Our Story

Waiakea® was founded in Hilo, Hawai'i in 2012 as the first Hawaiian volcanic water and triple bottom line premium water of its kind, adapting an unparalleled platform of healthy, sustainable, and ethical attributes and initiatives. We put people and planet before profit.

Our mission is to provide healthy Hawaiian volcanic water with the blessing of indigenous kupuna and konohiki, while contributing to and promoting clean water access, conservation, and education for those in need in Hawai'i and throughout the world. Learn more at www.waiakea.com

Waiakea Inc. is seeking a dynamic and experienced Vice President of Manufacturing to lead our manufacturing operations in a fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) environment. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in beverage manufacturing, with a proven track record of driving operational excellence, efficiency, and productivity in high-volume production settings. This role requires a strategic thinker with exceptional leadership skills, a deep understanding of FMCG manufacturing processes, and a commitment to continuous improvement. This role is a permanent position located in Hilo, Hawaii.

Pay Range:

The final salary will be determined based on the candidates experience and qualifications that fit the role. The hiring range for this position is $180,000- $200,000.

Company Benefits:

• Waiakea Hawaiian Volcanic Water offers competitive pay that is direct-deposited semi-monthly
• Company stock options
• Relocation assistance
• Bonus potential 
• Annual sick, personal and vacation leave
• 100% Employer-paid health insurance premiums for employee + dependent(s) coverage through HMSA (health/vision/prescription/dental insurance)
• Health FSA & Dependent Care FSA with a $500 employer contribution
• Discounted gym membership
• Free company water 
• $300 monthly child care reimbursement
• 401k with up to a 5% employer match & more!

Key Responsibilities:

• Strategic Leadership: Develop and implement manufacturing strategies aligned with the company's overall business objectives. Provide visionary leadership to the manufacturing team to achieve operational goals and drive business growth.
• Operational Excellence: Oversee all manufacturing operations, ensuring the highest standards of quality, efficiency, and cost-effectiveness. Implement best practices and continuous improvement initiatives to enhance productivity and reduce waste.
• Team Management: Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing manufacturing team. Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation. Ensure effective communication and coordination across all manufacturing functions.
• Process Improvement: Identify opportunities for process optimization and implement lean manufacturing principles. Drive initiatives to enhance production efficiency, reduce lead times, and improve overall operational performance.
• Quality Control: Ensure rigorous quality control measures are in place and consistently adhered to. Monitor production processes to guarantee products meet or exceed quality standards.
• Supply Chain Coordination: Collaborate with the supply chain and logistics teams to ensure timely and efficient production scheduling, inventory management, and delivery of finished goods.
• Budget Management: Develop and manage the manufacturing budget. Monitor expenditures, optimize resource allocation, and implement cost-saving measures without compromising quality or safety.
• Health and Safety: Ensure compliance with all health and safety regulations. Promote a safe working environment and champion initiatives to reduce workplace incidents and injuries.
• Technology and Innovation: Stay abreast of industry trends and technological advancements. Evaluate and implement new technologies and automation solutions to enhance manufacturing capabilities.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Work closely with other senior leaders to align manufacturing strategies with business goals. Communicate effectively with stakeholders, including suppliers, customers, and regulatory bodies.

Experience: A minimum of 10-15 years of experience in beverage or bottling manufacturing is required, with at least 10 years in a leadership role within the FMCG industry. Candidates with bottling manufacturing experience will be given preference.

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, or a related field. A Master’s degree or MBA is preferred.

Skills:

• Proven track record of leading large-scale manufacturing operations.
• Strong understanding of FMCG manufacturing processes and best practices.
• Exceptional leadership and team-building skills.
• Expertise in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Financial acumen with experience managing budgets and financial performance.
• Proficiency in manufacturing software and ERP systems.

Personal Attributes:

• Strategic thinker with a proactive approach to problem-solving.
• High level of integrity and ethical standards.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Strong focus on results and achieving operational excellence.
• Collaborative and able to build strong relationships across the organization.

Core Values: The ideal candidate will align with our company core values

• It’s a Kakou Thing: Works together with team members to find solutions.
• Live Aloha: Be positive, love unconditionally.
• Kulia i ka nu?u: Constant improvement; Strive to reach the summit.
• Be Pono: To have integrity and find harmony within yourself, the ?Aina, your community and work.
• Ho'okuleana: An action or mindset “to take responsibility.” It is our individual and collective responsibility to: participate rather than ignore, prevent rather than react and preserve rather than degrade.

Physical Requirements/Lifting Requirements: Must be able to sit, stand, bend at the waist, climb, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach, walk, push/pull, lift, talk, and hear with or without reasonable accommodation. Waiakea cares about the health and safety of our team members. Team members are expected to follow all safety procedures and perform their job duties as assigned

Equal Employment Opportunity: Waiakea Inc. is an equal employment opportunity employer providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local law. In addition, Waiakea Inc. will provide reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals when appropriate.

Additional Company Information:

Waiakea is the first premium water brand in the U.S. to be certified carbon neutral for its many eco-initiatives. These include being the first brand to use 100% RPET (post-consumer recycled/upcycled) bottles that have a 90% smaller C02, energy and water footprint than competitors, as well as using 100% renewable energy to power its bottling operations in Hilo, all while prioritizing source sustainability by bottling only .001% of its 1.4 billion gallon per day Kea’au aquifer source sustainable yield.

For every liter you buy, Waiakea provides a week’s supply of clean water to those in need while contributing to local Hawaiian non-profits in education and conservation through its award-wining Kokua Initiative, which impacted over 20,000 individuals in Hawai’i in 2020 alone.

Our Brand Promises are as follows: 

- that every product you buy from us will be natural and healthy

- that every product you buy from us will be sustainably sourced, packaged, and shipped

- that for every product you buy from us, we will contribute to local and global non-profits and initiatives in clean water, conservation, and education.

Since our founding, Waiakea has gone from local, self-distribution to becoming one of the most award-winning and fastest growing premium beverage brands in the United States. Waiakea is now in over 30,000 stores nationally, distributed by more than 30 distributor partners. Current customers include Walmart, Whole Foods, Sam's Clubs, Kroger, Publix, Wawa, Sheetz, GetGo, Safeway, Central Markets, Albertsons and hundreds of other retail, fitness, foodservice, customers across the country alongside thousands of loyal customers online.

We have been featured by Forbes, Environmental Leader, Fortune, Food Navigator and even Good Morning America as one of the most innovative companies out there. If you align with our mission and core values, we would love to have you become a member of our Ohana!