VP of Operations

A little bit about us…

Compost Crew is a high-growth organics recycling business based near Washington, D.C., dedicated to eliminating food waste and revitalizing soil health through convenient and affordable composting services.

Today, we serve thousands of homes, businesses, communities, and government organizations across Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, diverting tens of millions of pounds of food waste from landfills each year. Compost Crew is entering an exciting new phase of growth as we continue building a more sustainable future and scaling our impact across the region.

At Compost Crew, operational excellence and environmental impact go hand in hand. Every route completed, every customer served, and every process improved contributes directly to creating healthier communities and reducing waste.

A little bit about the role!

We're looking for a hands-on, results-driven, and entrepreneurial operations leader to build and scale the operational foundation that supports Compost Crew's next phase of growth. This is not a maintenance role. We're looking for someone who enjoys building systems, solving operational complexity, and creating repeatable playbooks that can support future growth and scalability.

This role balances strategic leadership with day-to-day operational ownership. You’ll be responsible for managing multiple locations, driving operational efficiency, maintaining a strong safety culture, and ensuring the organization can continue scaling while delivering an exceptional customer experience. Reporting directly to the CEO, this role will be responsible for:

Operations Leadership, Execution & Strategy

• Lead daily operations across collections, hauling, facilities, inventory, and fleet management
• Ensure operations consistently meet customer demand while driving efficiency, service quality, and scalability
• Partner with the CEO and CRO to develop operational strategy that supports long-term growth and future expansion
• Build scalable systems, processes, and operational playbooks that can support growth and future acquisitions
• Lead long-term operational planning, including fleet strategy, technology infrastructure, and capacity planning
• Evaluate and implement technology solutions that improve routing, fleet performance, operational visibility, and efficiency
• Conduct root-cause analysis on operational challenges and implement sustainable solutions that improve performance over time

Team Leadership & Development

• Managing 5–10 direct reports with responsibility for a growing team across multiple locations
• Providing leadership, coaching, and accountability to route supervisors, operational leaders, and support staff
• Establishing clear expectations and building a culture centered around ownership, accountability, and collaboration
• Supporting team development while maintaining strong communication across functions

Fleet, Facilities & Safety Management

• Supervising fleet operations to maintain a high-performing and safe truck fleet
• Developing and implementing best-in-class safety practices and training programs
• Maintaining safe, secure, organized, and efficient facilities and operational spaces
• Ensuring compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations and safety standards

Financial Management & Strategic Planning

• Developing and managing operating budgets, financial plans, and key performance indicators
• Ensuring financial goals and divisional profitability targets are achieved
• Supporting the CEO with strategic planning initiatives and long-term operational growth efforts
• Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency and maximize operational performance
• Own operational gross margin performance by identifying opportunities across labor efficiency, fuel utilization, fleet performance, and route optimization
• Connect operational decisions directly to financial outcomes and P&L performance

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Customer Experience

• Partnering closely with sales and marketing teams around pricing, service levels, and territory planning
• Supporting customer service teams and resolving priority customer issues when necessary
• Building alignment across departments to ensure operational decisions support company goals
• Coordinating effectively across functions to support growth and maintain a strong customer experience

We are excited about you because…

• You bring experience leading operationally complex environments such as logistics, delivery, transportation, supply chain, or other high-volume field operations
• You understand how daily operational decisions impact financial outcomes and overall business performance
• You have built teams and developed frontline leaders rather than carrying every responsibility yourself
• You are comfortable operating in environments where processes are still evolving and structure is being built
• You naturally connect frontline work to larger company goals and mission
• You are tech-forward and comfortable evaluating systems, tools, and emerging technologies that improve operations
• You bring curiosity and an entrepreneurial mindset to solving challenges

Bonus points if...

• You bring experience from logistics, transportation, fleet, delivery, or route-based businesses (UPS, Penske, Amazon Logistics, FedEx, etc.)
• You have experience in high-growth or scaling organizations
• You have implemented new technology or operational systems
• You have built and developed frontline leadership teams

To be successful at Compost Crew, you must be:

Builder Entrepreneurial - You enjoy creating systems, improving processes, and building something bigger than yourself.

Accountable Urgent - You create ownership and move quickly without sacrificing quality.

Curious Tech-Forward - You continuously look for better ways of operating and embrace new tools and technologies.

Leader Delegator - You build strong teams and develop supervisors rather than carrying operational weight alone.

Mission-Driven Practical - You understand how daily operational work contributes to larger environmental impact.

Reasons it pays to work for Compost Crew (in addition to the pay itself)...

• Medical coverage with multiple plan options and significant employer contributions for employees and dependents
• Dental and vision coverage
• Employer-paid life insurance and long-term disability coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 401(k) with pre-tax and Roth options
• Generous PTO and paid holiday schedule
• Compost Crew service discounts
• Free CSA produce during seasonal months
• Team gatherings, barbecues, quarterly meetings, and holiday events
• The opportunity to play a critical leadership role during an exciting period of company growth and expansion

Don’t meet every single requirement? Studies have shown that women and people of color are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every. single. qualification. At Compost Crew, we are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and supportive workplace, so if you're excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification listed, we still encourage you to apply. Our hiring philosophy looks to weed people into our process, not out of it. Who knows, you may be exactly who we're looking for.