Chief Operating Officer

About the role

The COO has total P&L responsibility including working with his/her team to develop the strategies, business plans that optimize, growth, revenue and profitability.

Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and oversight to Food Manufacturing (Ice Cream / Bakery), Warehousing, Logistics and Transportation.
• Partners with the CEO and Leadership Team to strategically position the business to maximize and maintain profitability and growth.
• Partners with Store Operations to ensure successful execution of key Retail programs with Food (Ice Cream / Bakery) and Supply Chain solutions.
• Solicits feedback from Operations with the goal to enhance sales, profitability and reduce expenses/food waste.
• Partners with revenue generating areas to improve efficiency, effectiveness, productivity and/or control.
• Ensures that the business operates within established risk and regulatory guidelines as established by appropriate regulatory agencies and internal policies.
• Uses industry benchmarks to ensure appropriate staffing and organizational structures are in place.
• Create an environment focused on continuous improvement in systems and procedural automation, efficiency and productivity.
• Develop, implement and monitor progress on UDF business profit improvement initiatives to improve revenues, reduce expenses, and/or increase production.
• Develop long-term customer and supplier relationships.
• Increase market share by assuring that systems are in place to define and meet constantly changing customer expectations for products solutions and services.
• Work with direct reports to provide capital expense projects, projections including building and equipment for areas of oversight.
• Establish, maintain and assess processes to achieve consistent customer satisfaction and cost reduction goals by maximizing productivity of assets and resources.
• Identify key financial trends (opportunities and challenges) and assist in creating organization that can quickly identify significant expense and revenue improvement ideas and ensure implementation.
• Recommend suggestions to further develop reliable, transparent management reporting.
• Will lead special projects as needed based on CEO direction, PMO planning.
• Leads by example related to DAIRY Culture and DAIRY Leadership.
• Responsible for providing direct reports with timely, candid and constructive performance feedback; developing associates to their fullest potential and provide challenging opportunities that enhance associate career growth.
• Develops the appropriate talent pool to ensure adequate bench strength and succession planning; recognizes and rewards associates for accomplishments.
• Responsible for growing associate engagement within the team as measured by regular workplace experience surveys.

Requirements

• 6+ Years of demonstrated leadership and management experience at a senior / executive level with P&L responsibility.
• Previous experience and in-depth knowledge of Food, Food Manufacturing, CPG, Logistics or Supply Chain, Quick-Service Restaurant organizations, Convenience Store distribution, strategies, etc.
• Demonstrated experience in managing the P&L for multiple categories/business units.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to operate in a complex, rapidly changing environment while adhering to tight schedules and budgets.
• Demonstrated project management and budgeting skills, with proven ability to balance multiple projects in varying degrees of implementation.
• Experience with Business Intelligence software packages (Microsoft BI).
• Experience with utilizing AI to create efficiencies and automation preferred.
• Prior experience with ERP based systems (Logistics, Supply Chain, Warehousing, Food manufacturing, Retail, etc.) preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business management (or other 4-year degree) or equivalent experience.
• MBA/Master’s degree preferred.

Key Personal Attributes

• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills are required.
• Excellent verbal, written, presentation, people, and diplomacy skills are required.
• Innovative thinker that can drive change throughout the division/organization.
• Leadership skills, initiative, a detail orientation, strong analytical skills, and decision-making skills.
• Able to work in a team environment.
• Ability to multi-task and to be flexible.
• Ability to motivate team, work independently, manage multiple projects, work under pressure, and adapt to sudden changes in the work environment.
• Excellent people/relationship building skills, including the ability to influence senior managers.