COO

Schelstraete Delacourt; Nordrhein-Westfalen; Vor Ort; EUR 100.000 - 150.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

A private equity-backed food company in Nordrhein-Westfalen is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to oversee production facilities and drive operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in operations management, specifically in food production, and experience in leading successful transformations. In this role, you will enhance efficiency across facilities, ensuring compliance with safety standards and fostering a culture of accountability. A Master's degree in Engineering and fluency in English are required, with Dutch as a plus.

Qualifikationen

• Strong career track in operations management roles, including as COO and Plant Manager.
• Experience in food production.
• Proven capability in leading operational transformations.

Aufgaben

• Lead and develop high-performing teams.
• Ensure compliance with food safety and quality regulations.
• Optimize operational footprint and streamline workflows.
• Enhance plant layouts and implement continuous improvement.

Kenntnisse

Operations management

Leadership skills

Compliance with food safety

Strategic planning

Lean manufacturing principles

Ausbildung

Master in Engineering

Jobbeschreibung

The Company

Schelstraete Delacourt is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) for one of our clients. The company is a private equity backed food company with an international scope. With multiple production facilities across Belgium and the Netherlands, and a focus on operational excellence, the company is well‑positioned for its next phase of growth.

The Role

The COO will oversee 6 production facilities and drive the optimization of daily operations, playing a pivotal role in scaling the organization. They will ensure that operational processes evolve alongside company growth while setting new benchmarks for efficiency, excellence, and quality. As a key member of the executive team, the COO will report directly to the CEO.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop high‑performing teams that embody accountability and a culture of operational excellence.
• Ensure full compliance with food safety, quality, and HSE regulations while promoting a strong safety culture.
• Collaborate closely with Finance, R&D, and Commercial teams to align operations, enhance efficiency, and support sustainable growth.
• Optimize the operational footprint and streamline workflows across plants to maximize efficiency.
• Enhance plant layouts, implement lean manufacturing principles, and champion continuous improvement.
• Minimize waste in high‑loss processes, optimize raw material use, and implement cost‑saving initiatives.

Profile

• Strong career track in operations management roles up to multi‑site management level. Previous experience as COO and Plant Manager is a must.
• Experience in food production is a must.
• Experience in industries/companies with solid capabilities in operational excellence/efficiency.
• Proven capability in leading operational transformations, bringing an organization to the next level in terms of operations and supply chain performance.
• Solid leadership skills, able to inspire and engage a team and set high standards of performance, while also being able to make tough decisions when needed.
• Combination of strategic acumen and hands‑on execution: able to review an operational footprint from a strategic angle as well as being hands‑on in the plants with a diligent eye for details.
• Combination of technical skills with the ability to work cross‑functionally in a collaborative manner with other departments like sales & marketing, finance, HR, etc.
• Fit with the culture characterized as hands‑on, down‑to‑earth, performance‑driven, and entrepreneurial. Affinity with a private equity‑owned company is a plus, but not a must.
• Master in Engineering and fluency in English. Dutch is a plus.