Chief Operations Officer

Chief Operations Officer (FMCG)

Location: South West

Package: Circa £130k - £150k + Executive Benefits

An opportunity has arisen for a Chief Operations Officer seeking a new challenge within the dynamic, fast-moving environment of this growing business.

About the role

This role is a Board level position with responsibility for leading and directing all operational activities within the business to ensure that the overall company objectives are met as efficiently and effectively as possible. The role will be accountable for all aspects of operations; Purchasing, Warehousing and Distribution, Order Management, New Product Project Management, Supply and Demand Planning, Production Planning (3rd Party Contract) and Product Compliance.

Key Responsibilities

1. Work collaboratively with other Board members to manage both the day-to-day running of the business and to also define its strategic direction in terms of long-term planning and setting and meeting corporate objectives.
2. Set strategic objectives and deliver key results for all operational activities to facilitate driving the growth and profitability of the business against agreed targets.
3. Create a pro-active approach to dealing with ongoing compliance requirements across multiple jurisdictions.
4. Implement a fully functioning international multi-site fulfilment operation supporting the business's long-term strategic goals.
5. Provide dynamic leadership to a diverse team of senior reports to ensure efficient and effective functioning of each discipline within the operations portfolio, whilst fostering seamless collaboration and coordination within the team.
6. Provide constant evaluation of the efficiency of business procedures and implement improvements to optimise productivity utilising KPIs and by gathering, analysing, and interpreting data and metrics.
7. Control costs and deliver cost savings across the operations group to support the business's budget targets, specifically in the areas of physical distribution and procurement.
8. Ensure that all customer internal and external facing elements of the operations department deliver exceptional customer service.
9. Monitor the international arena to identify and develop solutions to address opportunities and issues that present themselves in the macro-economic environment.
10. Manage risk to the business effectively and implement measures to mitigate potential threats.
11. Deliver effective engagement and communication processes with the operations team to foster a culture of ownership, continuous improvement, and personal and team development.
12. Function as the company’s ambassador on all issues relating to its operational functions, keeping abreast of the latest developments.

Experience & Skills

1. A degree level of education.
2. A proven leader with a passion for driving strategic initiatives, optimising processes and people development.
3. Demonstrated ability to collaborate with a peer group at a senior management/board level.
4. Financially astute with experience of working at a senior level on budget preparation and management, including P&L and balance sheet activity.
5. Experience of managing and optimising inventory levels of both components and finished goods in relation to demand management and budget control/impact.
6. An individual with honed system and analytical skills.
7. A skilled negotiator.
8. An energetic communicator who can engage and inspire internal and external stakeholders.
9. Extensive and wide-ranging operations management experience within a FMCG (or similar) environment.
10. An in-depth knowledge of a diverse range of operations business functions including Purchasing, Warehousing and Distribution, Order Management, Project Management, Supply and Demand Planning, Production Planning (3rd Party Contract) and Product Compliance.
11. Experience of working in an international arena.
12. An initiative-taking problem-solver who thrives on continuous improvement and innovation.
13. A well-developed level of resilience and a demonstrated ability to make informed, timely decisions in a multi-faceted, dynamic environment.
14. A mentor who can develop and lead a team to deliver outstanding results.
15. Experience in setting up and running an efficient international multi-site fulfilment operation for B2C and B2B customers.
16. Experience in coordinating ongoing compliance requirements across multiple jurisdictions.