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
