Company description

Heron Botanicals has been crafting local, human-scale herbal extracts in Kingston, Washington for over 40 years. We make fresh-plant tinctures and formulas with deep respect for the land, the people who grow and harvest our botanicals, and the practitioners and patients who rely on our work. Local economy matters to us: more than 60% of the herbs we use are harvested and processed fresh in the Pacific Northwest, and 80% are domestically sourced.

We operate in a highly regulated industry, and we take that responsibility seriously—pairing old-world craftsmanship with modern quality systems, rigorous compliance, and an ethic of continuous improvement. We’re a small, close-knit team building something durable: a company rooted in health, meaningful work, and responsible, sustainable practices as we thoughtfully expand our reach and impact.

Job description

Operations Manager (Herbal Supplements)

Heron Botanicals, Inc. — Kingston, WA (On-site)
Employment Type: Regular, Full-time (typically ~32 hours/week; 32–40 hours/week)
Schedule: Tuesday–Friday, 9:00 AM–5:30 PM (flexibility required)
Compensation: $55,000–$65,000 (non-exempt) + company performance-based profit sharing
Seniority Level: Manager
Reports to: President
Job Functions: Operations, Material Sourcing, Team Management

Role Overview
Heron Botanicals, Inc. is hiring an Operations Manager to work in person at our Kingston, Washington facility.

This is a hands-on leadership role that blends direct production work with people management. The Operations Manager oversees all aspects of production and fulfillment—ensuring products move efficiently from raw material sourcing through final delivery while meeting our standards for quality, compliance, and sustainability.

You’ll be responsible for end-to-end operations, including sourcing raw materials and packaging components, managing production workflows, coordinating fulfillment, and maintaining accurate inventory across all stages of production. You’ll also lead inventory planning—balancing historical sales, projected demand, and long-term business objectives to ensure continuity of supply without overproduction. Working with fresh plants means conditions can shift quickly, so adaptability and clear prioritization are essential.

What You’ll Do

• Working in production with fresh plant material.
• Manage team members, including hiring, annual reviews, coaching, and helping each person live up to their potential.
• Coordinate day-to-day operational priorities by identifying where support is needed, reallocating resources as workloads shift, and pivoting quickly when conditions change.
• Nurture long-term vendor relationships with farmers, wild-crafters, and key partners.
• Respond to and troubleshoot urgent situations, including weather/facilities issues, technology problems, and customer service/communications needs.
• Collaborate closely with the Quality Control team to ensure products meet and exceed regulatory requirements and internal quality standards.
• Oversee equipment maintenance, safety and sanitation practices, production schedules, and inventory management.
• Take full ownership of operational issues from identification through resolution, ensuring minimal disruption and clear follow-through.

You May Enjoy This Role If…
You take radical ownership and have a passion for improving systems and process efficiency. You’re proud of your ability to build meaningful relationships, and people count on you to solve complex problems. Coworkers notice your strong time-management and your ability to switch between big-picture planning and detailed execution.

You’re curious and always learning. You can hold the big picture while understanding the level of detail required to achieve it. Maybe you read Wendell Berry and believe work is a form of stewardship—done with care, responsibility, and respect for people, land, and craft.

This Role May Not Be a Fit If…

• You prefer narrowly defined responsibilities or need frequent direction.
• You dislike switching between planning and hands-on work in the same day.
• You’re uncomfortable taking ownership when systems or information are imperfect.
• You’re looking for a purely desk-based management role.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent practical experience (we value demonstrated capability).
• Intermediate skill level in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Prior experience managing a team.
• Physical requirements: able to safely climb, bend, stretch, and lift/move up to 50 lbs.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of herbal medicine (highly prized).
• Experience in manufacturing, food, supplements, agriculture, or other regulated industries.
• Familiarity with inventory management systems or production planning tools.
• Basic understanding of quality systems, SOPs, or compliance frameworks (training provided).
• Experience in small, growing organizations where roles are fluid and initiative is valued.

Our Values
Quality: We take pride in our work and in one another. Our products meet the highest standards in the industry, and we continually strive to make them even better.
Sustainability: We believe human health and ecosystem health are deeply connected. We are committed to operating responsibly and sourcing herbs that are ethically harvested and thoughtfully produced.
Community: We serve our community by providing meaningful work, sourcing as locally as possible, and creating products that support the well-being of the people we serve.
Passion: We’re deeply passionate about our craft and energized by growing our reach so our products can serve more people.

Benefits & Perks
Saturdays off; most weeks Monday off
PTO and sick time accrued
Paid company holidays
Potential pay-for-performance compensation structure (profit sharing)
401(k) with match
Product perks/discounts
Equal Opportunity Employer

Compensation

this position is: salaried, varies DOE, $55,000.00 - $65,000.00

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline