Chief Operating Officer

Consea America is a US-based leading Executive Search firm providing high-quality solutions in search and selection of Middle to Top Management.

We operate across many industries including Automotive and Manufacturing, Fashion & Retail, Consumer Goods, and Health Care industries boasting long-term relationships both with clients and candidates.

Consea America is part of Consea Group.

At Consea, we focus on relationships – with each other, our clients, and our candidates - in fact, serving others is one of our core values. We support open communication and recognize that giving constructive criticism can be even harder than receiving it. We appreciate the fearless and the passionate who force us to be better. Everything we do sits on a pillar of diversity - diverse perspectives, backgrounds, and ideas drive innovation and make us successful. Consea is committed to a recruitment process that results in hiring the best applicants. Consea’s Delivery Team will be responsible for sourcing, pre-selecting, pre-screen, interview, and offer.

Consea promotes equal opportunity through affirmative action in employment. Discrimination is prohibited on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, and qualified veteran status. Equal opportunity results when all applicants are treated consistently at every stage of recruitment.

Client Overview: Our client is a leading processor and supplier in the food manufacturing industry and they have called on us to assist them in identifying their Chief Operating Officer.

Job title: Chief Operating Officer

Mission: Reporting directly to the CEO, the Chief Operating Officer (COO) will lead operations across two production sites, driving excellence, efficiency, and alignment with company goals. This role oversees these two plant locations, providing strategic leadership to ensure strong operational controls, effective processes, and high-performing teams.

Key Responsibilities:

• Champion a culture of food safety and quality. All employees share responsibility for maintaining compliance with critical control points (CCPs) and promptly reporting any food safety or quality concerns.
• Oversee the daily operations of the organization, including production, logistics, quality, engineering, and capital project management (CAPEX).
• Foster an empowered, accountable, and motivated workforce, recognizing employee achievements and promoting ownership at every level.
• Develop, implement, and manage key performance indicators (KPIs), ensuring accountability and achievement of operational targets.
• Ensure regulatory compliance at the company, state, local, and federal levels, including all applicable food safety regulations.
• Drive sustainable growth, improve efficiencies, and minimize losses across all operational areas.
• Collaborate with Sales and Finance to align manufacturing plans with business demand, supply dynamics, and financial goals.
• Execute business strategies and operational plans that promote company culture, vision, and growth.
• Analyze performance data, metrics, and KPIs to identify opportunities for improvement and operational optimization.
• Lead the design and implementation of scalable systems, processes, and personnel infrastructure to meet company objectives.
• Ensure optimal load balancing between facilities and oversee process effectiveness across all sites.
• Develop the annual operating plan in collaboration with the leadership team, aligning with corporate goals.
• Evaluate department leaders, providing coaching and accountability toward operational excellence.
• Monitor, report, and address critical operational downtime, initiating corrective and preventive improvements.
• Perform other duties as assigned or required.

Qualifications and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA strongly preferred.
• 10+ years of senior leadership experience managing day-to-day operations in a food processing.
• Proven experience delivering high-quality, cost-effective, and on-time production in a dynamic, seasonal, or agriculturally influenced environment.
• Deep understanding of food processing operations and related compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated ability to drive results, streamline processes, and lead organizations toward measurable performance improvement.
• Proven success implementing LEAN, Six Sigma, Continuous Improvement, Total Quality Management, or equivalent methodologies.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, capable of influencing across all levels of the organization.
• Strong strategic and analytical thinking with a focus on efficiency, quality, and profitability.
• Skilled in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and adept at using technology to improve performance and reporting.
• Experience managing diverse teams in multicultural and complex operational environments.
• Fluency in English required; Spanish proficiency preferred.
• Willingness to travel as needed.

Compensation Range: $350K/yr - $450K/yr + bonus

Other information: Candidate must show proof of US citizenship/visa/alien registration. No sponsorship will be offered for this role.