reliance on individual knowledge, enabling replication across future locations and growth channels. Leverages data, technology, and process discipline to drive operational consistency and continuous improvement.

Inventory, Yield Optimization & Waste Control

Establishes disciplined inventory management practices, including par levels, yield tracking, and shelf-life optimization. Drives continuous improvement in waste reduction and production efficiency while balancing freshness, volume output, and cost control. Ensures inventory strategies align with both operational needs and financial performance targets.

Leadership, Workforce Development & Culture

Leads, develops, and coaches a diverse production team, fostering a culture of accountability, cross-training, and continuous improvement. Builds bench strength through structured training and workforce development initiatives aligned with Goodwill’s mission. Maintains a visible, hands-on leadership presence while developing supervisors and team members to operate effectively within a high-performance production environment.

Execution Discipline & Daily Operations Management

Implements structured daily management routines, including production huddles, performance tracking, and workflow monitoring. Maintains tight control over production timelines, order fulfillment, and distribution coordination, ensuring alignment between demand, production, and delivery. Drives operational discipline through clear expectations, real-time problem-solving, and consistent follow-through.

SUCCESS METRICS (KPIs)

• Financial Performance

Achieves targeted financial outcomes by maintaining strong control over cost structures, labor efficiency, and margin performance. Success is measured through improved COGS management, increased revenue per labor hour, achievement of established E/R ratios, and execution of profitable pricing and product strategies that support sustainable growth.

• Operational Effectiveness

Delivers consistent, high-performing operations demonstrated by on-time production fulfillment of 98% or greater, improved inventory turns, reduced waste percentages, and optimized production throughput. Maintains alignment between demand and output, ensuring operational reliability across all spokes without service disruption.

• Growth & Scalability

Successfully supports organizational growth by launching and sustaining new revenue channels (“spokes”) while maintaining product quality and cost discipline. Demonstrates the ability to scale production capacity without degradation in efficiency, consistency, or financial performance.

• Quality & Brand Standards

Maintains high product quality and brand consistency across all outputs, measured through internal quality audits, customer satisfaction, and adherence to food safety and compliance standards. Ensures all products meet established presentation, taste, and shelf-life expectations.

• People & Culture

Builds a high-performing, engaged workforce demonstrated through cross-training coverage, reduced turnover, and strong team performance. Establishes clear accountability and performance management practices while supporting workforce development and mission-driven outcomes.

REPORTS TO

Executive Vice President, Innovation & Operations

A bachelor’s degree in Culinary Arts, Food Science, Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field is preferred. Equivalent combination of education, industry certifications, and progressive leadership experience in high-volume bakery, food production, or manufacturing environments will be considered in lieu of a degree.

Professional credentials (e.g., Certified Executive Pastry Chef or similar), food safety certifications (ServSafe or equivalent), and formal training in production systems, lean operations, or supply chain management are strongly preferred. Experience in workforce development, training environments, or educational partnerships is a plus, particularly within mission-driven or community-based organizations.

• Proven experience leading high-volume food production, bakery, or manufacturing operations
• Experience operating within or building centralized (hub-based) production models
• Strong financial acumen with demonstrated P&L ownership and cost management expertise
• Advanced knowledge of production scheduling, forecasting, and inventory systems
• Demonstrated success building SOP-driven, scalable operations
• Strong leadership, coaching, and workforce development capabilities
• Ability to operate both strategically and hands-on in a fast-paced environment
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and data-driven decision-making