Chief Operating Officer
📍 Boston Metro | 🕒 Full-Time, In-Person, Remote, or Hybrid
Key Responsibilities & KPIs
- Strategic & Operational Leadership
Responsibilities:
- Partner with the CEO to define and execute Dumpling Daughter’s 3-year growth plan and operational roadmap.
- Translate strategic goals into actionable, measurable plans with clear ownership, budgets, and KPIs.
- Drive continuous improvement, speed, and cost efficiency across all areas of the business.
- Lead monthly operations reviews and OKR tracking.
KPIs:
- Achievement of annual growth and profitability targets
- % of strategic initiatives delivered on time and on budget
- Employee engagement >85%
2. Supply Chain & Production Management
Responsibilities:
- Oversee sourcing, procurement, and co-manufacturing for dumplings and sauces.
- Manage relationships with co-packers, ingredient suppliers, and cold storage partners.
- Ensure food safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance (USDA, FDA).
- Implement production planning to meet demand across retail, restaurant, and DTC channels.
KPIs:
- Cost of Goods Sold (COGS) % improvement YoY
- On-time, in-full (OTIF) deliveries ≥ 95%
- Production yield > 98%
- Quality incident rate < 0.5% of total units
3. Logistics, Fulfillment & Distribution
Responsibilities:
- Lead cold chain logistics, inventory management, and fulfillment operations.
- Manage third-party logistics (3PLs) for retail and e-commerce distribution.
- Optimize warehouse operations to balance inventory turns and freshness.
- Build reliable, scalable systems for regional and national distribution.
KPIs:
- Fulfillment accuracy ≥ 99%
- Inventory turnover 8–10x per year
- Freight cost per unit (target reduction YoY)
- Average delivery time (target improvement YoY)
4. Commercial Operations & Launch Readiness
Responsibilities:
- Partner with Sales and Marketing to operationalize product launches and new retail expansion.
- Ensure production, packaging, and logistics readiness for new SKUs or new channels.
- Collaborate on demand forecasting, pricing, and inventory optimization.
- Support expansion into new regions, retailers, and foodservice partners.
KPIs:
- Product launch on-time rate ≥ 95%
- Forecast accuracy ≥ 85%
- Out-of-stock rate < 3% across SKUs
- Gross margin improvement YoY
5. Financial & Performance Management
Responsibilities:
- Build and manage annual operating budget; drive cost discipline and operational efficiency.
- Partner with Finance to manage working capital, cash flow, and inventory economics.
- Monitor key metrics through dashboards and operational reporting.
- Identify and execute cost reduction and margin improvement initiatives.
KPIs:
- Gross margin % (target improvement YoY)
- EBITDA margin growth YoY
- Cash conversion cycle improvement
- Operational expense ratio (OpEx as % of revenue)
6. Team Leadership & Culture
Responsibilities:
- Build and lead a high-performing operations team spanning supply chain, QA, and logistics.
- Hire, coach, and develop talent; establish clear accountability and growth paths.
- Reinforce Dumpling Daughter’s culture of quality, authenticity, and teamwork.
- Champion diversity, inclusion, and a positive, collaborative environment.
KPIs:
- Team retention ≥ 90%
- Employee engagement ≥ 85%
- Leadership succession & internal promotion rate ≥ 20%
7. Systems, Compliance & Continuous Improvement
Responsibilities:
- Implement systems (ERP/MRP, inventory, QA) to scale operations and improve visibility.
- Ensure full compliance with all regulatory, labeling, and food safety requirements.
- Drive automation, process simplification, and waste reduction.
- Lead sustainability and responsible sourcing initiatives.
KPIs:
- Audit/compliance success rate 100%
- Reduction in manual processes ≥ 20% YoY
- Waste reduction % of output
- ERP utilization rate ≥ 90%
Qualifications
- 10+ years of experience in food manufacturing, CPG, or FMCG operations, ideally including frozen or refrigerated foods.
- Proven success scaling supply chain and production in a high-growth food brand.
- Experience managing co-packers, 3PLs, and cold chain logistics.
- Deep understanding of food safety, quality, and compliance (FDA/USDA).
- Strong financial and analytical skills; P&L ownership preferred.
- Entrepreneurial mindset, hands-on leadership style, and collaborative approach.
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent experience preferred.
Why Join Dumpling Daughter
- Join a beloved, mission-driven food brand entering its next phase of national growth.
- Opportunity to build systems, teams, and scale from the ground up.
- Competitive compensation, including equity participation.
- Be part of a company that blends family values, cultural authenticity, and commercial ambition.
How to Apply: Send your resume and a cover letter to [email protected]