Operations Coordinator

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 an Operations Coordinator to join our Plant Science Operations team. In this role, you will partner with Operations Managers to ensure the successful execution of research lines and experiments. You will use program and project management tools to define, measure, and enable the execution of research and related projects. You will also foster deep relationships with many teams across Plenty, including Farm Operations, Engineering, Data and Program Management, to define methods and share results.

What you'll do

Project Management:

• Understand why research lines are important to Farm Operations, Engineering, and the company as a whole
• Prioritize competing research lines and drive alignment among stakeholders when priorities are unclear. Work with science teams to develop research roadmaps, organize new R&D questions, and create venues for sharing research results
• Understand research space functionality and work with scientists to plan research accordingly
• Lead focused sub-projects related to upcoming research plans or improving operations. Define project scope, budget, and resources
• Obtain manager approval and provide regular reports as to project progress
• Monitor research program and project budgets
• Own one or more operational programs, which may include reporting on metrics, creating dashboards, maintaining the plan of record, creating or updating training programs, or creating other central services to support R&D

Data:

• Understand where, how, when, and why all data from an experiment is produced and how data filters through Plenty’s data pipeline to preserve and communicate results
• Utilize a variety of data types to inform decisions for your projects and programs. Partner with the Data team to create reports and define data collection methods

Scheduling and Resource Management:

• Schedule spaces, people, and other resources required for successful scientific experiments. Prepare resource management plans
• Hold your own and other teams to the on-time completion of experiments, projects, and other action items

Checklists, SOPs, and Daily Ops: 

• Ensure the completion of daily checklists, safety, operations, and sanitation logs
• Develop and ensure process standardization for a variety of research activities. Draft and revise standard operating procedures and translate to other stakeholders
• Define quality data collection procedures in conjunction with Scientists
• Comply with all Plant, State and Federal OSHA, EPA, FDA, HACCP, and SQF regulations
• Assist trial events, systems setup, equipment operation, and sanitation events as requested when support is needed across the team

Process Improvement:

• Conduct root cause analyses on successes and failures
• Identify areas for process improvement, using a variety of metrics and data points to demonstrate sustained improvement. Implement necessary changes to drive continuous improvement
  

What you’ll bring to the table

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, plant science, business, operations management, project management, or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Ability to lift up to 40 pounds
• Ability to stand for extended periods

Type of role

Full-Time

What we can offer 

• Compensation; we’ll pay you a competitive wage, 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 from day one, 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 offer 2 weeks of paid time off + 6 days of paid sick leave 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
• Comply with GMP/GAPS in the Facility
• Conduct monitoring activities to assure finished product comply with food safety and quality specifications
• Assist in the maintenance of Food Safety and Quality system