Operations Manager

Description

Salary:

$85,000 - $95,000/year

FLSA Status:

Exempt

Schedule:

Full Time, Monday – Friday. Additional hours may be required based on operational needs, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, and holiday. 

Required:

Current Oregon Food Handler's Card

Locations & Transportation:

Elephants Central Kitchen is located at 1611 SE 7th Ave and Milwaukie Kitchen is located at 2600 SE Mailwell Dr. Reliable transportation is required. Due to our location, dependable transportation to and from our kitchens is essential.

About Elephants

A locally owned company since 1979, Elephants Delicatessen pioneered the gourmet food industry in the Pacific Northwest and now operates seven Portland-metro retail locations and a thriving catering company. As a certified B Corporation, we are committed to sustainability, transparency, and using business as a force for good — while serving exceptional, scratch-made food rooted in our local community.

Elephants Delicatessen is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity and inclusion.

What We Offer

• Employer contributed vacation and sick time
• Kaiser Medical coverage, with alternative care as a bonus (acupuncture, chiropractic, massage therapy, etc.)
• Mental Health Services
• Dental, FSA (Flexible Spending Accounts), and 401(k) with 4% company match
• Training that will fast-track your culinary/hospitality career  
• Free counseling and financial services
• Opportunities for advancement
• Discounts on our delicious made-from-scratch food
• Pet insurance
• Chance to win employee raffles
• Discounts at Sketchers, Shoes for Crews, Verizon, Sprint, select B Corporations, and many more
• A commitment to inclusion, diversity, community involvement, employee well-being, and environmental protection

Elephants Delicatessen provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

Elephants Delicatessen participates in the E- Verify program to confirm the employment eligibility of all newly hired employees. 

Please see the following notices for more information:

E-Verify Participation Poster (English/Spanish) Right to Work Poster (English/Spanish)

Requirements

About the Role

The Operations Manager is a key leadership role at Elephants Delicatessen, responsible for the daily production operations across our Central Kitchen and Milwaukie Kitchen. This role ensures our kitchens run efficiently, our teams are supported and accountable, and our food meets the exceptional standards Elephants is known for. You will bridge day-to-day execution with strategic operational improvement — using data, systems, and people leadership to drive performance across both kitchen locations.

This position is a great fit for someone who thrives in a fast-paced food production environment, leads with clarity and accountability, and is passionate about building high-performing teams that take pride in the food they make.

What You’ll Do

• Leading daily kitchen operations at both Central Kitchen and Milwaukie Kitchen, including stand-up meetings, production scheduling, and real-time issue resolution.
• Executing the labor plan and adjusting staffing in real time; managing callouts and coverage in collaboration with Kitchen and Bakery Managers to consistently hit labor targets.
• Reviewing production data including UPLH, UPM, labor %, yield, and waste in collaboration with the Production team; supporting identification of inefficiencies and driving corrective action.
• Building weekly performance and cost reports with Kitchen and Bakery Managers and Supply Chain; presenting KPI results, variance explanations, and recommendations to leadership.
• Overseeing cross-functional teams including the Menu Manager, Production Team, and Office Coordinators to drive consistency, quality, and efficiency across all production processes.
• Enforcing HACCP and food safety standards daily; coordinating USDA and ODA compliance issues with the QA team; maintaining compliance readiness on the production floor.
• Leading hiring, onboarding, training, and performance accountability; cultivating a culture of inclusion and professional growth in coordination with the HR Generalist and Kitchen and Bakery Managers.
• Participating in leadership development, menu planning meetings, and strategic initiatives that support the long-term growth of Elephants’ production operations. Note: This position requires use of your own vehicle to travel between company sites.

What We’re Looking For

• Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Engineering, Food Science, Food Technology, or Business Administration; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in food production, manufacturing, or foodservice operations, with at least 3 years in a supervisory or management role.
• Experience managing production or culinary teams of 20+ individuals.
• Strong knowledge of food safety regulations including HACCP, FDA, and USDA standards.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and data management tools including SharePoint and tablet-based tracking systems.
• Ability to interpret production and cost data and translate findings into actionable recommendations for leadership.
• Valid Oregon Food Handler’s Card required. 
• Fluent in English (verbal and written); intermediate Spanish proficiency a plus for effective communication with production team members.
• Familiarity with lean manufacturing principles, KPI dashboards, or labor management software is a bonus.

If you love building strong teams, holding high standards, and creating memorable guest experiences, we’d love to meet you!