Technical Director - Americas - Vita Coco

The Vita Coco Company, created in 2004 by Co-CEO Michael Kirban and Ira Liran, produces the leading brand of coconut water in the United States with a growing presence around the world. The Vita Coco Company's brands include the leading coconut water, Vita Coco; clean energy drink Runa; premium canned water, Ever & Ever; and protein-infused water, PWR LIFT.

In 2021, The Vita Coco Company became a publicly traded, Public Benefit Corporation. With a growing portfolio of natural products, The Vita Coco Company has identified its public benefit purpose as creating ethical, sustainable products that uplift communities and do right by our planet by harnessing and protecting nature's resources. In 2022, The Vita Coco Company was certified as a B Corporation™ furthering the Company's commitment toward operating its business as a force for good, while delivering better-for-you products.

Vita Coco is headquartered in New York City with international offices in London and Singapore.

In a Nutshell, we're looking for…

We are seeking an experienced Technical Director to lead our technical operations in the Americas. The successful candidate will be leading technical operations, driving continuous improvements and quality standards while supporting our business development initiatives across our supplier network and co-manufacturing partners. This role requires a strategic thinker with a strong technical background and excellent leadership skills.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

Project Management

• Oversee/Lead projects involving new plant installations and continuous improvement initiatives
• Manage overall project timelines to ensure on-time delivery
• Guide the team in providing technical support to co-manufacturing partners during project phases and daily operations

Team Management

• Recruit, train, and mentor technical staff.
• Foster a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Manage performance and development of the technical team.

Operations Support

• Direct the team's efforts to optimize Quality, Productivity, and Costs through technical support
• Supervise/Assist in root cause analysis, troubleshooting, and resolution of manufacturing-related issues
• Lead the technical aspects of execution of new package launches and product commercialization
• Involvement on defining technical audits plans of co-manufacturing facilities and coordinate follow-up actions
• Collaborate with QA Team to investigate and resolve product quality issues.

Innovation & RD

• Provide technical guide on the executing trials for new process development with co-manufacturing partners
• Drive product improvements and new product formulations, leveraging team expertise and the Innovation team needs.
• Support and oversee technical feasibility and manufacturing audits for potential new partners and suppliers

Business Development

• Partner with senior executives to establish business objectives and development goals
• Identify potential business partners, expansion plans, and solutions to meet market demand
• Oversee project implementation across diverse teams and departments
• Develop value chain solutions for market tenders and pitch proposals
• Provide key inputs for negotiations with suppliers and co-manufacturing partners

Operations Management

• Define and lead a technical consultancy service team across co-manufacturer network
• Direct efforts to streamline operations and identify cost-saving opportunities
• Assess network capacities and capabilities to support supply chain planning
• Define and lead cost savings and optimization initiatives in technical and Supply Chain operations

Quality Assurance

• Collaborate with Quality executives to ensure product reliability and safety
• Develop and reinforce quality standards
• Maintain relationships with manufacturing partners to strengthen operations

Sustainability

• Lead and define the company's sustainability framework
• Establish carbon and water footprint assessments for operations (Scope 1, 2) and partners (Scope 3)
• Enable live assessment of product Life Cycle Analysis (LCA)
• Define approaches to reduce environmental impact and generate carbon credits

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Sciences, Engineering, Manufacturing, or related field; Master's degree preferred
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in technical operations and project management
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, quality control, and continuous improvement methodologies
• Excellent leadership and communication skills
• Experience working with co-manufacturing partners and managing complex projects
• Understanding of sustainability principles and life cycle assessment
• Ability to travel as required
• Proficiency in Portuguese is a plus.

If you're a dynamic leader with a passion for driving technical excellence and innovation in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply for this exciting opportunity.

At The Vita Coco Company, compensation decisions are dependent upon a variety of factors, which may include, but are not limited to: skill set, experience, education, training, licensure and certifications, knowledge and abilities of the applicant, alignment with market data, and other business and organizational needs. A reasonable estimate of the current pay range for this position is $140,000-$160,000. This range may vary for positions that will be performed outside of California, Colorado, Nevada, New York City, Westchester County, NY, Rhode Island, or Washington.

Vita Coco Co. is committed to the principles of equal employment. We are committed to complying with all federal, state, and local laws providing equal employment opportunities, and all other employment laws and regulations. It is our intent to maintain a work environment that is free of harassment, discrimination, or retaliation because of age, race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sex, sexual orientation (including transgender status, gender identity or expression), physical or mental disability, genetic information, marital status, AIDS/HIV status, military service, veteran status, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. The Company is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy in regard to all aspects of employment, including but not limited to recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, and other compensation, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.