Operations & Warehouse Manager Astro Coffee Van Golden, CO Job Details Part-time | Contract $24 - $28 an hour 1 hour ago Benefits Flexible schedule Qualifications Computer operation Operations management Catering experience Change management Stock organizing Process management Restaurant experience Full Job Description Astro Coffee | Golden, CO Monday, Wednesday & Friday | 20-30 Hours Per Week $24-$28/hour, Based on Experience 90-Day Performance & Compensation Review Astro Coffee is looking for an experienced, highly organized Operations & Warehouse Manager to take ownership of the behind-the-scenes systems, logistics, inventory, scheduling, staffing coordination, and operational execution that keep our company moving. This is not simply a warehouse position. We're looking for someone with real operations experience who can come into a growing small business, learn how we currently operate, identify what's working and what isn't, and help us build, implement, document, and manage better systems. We operate multiple mobile coffee units throughout Colorado, including coffee vans, trailers, and carts. On any given week, those units may be headed to completely different events with different menus, staffing requirements, inventory needs, food orders, setup instructions, branding, logistics, and client expectations. We need someone whose brain naturally thinks: What's happening this week? What's coming next week? Which units are going where? Who is working? What needs to be ordered? What does each lead need to know? What needs to be stocked? Where could something fall through the cracks—and what system can we put in place so it doesn't? And then takes ownership of making sure it all gets done. A Little About Astro — And Why We're Hiring My fiancé and I put our heads together in 2020 to create what has become Astro Coffee today. We're a small, owner-operated business, and since day one, we've had our noses to the grindstone building this company from the ground up. We've been involved in nearly every aspect ourselves—from making coffee and working events to staffing, ordering, scheduling, maintaining units, coordinating logistics, booking clients, and producing large brand activations. For a long time, wearing all the hats was simply part of building Astro. We're finally reaching a point where we can start bringing experienced people into dedicated roles and stop trying to do everything ourselves. Operations is one of the biggest pieces we're ready to hand off. For years, many of our systems have worked because we personally knew what needed to happen next. That's no longer scalable. We're not looking to give someone a checklist and then manage them through completing it. We're hiring someone with experience because we want that experience brought into Astro. We want you to learn our operation, identify gaps, challenge inefficient processes, help us build better systems, implement those systems with our team, and ultimately take ownership of running them. We Need a Systems Builder This is one of the most important parts of this position. We don't expect you to walk into Astro on Day One knowing exactly how our company should operate. We do expect you to bring previous experience and a strong operational mindset. Initially, you'll work closely with ownership to understand how things currently function. From there, we want your input. If something could be more efficient, tell us. If we're missing a system, help us build it. If you've implemented something successfully elsewhere that would work here, bring it to the table. If the same operational problem happens twice, don't just fix it twice— help us build a process that prevents it from happening a third time. You'll help us create, improve, and implement systems around: Inventory management and par levels Inventory forecasting Purchasing and ordering Warehouse organization Unit stocking and restocking Pre-event preparation Post-event check-in Employee scheduling Lead assignments Weekly event communication Food and pastry ordering Ice management Equipment tracking Cleaning and closing procedures Maintenance reporting Damaged or missing equipment Employee accountability SOP creation and documentation Checklists and sign-offs Communication between ownership, operations, leads, and baristas Creating an SOP isn't enough. You'll also help implement it, train the team on it, make sure it's actually being followed, determine whether it's working, and improve it when necessary. Weekly Event Logistics Our Google Calendar is the heartbeat of our operation. You'll take what's booked and turn it into an executable operational plan. You'll consistently look ahead at upcoming weeks and determine: Which coffee unit is going where How many employees are needed Who should lead each event Departure, setup, service, and return times What each unit needs stocked Event-specific menu requirements Milk, coffee, syrups, cups, and supply needs Ice requirements Pastry and food orders Special equipment Branding or activation requirements Parking, power, access, setup, and logistical information What information each event lead needs before they leave A huge week coming up should change what we're doing before that week arrives. We want someone who sees the wave coming instead of reacting once it hits. Staffing & Lead Coordination You'll help coordinate staffing across multiple coffee units, locations, and events. This isn't simply filling names into open shifts. You'll learn our team well enough to understand: Who can successfully lead an event Which employees are trained on which units Which events require stronger or more experienced teams How many baristas are realistically required Where scheduling conflicts could arise When additional staffing is necessary You'll also make sure our leads are properly prepared for the week ahead. Before an event, they should know: Where they're going. When they're going. Which unit they're taking. Who they're working with. What they're serving. What makes that event different. Where they're parking. What the client expects. Our employees shouldn't need to chase ownership down for basic event information. You'll build and manage the system that makes sure they don't have to. Inventory, Purchasing & Forecasting You'll own the systems that keep Astro stocked and prepared without unnecessarily over-ordering.

Responsibilities include:

Creating and maintaining stock lists and par levels Conducting or overseeing inventory counts Forecasting inventory based on upcoming event volume Adjusting orders based on our calendar Ordering milk and other perishables Placing pastry orders Coordinating other food orders as needed Monitoring coffee bean inventory Managing cups, lids, syrups, alternative milks, paper goods, cleaning products, and operational supplies Coordinating and completing ice runs Establishing reorder points Creating systems for employees to report shortages Identifying excessive usage, waste, or recurring shortages Receiving and organizing deliveries Maintaining a clean and organized warehouse We're not looking for someone who places the same order every Monday. If next week is twice as busy, our orders should reflect that. If next week is slower, they should reflect that too. Unit Readiness Every Astro unit leaving our warehouse should be: Stocked. Clean. Organized. Prepared. You'll establish and manage accountability around: Pre-event stocking Post-event restocking Cleaning Equipment placement Inventory Event-specific supplies Missing or damaged equipment Maintenance issues Unit organization Check-in/check-out procedures Our philosophy is simple: The next team should never discover yesterday's problem. Accountability & Leadership This is a leadership position. We're looking for someone who is approachable, professional, and works well with people—but who is also comfortable setting expectations and holding people accountable. If a unit repeatedly comes back dirty, you don't just clean it yourself. If a checklist isn't being completed, determine why. If inventory isn't being reported properly, address it. If an SOP isn't working in the real world, improve it. If an employee isn't following an established process, you're comfortable having that conversation. We don't want our Operations Manager quietly cleaning up everyone's mistakes. We want you helping us build an operation where those mistakes happen less and less. This Role Requires Both a Laptop and Rolled-Up Sleeves This isn't a desk-only management position. Some mornings you'll be reviewing Google Calendar, forecasting next week's inventory, adjusting staffing, preparing event information, communicating with leads, or writing an SOP. That afternoon you may be reorganizing inventory, checking a trailer, counting cups, receiving deliveries, making an ice run, or preparing multiple units for completely different events. We're a growing small business. Great operations here happen both behind the spreadsheet and on the warehouse floor. Who We're Looking For We're particularly interested in candidates with previous experience in operations, logistics, warehouse management, hospitality, catering, restaurants, event production, multi-location businesses, or other fast-moving operational environments. You may be a great fit if you: Have experience building and implementing operational systems Have personally created SOPs, workflows, checklists, or processes Have managed inventory and purchasing Understand forecasting and par levels Have experience scheduling and coordinating employees Have managed multiple teams, locations, vehicles, or moving pieces simultaneously Are exceptionally organized Naturally think several steps ahead Enjoy logistics and problem-solving Can identify inefficiencies and propose solutions Can implement change—not just suggest it Can train employees on new processes Are comfortable holding people accountable Can make reasonable operational decisions independently Are comfortable with Google Calendar, spreadsheets, scheduling platforms, and digital systems Are equally comfortable behind a computer and physically working in a warehouse Can lift and move inventory and supplies as needed Have reliable transportation Are dependable and punctual Coffee experience is helpful, but it's not our priority. We can teach coffee. We need someone who already understands operations, systems, logistics, leadership, and execution. Schedule & Compensation Regular schedule: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday This position is expected to average approximately 20-30 hours per week , with some fluctuation based on event volume and seasonal needs. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday will be the primary workdays, although exact start and end times may vary depending on deliveries, upcoming events, unit preparation, and operational demands. The general weekly rhythm will include:

Monday:

Reset, Inventory & Weekly Planning Review the previous weekend's events Inspect returned units and address cleaning, stocking, damage, or maintenance issues Complete inventory counts Review the current and upcoming event calendar Forecast milk, coffee, food, ice, and supply needs Place or coordinate weekly orders Confirm staffing, unit assignments, and lead responsibilities Identify potential scheduling or logistical issues

Wednesday:

Midweek Operations & Forecasting Receive and organize deliveries Check progress on staffing and event preparation Confirm pastries, burritos, milk, beans, and other event-specific orders Begin preparing units and supplies for upcoming events Communicate event details to leads Review the following week's calendar Continue developing and implementing SOPs, checklists, and operational systems Address shortages, maintenance concerns, or unresolved issues before the weekend

Friday:

Weekend Readiness & Final Execution Complete final unit inspections Confirm each unit is clean, stocked, organized, and event-ready Verify staffing, departure times, addresses, parking, power, menus, and special instructions Prepare event-specific supplies, food, branding, and equipment Confirm leads have all necessary information Complete ice runs or final supply pickups Resolve any last-minute operational gaps before weekend service Some weeks will require longer days than others. A large festival, multi-unit activation, or especially busy event calendar may require additional preparation time, while slower weeks may require fewer hours. Starting compensation is $24-$28/hour, based on experience. We anticipate many qualified candidates falling around $25-$26/hour to start , while candidates bringing substantial directly relevant operations experience may qualify toward the higher end of the range. 90-Day Performance & Compensation Review We believe great people should have a clear opportunity to grow with Astro. At approximately 90 days, we'll conduct a formal performance and compensation review . This is not an automatic raise based solely on completing 90 days. The review will focus on how successfully you've begun taking independent ownership of areas including: Inventory and purchasing Forecasting Scheduling and staffing coordination Event preparation Warehouse organization Unit readiness SOP creation and implementation Lead communication Team accountability Independent problem-solving Reducing the number of operational details requiring direct owner involvement For someone starting around $25/hour who demonstrates strong performance and successfully begins taking ownership of these responsibilities, there is a clear opportunity to move toward approximately $27/hour. As Astro continues to grow, we also see the potential for this position to develop into an increasingly senior operations role with additional responsibility and hours. What Success Looks Like Six months into this position, Astro should operate differently because you're here.

We should have:

Stronger systems. Clearer SOPs. Better inventory control. Smarter ordering. Better forecasting. More organized units. Better-prepared leads. Clearer accountability. Fewer last-minute emergencies. And fewer operational details living exclusively inside the owners' heads. Ownership shouldn't constantly need to ask: "Did pastries get ordered?" "Who's working that event?" "Do we have enough milk?" "Is that trailer stocked?" "Does the lead know where they're parking?" "Who is getting ice?" "Did someone order cups?" "Why did this unit come back like this?" The systems—and the person responsible for those systems—should already have those answers. That's what we're hiring for. To Apply Please submit your resume along with a short introduction explaining why this position interests you. We're especially interested in hearing about your experience with: Operations and logistics Building operational systems Creating and implementing SOPs Inventory management and forecasting Purchasing Employee scheduling Coordinating multiple teams, locations, vehicles, or events Training employees on new processes Holding teams accountable Google Calendar, spreadsheets, scheduling platforms, or inventory systems One Question We Definitely Want You to Answer Tell us about a system or process you personally built or significantly improved in a previous role. What wasn't working? What did you change? How did you implement it with the team? And what was different afterward? We're not looking for someone to simply maintain our warehouse. We're looking for someone with experience who can help us build the operational backbone Astro needs for its next stage of growth—and then take ownership of running it.

Pay:

$24.00 - $28.00 per hour Expected hours: 25.0 - 30.0 per week

Benefits:

Flexible schedule

Experience:

Operations management: 2 years (Preferred) Ability to

Commute:

Golden, CO 80401 (Preferred)

Work Location:

In person