Chief Operating Officer

Achatz Handmade Pie Co. | Pie Collective; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 190,000 - 270,000; Full time

Job summary

A family-owned business in Detroit seeks a Chief Operating Officer to lead operations across manufacturing, retail, and wholesale. The role requires 15+ years of progressive operations experience and a bachelor's degree. The COO will improve governance, promote quality, and help scale the organization while preserving its distinct culture. This opportunity emphasizes strategic leadership and the ability to implement data-driven decision-making. Competitive compensation aligned with experience is offered.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive operations leadership experience.
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise-scale operations.
• Proven success professionalizing operations in a founder-led business.
• Hands‑on NetSuite ERP implementation and discipline across functions.
• Demonstrated enterprise‑scale operations leadership beyond plant execution.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for manufacturing and operational functions.
• Establish a strong operating rhythm and proactive strategies.
• Lead the transition to standardized operating practices.
• Transition from founder‑dependent processes to standardized, governed practices.
• Own enterprise process governance, SOPs, training, and continuous improvement.

Skills

Operations leadership

Quality governance

Data-driven execution

Continuous improvement

Strategic thought partnership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Operations, Engineering, Business, or related field

Relevant certifications in Lean/Continuous Improvement

Tools

NetSuite ERP

Job description

Achatz Handmade Pie Co. / Pie Collective is a founder-led, family-owned business recognized for premium products, ingredient integrity, and craftsmanship. As the company enters its next phase of growth, we are seeking a Chief Operating Officer to serve as a strategic partner to ownership and architect the operational foundation required to scale without compromising quality, culture, or brand promise. This role offers a rare opportunity to professionalize and integrate operations across manufacturing, retail, and wholesale while honoring the values that make Achatz distinctive. The COO will bring structure, clarity, and disciplined execution to a growing organization and help unlock sustainable, profitable growth.

Overview

The COO will have enterprise-wide responsibility for operations, systems, and execution. This leader will translate strategy into scalable processes, strengthen governance and accountability, and ensure the organization has the infrastructure, talent, and data needed to grow with confidence.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership for manufacturing and operational functions, ensuring consistent quality, efficiency, and cost discipline
• Establish a strong operating rhythm that shifts the organization from reactive problem-solving to proactive, data-driven execution.
• Develop scalable capacity and workforce strategies aligned with growth objectives.

Systems, Process & Governance

• Lead the transition from informal, founder-dependent processes to standardized, governed, and repeatable operating practices.
• Own enterprise process governance, including SOPs, training, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure alignment between documented standards and real-world execution.
• Drive enterprise adoption of NetSuite, ensuring it becomes the system of record and delivers actionable operational and financial visibility.
• Eliminate workarounds and shadow systems that undermine data integrity.

Quality & Brand Protection

• Strengthen quality governance and decision-making discipline, reinforcing a culture where quality is non-negotiable.
• Assess and evolve the QA operating model to support growth and complexity.
• Partner closely with ownership to provide clear, actionable insight into cost structure, margins, and performance drivers.
• Elevate the use of KPIs, dashboards, and analytics to support better decision-making across the business.

Growth Enablement & Cross-Functional Partnership

• Collaborate with leadership to evaluate and execute growth strategies across retail, wholesale, and branded opportunities.
• Help balance growth ambition with operational readiness and risk management.
• Build leadership capability and bench strength across operations.
• Clarify roles, expectations, and accountability while leading with empathy and respect for a family‑owned culture.
• Model high‑EQ leadership: structure without rigidity, discipline without fear.

Requirements

• 15+ years of progressive operations leadership experience, including at least 5 of those years with senior‑level accountability (VP Operations, General Manager, or COO equivalent) within a manufacturing environment (Food, CPG, or highly regulated manufacturing experience)
• Bachelor’s degree required (Operations, Engineering, Business, or related field); secondary degree highly preferred.
• Relevant certifications in Lean/Continuous Improvement, food safety and quality systems (HACCP, PCQI, SQF/BRC/FSSC), supply chain (APICS), or ERP platforms (NetSuite required)
• Hands‑on experience implementing and driving adoption of NetSuite ERP system; ability to enforce system discipline and data integrity across functions
• Demonstrated experience leading enterprise‑scale operations, with responsibility for systems, process, people, and performance — not just plant execution
• Proven success professionalizing operations in a founder‑led, family‑owned, or entrepreneurial business transitioning to its next growth phase
• Strong operational and financial acumen, including ownership of KPIs, cost structure, margin drivers, and performance management
• Track record of building scalable processes and governance, including SOPs, training, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Quality‑first leadership mindset, with experience operating in environments where brand, product integrity, and consistency are critical
• Experience overseeing multi‑channel operations (manufacturing + retail + wholesale)
• Proven people leader, capable of developing managers, clarifying roles, and raising accountability while maintaining trust and engagement
• Comfort operating as a strategic thought partner to ownership, translating vision into execution and providing clear, data‑backed recommendations

Target Compensation

Competitive and commensurate with experience; total rewards may include performance‑based incentives.

Work Mode

Onsite Chesterfield, MI

Achatz Handmade Pies Pie Company / Pie Collective is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.