Vice President, Operations and Supply Chain

Overview of the Role

The Vice President of Operations & Supply Chain is a senior leadership role responsible for owning and shaping the company’s end-to-end supply chain and operational performance. This role requires a leader who consistently demonstrates initiative, sound judgment, and ownership without prompting, and who can operate with credibility across the executive team, Board, and external partners.

The VP will serve as a trusted partner to the CEO, proactively identifying risks and opportunities, anticipating business needs, and driving decisions that balance growth, margin, service levels, and long-term supply resilience. Success in this role depends as much on leadership presence, influence, and decision quality as it does on technical expertise.

While the current team structure is intentionally lean, this role carries outsized enterprise impact and is expected to scale systems, processes, and leadership influence well beyond direct reports.

The role reports directly to the CEO and is expected to report to the company's Round Rock, Texas offices.

Essential Responsibilities

To excel in this position, the Vice President must demonstrate strong judgment, initiative, and the ability to prioritize effectively in a complex, fast-moving environment. This role requires a leader who approaches decision-making through data and analytics, while balancing urgency, risk, and long-term business impact.

Operational Supply Chain & Leadership

• Own end-to-end supply chain and operations strategy and execution across sourcing, co-packing, logistics, inventory, demand planning, food safety, and quality.

• Anticipate supply risks, cost pressures, and market dynamics; proactively surface recommendations and tradeoffs to the CEO and leadership team.

• Drive operational decisions with a clear understanding of margin, service, and growth implications.

• Lead pricing, cost structure, and margin optimization initiatives in partnership with Finance and Commercial leadership.

Judgement, Initiative, & Decision Making

• Demonstrate ownership without prompting by identifying issues early, proposing solutions, and driving decisions forward.

• Exercise strong judgment in complex, fast-moving environments, balancing urgency with thoughtful prioritization.

• Clearly articulate tradeoffs, risks, and second-order impacts when making or recommending decisions.

External Partnerships & Executive Presence

• Lead and manage senior-level supplier, co-packer, and logistics relationships with professionalism, credibility, and emotional control.

• Represent the company effectively in high-stakes external interactions, negotiations, and problem-solving discussions.

• Build trust with partners through consistency, transparency, and sound decision-making.

• Model professionalism, emotional intelligence, and composure in moments of conflict or pressure.

People Leadership & Talent Development

• Lead, develop, and coach a high-performing Operations & Supply Chain team with clear expectations, accountability, and support.

• Be accountable for building bench strength, developing future leaders, and creating clarity and trust within the function.

• Foster an environment where issues are surfaced early, feedback is constructive, and people feel both challenged and supported.

Culture & Collaboration

• Demonstrate executive presence, professionalism, and composure in all interactions, especially under pressure.

• Collaborate effectively across Finance, Sales, Marketing, and Executive Leadership to align priorities and drive outcomes.

• Lead with transparency, respect, and a solutions-oriented mindset that strengthens trust internally and externally.

Education and Experience

• BS or higher degree in Business Administration, Agri-Business, Agri-Economics, Meat Science, Animal Science, or Food Science. MBA is preferred.

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations and supply chain within protein, food, or CPG environments.

• Demonstrated P&L ownership and accountability for cost structure, margin, and operational performance.

• 5+ years of experience leading and developing teams, with a track record of building capable leaders.

• Proven ability to operate at the executive level, including board exposure and senior external stakeholder engagement.

• Strong judgment, initiative, and ability to lead through ambiguity and change.

• Experience with NetSuite, EDI and ERP management is preferred.

What Success Looks Like

• The supply chain is stable, resilient, and proactively managed.

• Risks and opportunities are surfaced early, not reactively.

• Teams feel supported, challenged, and clear on priorities.

• External partners experience professionalism, trust, and strong leadership.

• The CEO and leadership team view this role as a reliable, forward-thinking partner in decision-making.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

To perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following:

Verbal and Written Communication Skills

Requires the ability to effectively communicate verbally and virtually. Clarity of speech, remaining calm and focused, being polite, and making effective presentations to diverse groups.

Mathematical

Ability to work with mathematical concepts and apply such concepts as fractions, percentages, ratios, and proportions to practical situations.

Computer Skills

Proficiency and knowledge of Microsoft Office Products. NetSuite experience is preferred.

Reasoning Ability

Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists. Ability to interpret a variety of instructions in written, oral, diagram or schedule form.

Physical Demands

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 accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Regularly required to stand, sit, walk, use hands and arms, talk and hear.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Nolan Ryan Brands complies with its reasonable accommodation obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and state law.

• Interactive and fast-paced team-orientated tasks.

• Required to wear appropriate clothing as outlined in company handbook.

At Nolan Ryan Brands we offer many benefits and perks:

• Competitive salary and bonus + cell phone allowance

• Healthcare: comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your dependents

• Short-term & long-term disability plus AD&D

• Annual Executive Wellness Package – Cooper Clinic & Austin Heart Hospital

• Retirement: 401(k) with company matching

• Paid Time Off: 15 paid holidays plus 1 floating holiday, and vacation

• Summer Fridays: Half day Fridays during the summer (Memorial Day thru Labor Day)

• Flexibility: Option to work from home on Wednesdays (full work engagement is expected)

• Culture: Energetic office environment, opportunity for “taste tests” and product feedback, community events, and more!