Company Description

First Bloom is a New York grocery store and pantry goods brand founded by Alison Roman. Originally opened as a small store in the Western Catskills, the business is now scaling its first packaged product: A Very Good Tomato Sauce. Learn more about the store in Alison’s newsletter (https://www.alisoneroman.com/newsletters/i-opened-a-grocery-store/) and her vision for the tomato sauce on a recent episode of the Odd Lots podcast (https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/alison-romans-plan-to-conquer-the-tomato-sauce-market/id1056200096?i=1000750983788)

Role Summary

This position will be the strategic and operational leader responsible for building First Bloom’s A Very Good Tomato Sauce (https://firstbloomcornerstore.myshopify.com/) into a thoughtfully scaled, enduring business. Partnering closely with Alison Roman and a small team on vision and brand, this role owns the company’s strategy, operating model, financial performance, and organizational build-out. This is a hands-on leadership position for an experienced CPG operator who can translate creative excellence into a disciplined, high-growth business. Success in the first six months will be defined by a clear plan for scaling the existing business, a fully implemented financial and operating model, strengthened manufacturing and logistics partnerships, improved unit economics, and a disciplined expansion into a select group of wholesale accounts.

Key responsibilities

Own and lead the company’s business strategy, operating plan, and performance against financial and growth targets
Serve as the company’s senior operator with full accountability for P&L, cash flow, and resource allocation
Partner with Alison Roman to translate brand vision into a focused, executable, and scalable business roadmap
Lead a comprehensive assessment of the existing business and convert insights into a prioritized two-year growth plan
Build and implement the company’s financial model, including margin optimization, scenario planning, and capital requirements
Optimize and scale the manufacturing and supply chain network while strengthening existing partners and onboarding new co-manufacturers, 3PLs, and key suppliers as needed to support growth
Own the commercial strategy across DTC and wholesale - improving DTC performance while securing and expanding into a set of aligned retail accounts
Establish the organizational structure, operating cadence, and performance management systems required for the next stage of scale
Recruit, lead, and develop a high-performing team
Lead relationships with retail partners, distributors, and strategic stakeholders

First 180 days: priorities

Align with the Founder (Alison Roman) on long-term vision, value creation strategy, and success metrics
Complete a comprehensive audit of the existing business, including manufacturing and logistics partners
Own the company’s financial model, including pricing strategy, margin targets, and capital plan
Evaluate, strengthen, and contract with core manufacturing and supply chain partners to support near-term growth and long-term scale
Develop an integrated go-to-market and marketing plan that sharpens brand positioning, accelerates DTC performance, and expands into a focused set of aligned wholesale accounts
Recommend and align on a financing strategy
Make priority hires to support the next phase of growth

Requirements

7-10+ years of senior leadership experience in CPG, food & beverage, and / or retail. Ideally, includes experience leading a brand from 0-1 through national or scaled distribution
Deep expertise in financial modeling, unit economics, and translating strategy into execution
Significant experience with food production, co-manufacturing, and multi-channel distribution
Established network across co-manufacturing, 3PL, retail buying, and key CPG service providers
Experience evaluating and supporting multiple forms of growth financing
Organizational leadership experience, including building and managing high-performing teams
Strong, structured communicator capable of operating as the primary business counterpart to a founder

Leadership profile:

Low-ego, high-ownership leader who prioritizes company success over function or title
Resourceful and solutions-oriented, with a track record of building in constrained environments and scaling thoughtfully
Deep personal alignment with product quality, brand integrity, and long-term value creation

How to Apply:

Email narni@alisoneroman.com with your resume.

Location: New York City-based preferred; willingness to travel as needed

Employment type: Full-time

Reports to: Founder

Compensation range: Salary + equity, subject to experience

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