Natural Choice Foods has entrusted Management Business Solutions as a strategic recruitment partner in their pursuit of a Chief Operating Officer to join their office in Marne, MI. Aligned with Natural Choice Foods’ robust talent strategies, we have meticulously structured our processes to adeptly identify, screen, and recruit qualified candidates for this pivotal opening.
Natural Choice Foods collaborates with a wide range of food suppliers to address excess inventory challenges, mitigate expiration risks, and improve profit margins. With over 25 years of industry expertise, NCF serves as a trusted partner, transforming surplus products into profitable opportunities while ensuring rigorous brand protection and reliability.
SUMMARY: The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key leader responsible for driving scalable growth while ensuring efficiency, productivity, and operational excellence across Repack, Warehouse, Logistics, and Facilities. Reporting to the CEO, the COO will develop and implement strategies that support business expansion, increased capacity utilization, and continuous improvement in operations.
This role will focus on optimizing cost structures, enhancing quality, and improving customer satisfaction while preparing the company for long-term growth and scalability. The COO will be instrumental in building infrastructure, streamlining processes, and leveraging innovation to support the company’s evolving needs as it expands its market presence and operational capabilities.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Operational Excellence & Efficiency:
- Drive operational efficiency by optimizing workflows, reducing bottlenecks, and ensuring seamless coordination across departments.
- Improve Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) by maximizing uptime, throughput, and quality while reducing waste and downtime.
- Ensure capacity utilization is aligned with production goals and future growth projections.
- Implement best practices to enhance time to market, ensuring quick and cost-effective order fulfillment.
- Establish KPIs and data-driven strategies to enhance productivity and performance.
Cost Management & Financial Oversight:
- Manage and reduce cost by optimizing throughput and reducing downtime.
- Oversee budgeting and cost control measures for all operational functions.
- Identify opportunities for cost reduction without compromising quality, safety, or customer satisfaction.
- Collaborate with Finance to monitor key financial metrics and drive profitability improvements.
Productivity & Workforce Management:
- Enhance staff productivity by implementing training programs, performance incentives, and workforce optimization strategies.
- Foster a high-performance culture through leadership, accountability, and continuous improvement initiatives.
- Align staffing levels with operational needs to ensure efficiency without excess labor costs.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or a related field (MBA preferred).
- 10+ years in operations and manufacturing leadership roles, preferably within the food industry.
- Proven success in building and scaling processes in a growth-focused or startup-like manufacturing environment.
- Experience managing production teams and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
- Deep understanding of lean manufacturing principles and tools (e.g., Kaizen, Six Sigma).
- Familiarity with machinery design, maintenance, and optimization.
- Understanding of FDA & USDA, quality standards, and industry best practices.
- Proficiency in using manufacturing software and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.
- Strong ability to mentor and develop teams in dynamic, fast-paced environments.
- Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, track operational KPIs, and align manufacturing operations with strategic business objectives.
MANAGEMENT BUSINESS SOLUTIONS IS AN EQUAL-OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
