Gummi World

End-to-end nutraceutical contract manufacturer for gummies

Operations Director - Nutraceuticals/Dietary Supplements

Manufacturing & Production OperationsConfirmed live in the last 24 hours

Full-timeChandler, AZ, USANo salary listed

About the Job

Requirements

A minimum of 3–5 years of experience in a senior leadership role, preferably in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and/or medical device industry.
Demonstrated executive presence and strategic thinking, with the ability to partner with the CEO and senior leadership team.
Working knowledge of current Good Manufacturing Practices and Food and Drug Administration regulations.
Strong leadership and teamwork skills, with the ability to align teams and stakeholders across organizational levels.
High emotional intelligence, including the ability to read people and situations, build trust, and coach team members through performance and behavioral challenges.
A hands-on approach and comfort spending regular time on the production floor while operating credibly at the executive level.
A track record of profit-and-loss ownership or direct accountability for cost, productivity, and profitability targets.
Strong record-keeping skills and ability to calculate figures and amounts.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret inventory-related documents, and write reports and procedural manuals.
Ability to solve problems in situations involving limited standardization and concrete variables.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from the CEO, senior leadership, and other executive stakeholders.
Ability to work in a dynamic, multifunctional, multicultural environment.
Willingness and ability to travel periodically to the company's Gardena, California facility.
A minimum of a Bachelor's degree or higher is required.
Ability to use modern manufacturing systems and digital tools, including enterprise resource planning and manufacturing execution system platforms, production dashboards, and digital quality and compliance documentation.
Ability to meet the role's physical demands, including extended sitting and walking, bending, reaching, carrying, occasional lifting or moving of objects up to 50 pounds, and other stated physical activities; reasonable accommodations may be made.
Ability to perform essential functions in the stated plant environment, including using required personal protective equipment; reasonable accommodations may be made.

Responsibilities

Serve as a member of the senior leadership team, partnering with the CEO on operational strategy, business planning, and long-term growth initiatives.
Own operational performance and cost outcomes as a direct driver of company profitability, translating strategic goals into measurable operational targets.
Set the vision and direction for a 60-plus-person, high-volume manufacturing facility undergoing significant growth, driving the culture, systems, and leadership bench strength needed to scale.
Represent Operations in executive discussions on capital investment, headcount planning, and facility expansion, including alignment with the Gardena, California site.
Build and develop a leadership pipeline within the production organization, ensuring succession readiness and long-term organizational capability.
Achieve 100% on-time delivery and consistently meet or exceed internal and external quality expectations.
Achieve zero parts per million defects and consistently meet or exceed financial targets.
Fully implement Production Systems methods and targets, with a continuous improvement and lean mindset.
Improve safety performance and maintain compliance with the facility's Food Safety and Quality Management System policies, procedures, and work instructions.
Support daily management and prioritization of team members to meet performance, production efficiency, cost, waste, safety, quality, and sanitation standards.
Set clear direction and energize the production team to support management goals and objectives, communicating across organizational levels.
Review schedules and direct inventory, purchasing, receiving, weighing, production, packaging, and shipping to meet goals.
Set and maintain routine meetings with staff and team members to establish expectations and targets.
Provide the team with information and resources needed to make decisions and solve problems.
Foster a team environment by communicating each employee's impact on individual and team performance.
Train and develop employees so they can coordinate their line or area in the facilitator's absence, clearly explaining expectations and confirming understanding.
Monitor employee progress and provide regular, constructive feedback.
Support the supply chain by identifying shortages and assisting with purchasing.
Coach team members with empathy and high emotional intelligence to help them reach required performance levels, and maintain documentation for evaluations, warnings, and related records.
Oversee the coordination of production activities across assigned areas.
Foster teamwork by communicating with other departments and shifts on staffing levels, housekeeping, safety, and production.
Report safety issues to Production Managers and escalate plant security breaches, product tampering attempts, contamination concerns, or other suspicious activity to management.
Maintain oversight of facility sanitation, maintenance, equipment, repairs, contractors, and third-party technicians.
Travel periodically to the Gardena, California facility to support consistency in standards, culture, and operational practices across sites.
Perform other duties as assigned or needed.

Desired Qualifications

Experience in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and/or medical device industry is preferred.
An MBA or advanced degree is a plus.
A technical degree is preferred.
A resume reflecting year-over-year accomplishments in productivity, cost targets, profit achievement, and key performance indicators, along with a continuous improvement and lean mindset.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Director of Operations is a senior leadership role reporting directly to the CEO, responsible for setting operational strategy and driving execution across Gummi World's Chandler, AZ facility, with periodic travel to the Gardena, CA facility to ensure alignment across sites. This is a hands-on, onsite executive role for a leader who is equally credible on the production floor and in the boardroom — someone who translates company strategy into operational reality, owns the P&L impact of production performance, and builds the systems, culture, and talent needed to scale a high-volume, full-spectrum nutraceutical manufacturing operation. The role carries full operational accountability, from receiving of raw materials through shipping of finished goods, and is a key architect of organizational culture and capability during a period of significant company growth. As a member of the senior leadership team, the Director of Operations partners directly with the CEO and other executive stakeholders on strategic planning, resource allocation, and long-term operational vision. The ideal candidate brings executive presence, is an excellent communicator, and leads with high emotional intelligence — building trust across the organization, reading people and situations with nuance, and driving change with clarity and conviction.

STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP

Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team, partnering directly with the CEO on operational strategy, business planning, and long-term growth initiatives.
Own operational performance and cost outcomes as a direct driver of company profitability, translating strategic goals into measurable operational targets.
Set the vision and direction for a 60+ person, high-volume manufacturing facility undergoing significant growth, driving the culture, systems, and leadership bench strength needed to scale.
Represent Operations in executive-level discussions on capital investment, headcount planning, and facility expansion, including alignment with the Gardena, CA site.
Build and develop a leadership pipeline within the production organization, ensuring succession readiness and long-term organizational capability.

OPERATIONAL RESPONSIBILITIES

Achieve 100% on-time delivery and consistently meet or exceed internal and external quality expectations.
Achieve zero PPMs and consistently meet or exceed financial targets.
Fully implement Production Systems methods and targets, with a continuous improvement and lean mindset.
Consistently improve safety performance and maintain strict compliance with the facility's Food Safety and Quality Management System policies, procedures, and work instructions.
Support daily management and prioritization of team members to meet performance, production efficiency, cost, waste, safety, quality, and sanitation standards.
Set clear direction and energize the production team to support management goals and objectives, communicating with clarity and consistency across all levels of the organization.
Serve as the centerpiece of operations by reviewing schedules and directing inventory, purchasing, receiving, weighing, production, packaging, and shipping to meet goals.
Set and maintain routine meetings with staff and team members to establish expectations and targets.
Provide the team with the information and resources needed to make decisions and solve problems.
Foster a team environment by clearly communicating each employee's impact on individual and team performance.
Train and develop employees so they can coordinate their line or area in the Facilitator's absence, clearly explaining expectations and confirming understanding.
Monitor employee progress and provide regular, constructive feedback.
Support the supply chain by identifying shortages and assisting with purchasing.
Coach team members with empathy and high emotional intelligence to help them reach required performance levels; maintain documentation for evaluations, warnings, and related records.
Oversee the overall coordination of production activities across assigned areas.
Foster teamwork by communicating with other departments and shifts on staffing levels, housekeeping, safety, and production.
Report safety issues to Production Managers and escalate any plant security breaches, product tampering attempts, contamination concerns, or other suspicious activity to management.
Maintain oversight of facility sanitation, maintenance, equipment, repairs, contractors, and third-party technicians.
Travel periodically to Gummi World's Gardena, CA facility to support consistency in standards, culture, and operational practices across sites.
Perform other duties as assigned or needed.

QUALIFICATIONS

Minimum of 3–5 years of experience in a senior leadership role, preferably in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and/or medical device industry.
Demonstrated executive presence and strategic thinking, with the ability to operate as a trusted partner to the CEO and senior leadership team.
Working knowledge of cGMPs and FDA regulations.
Strong leadership and teamwork skills, with an excellent communicator's ability to align teams and stakeholders across every level of the organization.
High emotional intelligence — able to read people and situations, build trust, and coach team members through performance and behavioral challenges.
Hands-on approach, comfortable spending regular time on the production floor alongside the team while operating credibly at the executive level.
Track record of P&L ownership or direct accountability for cost, productivity, and profitability targets.
Strong record-keeping skills and ability to calculate figures and amounts.
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret inventory-related documents, and write reports and procedural manuals.
Ability to solve problems in situations involving limited standardization and concrete variables.
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from the CEO, senior leadership, and other executive stakeholders.
Ability to work in a dynamic, multi-functional, multi-cultural environment.
Willingness and ability to travel periodically to Gummi World's Gardena, CA facility.
Resume should reflect year-over-year accomplishments in productivity, cost targets, profit achievement, and KPIs, along with a continuous improvement and lean mindset.
Minimum Bachelor's degree or higher required; MBA or advanced degree a plus. Technical degree preferred.
Proficient with modern manufacturing systems and digital tools — ERP/MES platforms, production dashboards, and digital quality/compliance documentation — to drive data-informed decision-making.

TYPICAL PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Physical demands require sitting and walking for extended periods of time, bending, reaching, carrying, and occasionally lifting and/or moving objects up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, peripheral vision, and the ability to adjust focus. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear.

TYPICAL ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Occasionally exposed to work near moving mechanical parts; fumes or airborne particles; and risk of electrical shock.
Noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
Required to utilize personal protective equipment while in the plant.

About the Company

Gummi World

End-to-end nutraceutical contract manufacturer for gummies

Gummi World provides end-to-end contract manufacturing for nutraceuticals, specializing in gummies and capsules. It offers custom formulation, private labeling, manufacturing, packaging, and regulatory compliance under one roof through a vertically integrated Chandler, Arizona facility. The company differentiates itself with a broad set of certifications (NSF cGMP, NSF Certified for Sport, USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified) and a focus on fast, high-volume production within the Intiva Health ecosystem. Its goal is to be a strategic partner for brands looking to launch new products or expand existing lines quickly with compliant, high-quality manufacturing.

Company size: 11-50
Company stage: Not listed
Total funding: Not listed
Headquarters: Chandler, AZ
Founded: 2019

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