Chief Operating Officer

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a multi-faceted executive role with responsibility for Strategy, Optimization, Execution, Oversight and Results of key functions within the company. The Owned Functions include: Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Logistics, Quality, Safety, Customer Service, Capital Projects and Engineering across all three Divisions – Food, Animal and Agronomy. The COO will be a member of the Executive Team and report directly to the CEO. As a member of the Executive Team, the COO will participate in driving organizational vision and operations strategies, developing corporate strategies and execution of the corporate strategies through their team.

Success in the role will require assessing and challenging current policies, procedures, and ways of working and implementing best practices to optimize efficient operations and mitigate risks.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Owned Functions

• Responsible for the efficiency, responsiveness, quality of products and services, and overall effectiveness of owned functions
• Develop, maintain, and communicate the key metrics. Utilize Key Metrics to drive business performance, course corrections and decisions making.
• Oversee company operations and employee productivity, building a highly inclusive culture that ensures team members can thrive and organizational goals are met.
• Define and Lead Procurement strategy that ensures security of supply, minimizes risks, and is aggressively cost conscious. Focus on “Total Cost of ownership” including transport, storage, materials, working capital, quality, and service performance. Manage inventory in alignment with CFO.
• Install and Lead a S&OP process across all three business units including optimizing production scheduling
• Analyze internal operations and identify areas for process enhancement.
• In partnership with CEO and CFO, develop annual operating budget for owned functions including CAPEX, People, COGS, and Cost Savings Initiatives
• Manage capital investments and expenses aggressively to ensure that the company achieves investor targets for growth, profitability & ROI.
• Ensure the Health and Safety of all staff including continuous improvements.
• Ensure all FSQ and Regulatory requirements are met at all times.
• Responsible for ensuring the owned functions properly protect and maintain the value of the organization’s assets.

• Participates in the development and execution of the overall corporate strategy and business goals.
• Implement business strategies and plans that align with the short- and long-term objectives developed in tandem with CEO. Translate strategy into actionable steps and communicate overall strategy and actions with team and overall business.
• Ensure owned functions are aligned with and actively support the strategies of the divisions and Corporation to enable their success in their respective marketplaces.
• Proactively identify business needs and opportunities for improvement. Develop business cases and recommendations for changes. Engage and align with Executive Team. Implement agreed upon changes.
• Participate in M&A activities including assessment of targets, due diligence, integration, and optimization of acquired enterprises.

• Participates in the highest level of decision making and strategy development in the company.
• Balance the needs of the owned functions with the broader needs and priorities of the divisions and the corporation as a whole.
• Active participation in and contribution to corporate planning, resource allocation and investment decisions, and has a shared responsibility for the overall financial results of the business.
• In partnership with Human Resources, ensure performance management standards are met, active participation in talent management and overall people planning. Ability to identify and develop key talent. Ensure effective recruiting, onboarding, and retention.
• Represent Owned function in regular Board meetings including strategic updates, operational performance, and business cases.
• Build and maintain trusting relationships with key suppliers, customers, clients, partners, and stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with national and local business regulations and take appropriate action when necessary.

Required Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, manufacturing, engineering, or other related field
• Excellent leadership skills, with steadfast resolve and personal integrity
• Understanding of advanced business planning and regulatory issues
• Solid grasp of data analysis and performance metrics
• Ability to diagnose problems quickly and foresee potential issues.
• Proven track record in managing and leading a variety of business functions.
• Ability to travel to multiple manufacturing locations, approximately 35% travel.
• Ability to clearly, concisely, and effectively communicate at an executive level including in front of a Board, Sponsors, and Executives at our suppliers, customers, and partners.

• In depth experience and knowledge of manufacturing processes
• In depth experience and knowledge of Procurement processes
• A high-level of leadership and executive management skills
• Strong intellectual and thinking capabilities.
• A strong commitment to individual learning and development
• Strong, well-rounded communication skills (written and verbal)
• Well-developed interpersonal skills

World Class Customer Service: Genuinely listens to our customer (both internal and external), demonstrates understanding of customer needs, remarkably helpful, works together to meet customer needs, does what he/she says they will do.

Uncompromising Quality: Understands quality expectations, makes every effort to do it right the first time. Learns from mistakes and is committed to continuously improve. Process driven.

Family Feel/Professionally Run: Support each other as people, shows respect, trust, loyalty, and humility with others, sets and achieves measurable goals, embraces best practices.

Business Acumen: Knows how businesses work; knowledgeable in current and possible future policies, practices, trends, technology, and information affecting his/her business and organization; knows the competition; is aware of how strategies and tactics work in the marketplace.

Decision Quality: Makes good decisions based upon a mixture of analysis, wisdom, experience, and judgment; most of his/her solutions and suggestions turn out to be correct and accurate when judged over time; sought out by others for advice and solutions.

Developing Direct Reports and Others: Provides challenging and stretching tasks and assignments; holds frequent development discussions; is aware of each person's career goals; constructs compelling development plans and executes them; pushes people to accept developmental moves; will take on those who need help and further development; cooperates with the developmental system in the organization; is a people builder.

Drive for Results: Can be counted on to exceed goals successfully; is constantly and consistently one of the top performers; very bottom-line oriented; steadfastly pushes self and others for results.

Safety Equipment Required: Personal Protective Equipment when on production floor.