Director of Operations- AFIC@MCO – HigherEdJobs

Job Number: job requisition id R0084525

Location:
Fayetteville
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Closing Date:

Type of Position:
Professional
Staff – Project/Program Administration

Workstudy Position:

No

Job Type:
Fixed
Duration of Project/Grant (Fixed Term)

Work Shift:

Sponsorship
Available:

No

Institution Name:
Division of Agriculture of the University of Arkansas
The
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture is a state wide campus, with faculty based on University campuses, at Research and
Extension Centers and in every Arkansas county. It consists of the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station (AES) and the Arkansas
Cooperative Extension Service (CES), and is home to more than 1400 employees. The Division was established in 1959 and is headed by the
Vice-President for Agriculture. The Division headquarters is located in Little Rock with the rest of the University of Arkansas System
Administration. As an employer, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers a vibrant work environment and a workplace
culture that promotes a healthy work-life balance.

Below you will find the details for the position including any supplementary
documentation and questions you should review before applying for the opening. To apply for the position, please click the Apply
link/button.

If you have a disability and need assistance with the hiring process and require reasonable accommodations, please
contact the Division’s Office of Program & Employment Compliance at compliance@uada.edu.

For general application assistance or if you have questions about a job posting, please contact
Human Resources at 501-671-2219 or 479-502-9820.

Department:
AFIC@MCO

Department’s
Website:

https://aficmco.uada.edu/

Summary of Job
Duties:
The Director of Operations will provide leadership and operational management for the Arkansas Food Innovation
Center at the Market Center of the Ozarks (AFIC@MCO). The Director will report to the Senior Associate Vice President for
Agriculture-Research within the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

Located in the heart of Downtown Springdale, the
45,000 sq/ft Market Center of the Ozarks was announced in 2022 and opened in May 2025. The nearly $31 million facility was designed by
Patterhn Ives, a St. Louis-based architecture firm, and constructed the CDI Contractors, an Arkansas-based general contracting
company.

The center connects farmers and food entrepreneurs to infrastructure, education, and technical assistance and increase food
security across the region.

The Director of Operations will oversee the day-to-day management of all AFIC@MCO activities, including
operations, budget administration, facilities management, and personnel supervision.

Specific Responsibilities

The Director of
Operations will:

• Coordinate and manage the daily operations, budget, personnel, and programming of AFIC@MCO.
• Provide
  innovative leadership in engaging food entrepreneurs and industry partners across Arkansas and the broader region to support the center’s
  mission of strengthening local and regional food systems.
• Foster collaboration with regional food ecosystem partners in Northwest
  Arkansas as well as relevant research and extension programs within the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture.
• 
  Supervise the center’s staff, currently consisting of eight full-time and part-time employees.
• Ensure that food entrepreneurs and
  clients receive high-quality support and services from the AFIC@MCO team.
• Support staff responsible for education, research and
  development, and co-manufacturing activities by assisting with project management, prioritization, and ensuring that projects have clear
  timelines and deliverables.
• Implement operational processes and systems that improve efficiency across functional areas and
  support increased facility utilization and revenue generation.
• Develop and manage a volunteer program to support co-manufacturing
  and other activities that advance food entrepreneurship and strengthen the regional food system.
• Track, monitor and report
  performance metrics for AFIC@MCO.
• Participate on the MCO executive leadership committee with leadership from AFIC@MCO and Spring
  Creek Food Hub.
• Participate in and initiate grant development and fundraising activities that advance the mission of AFIC@MCO.
• Establish and maintain strategic partnerships with regional food system organizations, industry partners, and stakeholders to
  expand the reach and impact of AFIC@MCO.
• Evaluate and manage the center’s fee-for-service business model, including contracts,
  workshops, training programs, and grant-funded activities designed to generate revenue to support personnel and future growth.
• 
  Provide visible and inspiring leadership that positions AFIC@MCO as a premier regional center of excellence for food innovation and local
  and regional food systems.
• Work with industry partners, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders to effectively utilize the center’s
  facilities and equipment for the development and manufacture of new food products and processes.
• Collaborate with Spring Creek
  Food Hub, which is co-located in the Market Center of the Ozarks facility.
• Engage with the Market Center of the Ozarks Advisory
  Committee, other University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture centers, and regional partners to strengthen collaboration and
  program impact.
• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the mission of AFIC@MCO and the Division of Agriculture.

Qualifications:

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a STEM field, business, or a
  related discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience, including at least four years in a supervisory or managerial
  role.

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in Food Science or a closely related field.
• MBA or M.S. in Operations
  Management or a related discipline.
• Professional experience in:

o The food industry, including knowledge of research
and development, quality control, and food processing/manufacturing, and/or

o Entrepreneurship and startup support within food
systems.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Demonstrated leadership and supervisory experience managing technical or
  professional staff.
• Experience in product and process development, food entrepreneurship, or management of food processing
  operations.
• Demonstrated success in grant writing and project development.
• Strong written, oral, and interpersonal
  communication skills.
• Proven ability to build partnerships and work effectively with diverse stakeholders, including
  entrepreneurs, industry partners, researchers, and community organizations.

Additional Information:

Salary
Information:

Commensurate with education and experience

Required Documents to Apply:

Cover Letter/Letter of
Application, Curriculum Vitae, List of three Professional References (name, email, business title), Unofficial/Official
Transcript(s)

Optional Documents:

Special Instructions to Applicants:

Recruitment
Contact Information:

Jean-Francois Meullenet, Director and AVP for Ag Research, jfmeull@uark.edu

All application materials must be uploaded to the University of Arkansas
System Career Site https://uasys.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/UASYS

Please do not send to listed recruitment
contact.

Pre-employment Screening Requirements:
Motor Vehicle Reports Check

The University of
Arkansas System Division of Agriculture may conduct pre-employment background checks on certain positions for applicants being considered
for employment. The background checks may include a criminal background check and a sex offender registry check. Required checks are
identified in the position listing. A criminal background check or arrest pending adjudication information alone shall not disqualify an
applicant in the absences of a relationship to the requirements of the position. Background check information will be used in a consistent,
non-discriminatory manner consistent with the state and federal law.

The University of Arkansas is an equal opportunity institution.
The University does not discriminate in its education programs or activities (including in admission and employment) on the basis of any
category or status protected by law, including age, race, color, national origin, disability, religion, protected veteran status, military
service, genetic information, sex, sexual preference, or pregnancy. Questions or concerns about the application of Title IX, which prohibits
discrimination on the basis of sex, may be sent to the University’s Title IX Coordinator and to the U.S. Department of Education Office for
Civil Rights.

Persons must have proof of legal authority to work in the United States on the first day of employment.

All
application information is subject to public disclosure under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act.

Constant Physical
Activity:
Feeling, Grasping, Lifting, Manipulate items with fingers, including keyboarding, Reaching, Repetitive Motion,
Sitting, Talking

Frequent Physical Activity:
Crouching, Driving, Kneeling, Pulling, Pushing,
Walking

Occasional Physical Activity:
N/A

Benefits Eligible:
Yes