What are the responsibilities and job description for the R&D Operations Director position at Plenty?
About Plenty
Plenty is on a mission to make fresh, pesticide-free fruits and vegetables more accessible to everyone. Our cutting-edge indoor, vertical farms produce extraordinary yields using a fraction of the land and water outdoor farms need. Nutrient-rich, mouth-watering and locally grown, our crops help people, communities and our planet to be healthier and more resilient.
The people and teams who make up Plenty are at the core of how we do this. We are a collaborative and innovative bunch. We are passionate about our contributions to Plenty, the communities around us and our planet, but never take ourselves too seriously. We're down to Earth, we grow together, and we always find a way. Most importantly, we're here to improve the lives of plants, people and our planet.
About the role
Plenty is looking for a Research & Development (R&D) Operations Director to serve a critical role in ensuring high-quality, on-time execution of the strategic R&D priorities that advance Plenty's goals and mission. The teams that fall under our R&D organization include Plant Science, Engineering and Product Management. In this role, you will report to the Chief Science Officer (CSO) and be a 'force multiplier' to the CSO and R&D Leadership Team, supporting the planning and execution of a wide variety of projects and processes, involving strategy, operations, and ad hoc special initiatives. Externally, you'll engage with University and Industry partners and help prepare for various engagements of the CSO and other R&D senior staff.
What you'll do
- Work to ensure the integration of Plant Science, Product and Engineering information and work streams
- Organize and support senior executive meeting cadence and content, including internal reporting and driving strategic and operational performance, development and preparation of executive-level presentations for the Board of Directors (BOD), senior leadership and external partner audiences
- Partner with the People Team and R&D Leadership to ensure that headcount plans and org structures support program goals; create conceptual org charts, lead discussions on org structure, and partner with People Ops to ensure hiring manager requests reconcile with program-approved heads and obtain approval from senior leadership.
- Direct space, people, and budgetary resource planning along with project execution for R&D, helping to vet new project opportunities and ensuring that teams prepare program plans, obtain approval, and execute projects on-time, on-budget, and within team priorities
- Own and assign R&D operating budgets, communicating with Finance about new budget requests and finding trade-offs. Collaborate with Finance to define strategies for how R&D budgets are tracked, distributed, and forecasted
- Think strategically about trial scheduling, change management, and other operating or project management systems, launching new or revised systems as research needs dictate
- Drive the creation of and clear and organized OKRs (Objectives and Key Results) and priorities across Research and Development teams, ensuring alignment with budgetary, space, and people resources
- Help drive operational maturity at Plenty, collaborating with the CSO on special projects, tracking key metrics, building financial models, and conducting data analysis as well as ad-hoc support for the R&D leadership team
- Undertake program management of select business initiatives from conception through successful execution, collaborating with cross-functional internal team leaders, external partners, and consultants
What you'll bring to the table
- Demonstrated experience building trust and driving alignment with executives and internal / external stakeholders of all levels
- You've successfully delivered on a wide range of complex projects/programs
- A data-driven mindset - you use your financial and/or data analysis skills to support decision making
- You know how to distill and convey information in a digestible, compelling manner
- Deep business acumen and an ability to see the "big picture" and prioritize
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a high tolerance for ambiguity and complexity
- Ability to create structures where there have been none before
- Excellent organizational and communication skills
Type of role
Full-Time
What we can offer
- Compensation; we'll pay you a competitive salary, give you a stake in the company via equity and contribute toward your 401K
- Health & well-being; we'll invest in your physical and mental well-being with comprehensive medical, dental, & vision benefits, in-office gyms, and an Employee Assistance Program to help with mental health, financial & legal matters
- Food; in-office lunches, snacks and access to our leafy greens & new produce in development - are you up for a side gig as a taste tester?
- Grow together; learning & development opportunities including unlimited access to our Upstart University platform, LinkedIn Learning, lunch & learns, training certifications, and more
- Equipment; we'll provide you with the equipment you need to be successful, including $75/month toward your phone bill and $250 every 2 years to upgrade your phone
- Paid time off; we know you'll do your best if you're taking time to recharge, so we don't cap the amount of days you can take off per year in addition to the paid holidays we observe
- Parental leave; 12 weeks off for all new parents - fully paid so you can focus your energy on your newest addition
Food safety requirements
- Comply with all Plant, State and Federal OSHA, EPA, FDA, HACCP, and SQF regulations
- All employees must show proof of COVID vaccination before starting work, other than in limited circumstances where the law requires an exception
Director of Operations
Agility Recruiting -
San Francisco, CA
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
STATION F -
San Francisco, CA
Director of Operations
Annie Aesthetic -
San Francisco, CA