Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officer

Overview:

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) position is a pivotal executive role, vital for the oversight and strategic direction of the company's retail operations. The COO is responsible for improving and securing the functionality of business to drive extensive and sustainable growth, operational excellence, enhanced profitability, and ensure alignment with the company's overarching strategic objectives. The COO will be instrumental in shaping the operational landscape of the organization, ensuring efficiency, customer satisfaction, and profitability across all retail locations.

Job Summary:

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will have comprehensive oversight of retail operations spanning 579 locations, with a mandate to drive operational excellence and financial performance. This executive role encompasses the leadership of four principal divisions and key operational support functions, including Asset Protection, Inventory Management, Store Communications, and Operational Expenditure (Opex) Support. The COO will ensure that store operations are streamlined, customer-centric, and fully aligned with the company’s strategic goals while fostering a culture that promotes ethical practices, customer focus and encourages individual integrity. This role reports to President & CEO of 1918 Winter Street Partners.

Essential Functions (Responsibilities & Duties of Position)

The Role:

Strategic Execution:

• Collaborate with cross-functional leadership teams to develop and execute long-term operational strategies that support the company's growth objectives.
• Ensure the alignment of operational activities with broader company initiatives, including merchandising, marketing, and supply chain strategies.

Sales and Profit Growth:

• Set comprehensive goals for performance and growth. Accountable for driving sales and profit growth across all retail locations by optimizing operational performance and ensuring strategic alignment.
• Oversee P&L responsibilities for all labor, operational expenses (Opex), Net Promoter Scores (NPS), and customer satisfaction metrics.
• Lead initiatives to enhance sales performance while controlling costs to ensure sustained profitability.

Retail Operations Leadership:

• Oversee the day-to-day operations of the retail business. Provide strategic leadership and oversight to 579 retail locations across four major divisions.
• Ensure the effective implementation of company policies, plans, methods, and programs to achieve projected sales and profitability targets.
• Drive operational excellence by maintaining superior store conditions, maximizing customer satisfaction, and enhancing employee engagement.

People Leadership & Development:

• Lead and develop a large, diverse team of store managers, divisional leaders, and operational support staff across multiple locations.
• Evaluate the performance of senior team members reporting to the COO
• Ensure there is an effective succession plan in place for the COO position and other key executives of the corporation reporting to the COO.
• Foster a culture of leadership development, actively mentoring future leaders within the organization.
• Implement employee engagement programs that promote retention, career growth, and a positive work environment across all retail locations.
• Maintain a positive and ethical work climate that is conducive to attracting, retaining and motivating top-quality employees at all levels.
• Ensure that operational teams are equipped with the necessary tools, training, and development opportunities to deliver outstanding results and meet business objectives.

Operational Support Functions:

• Oversee key operational support functions, including Asset Protection, Inventory Management, Store Communications, and Opex Support.
• Ensure that these support functions are strategically aligned to enhance overall efficiency and performance.

Opex and Cost Management:

• Oversee retail operational expenses (Opex) across the business, ensuring efficient allocation and utilization of resources.
• Collaborate with divisional teams to identify and implement cost reduction and efficiency improvement opportunities while maintaining high operational standards.

Position Qualifications:

The Person

The new COO will ultimately have a transformational impact on the business. This individual will play an integral part as the business matures operationally and culturally.

Specific requirements include:

• Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to drive results in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• A commercially astute, highly strategic leader with a strong and intimate focus on the customer.
• Substantial general management experience; an expert in leading and inspiring sizeable teams, preferably within a fast-paced, ethically oriented, environment.
• 20+ years of progressive leadership experience in retail operations, ideally within the grocery or related retail industry.
• Proven track record of leading large-scale retail operations with P&L accountability, managing labor, Opex, and customer satisfaction metrics. Strong knowledge of operational best practices, including inventory management, asset protection, and store communications.
• Strong financially, with excellent budgetary, forecasting and future planning skills. Excellent financial acumen and experience managing significant operational budgets.
• Experience of managing a substantial growth program and a strong project management mind set.
• Sharp intellect and well-developed analytical and critical reasoning skills. Natural self-confidence and awareness combined with extremely high levels of emotional intelligence.
• Ability to integrate their own leadership style into a business with a strong existing culture and identity.
• Exceptional leadership abilities, with experience managing large, cross-functional teams and overseeing multiple regions or divisions.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. A willingness to roll-up-the-sleeves, when appropriate, and lead from the front.
• High levels of drive, energy and resilience.
• Ideally located in Arizona or willing to relocate is required.
• Ability to travel 50%.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations Management, or a related field (MBA preferred) or equivalent and related professional experience

ABOUT US:

C&S Wholesale Grocers, LLC is an industry leader in supply chain solutions and wholesale grocery supply in the United States. Founded in 1918 as a supplier to independent grocery stores, C&S now services customers of all sizes, supplying more than 7,500 independent supermarkets, chain stores, military bases and institutions with over 100,000 different products. C&S also proudly operates and supports corporate grocery stores and services independent franchisees under a chain-style model throughout the Midwest, South and Northeast. We are an engaged corporate citizen, supporting causes that positively impact our communities. C&S has established a subsidiary, 1918 Winter Street Partners, which will operate the recently announced purchase of several hundred stores that have become available due to The Kroger Co. and Albertsons Companies Inc. merger. The transaction is not final and C&S’s agreement is subject to Kroger and Albertsons resolving the pending cases in court.