A fast-growing food manufacturing company is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to provide strategic and operational leadership across its production, supply chain, quality, finance, R&D and engineering functions. Working closely with the President and CEO, this is a key executive role for a proven operations leader with a track record of driving efficiency, safety, and scalability in a complex, high-volume manufacturing environment.

About the Chief Operating Officer role

Key responsibilities:

Lead end-to-end operations including production, supply chain, logistics, maintenance, and quality assurance across a large-scale manufacturing facility.
Develop and execute operational strategies that support company growth, efficiency, and customer delivery goals.
Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on throughput, yield, waste reduction, and cost optimization.
Ensure full compliance with food safety, regulatory, and quality standards (FDA, USDA, FSMA, SQF/BRC, HACCP, GMP).
Oversee capital projects, automation efforts, and preventive maintenance programs to enhance plant reliability and performance.
Partner with Sales, R&D, and Finance to align production capacity with customer demand and business forecasts.
Lead operational budgeting, forecasting, and performance management, ensuring accountability to KPIs and P&L targets.
Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing operations leadership team across production, QA, supply chain, and maintenance.
Foster a culture of safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement across all levels of the organization.
Serve as a primary operational contact for key customer accounts, ensuring alignment on schedules, quality, and delivery.

Key requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Food Science, or Business (MBA preferred).
15+ years of progressive leadership experience in food manufacturing, co-packing, or CPG production.
Proven success overseeing large-scale operations, including multiple production lines.
Deep expertise in food safety systems, regulatory compliance, and continuous improvement methodologies.
Strong financial acumen with P&L ownership and capital project management experience.
Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and implement scalable systems
Exceptional communication, analytical, and strategic thinking skills.

Cobalt Recruitment

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