Chief Operating Officer

Max Distributing; Fort Worth (TX); On-site; USD 180,000 - 290,000; Full time

Job summary

Max Distributing is seeking a Chief Operating Officer to join the leadership team and drive operational alignment across its distribution and manufacturing entities in Fort Worth, TX. You will bridge sales, purchasing, and operations to translate commitments into executable plans, oversee 2,300+ SKUs, and lead key vendor relationships and performance across both entities.

The role requires 7+ years of operations leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and a track record in multi‑unit

Qualifications

• 7+ years in operations leadership across distribution and/or manufacturing.
• Proven ability to bridge sales, purchasing and operations functions.
• Experience on a senior leadership team and multi-entity environments.
• Track record managing multi-SKU inventory, vendor relationships, and retail accounts.
• Experience in production planning, quality, and efficiency management.
• Strong analytical skills with reporting and KPI‑driven leadership.

Responsibilities

• Lead as COO for both distribution and manufacturing entities with daily operational accountability.
• Align demand signals, inventory planning and buying decisions with sales and purchasing leadership.
• Bridge sales and purchasing to translate commitments into executable plans.
• Oversee item catalog, warehousing, vendor relationships, and account operations.
• Drive major retail partnerships, including reporting and issue resolution.
• Lead process improvement in procurement, fulfillment, production, and logistics.
• Manage and develop operations, warehouse, and production staff; support capacity planning.
• Partner with President on budgeting, cost control, and risk management.

Skills

Operations leadership

Cross-functional leadership

Supply chain experience

Vendor management

Analytics & KPI

Multi-entity experience

Budgeting & cost control

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations, or related field

Job description

Our organization operates both a distribution company and a manufacturing company under common ownership. We are seeking a Chief Operating Officer to join our leadership team and serve as the critical bridge between sales, purchasing, and operations - ensuring alignment across both entities and driving operational efficiency and execution at every level. This is a hands‑on leadership role for someone who can connect the dots between what's being sold, what's being bought, and what's actually happening on the ground, across a growing, multi‑entity organization.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a member of the leadership team, contributing to company‑wide strategy and decision‑making
• Serve as Chief Operating Officer for both the distribution and manufacturing companies, with full accountability for daily operations across each
• Work directly with sales and purchasing leadership to align demand signals, inventory planning, and buying decisions
• Act as the operational bridge between sales and purchasing - ensuring commitments made to customers translate into executable purchasing and operational plans
• Own operations across the distribution business's item catalog, warehousing, purchasing, and vendor relationships (2,300+ SKUs across 100+ vendors)
• Serve as operational lead on major retail partnerships, including sales and shrink reporting, account management, and issue resolution
• Oversee manufacturing operations, including production planning, quality control, vendor/supplier coordination, and output efficiency
• Drive execution discipline across the organization - translating strategy and sales commitments into operational reality
• Build and manage operational reporting and KPIs across both entities - inventory accuracy, order fulfillment, production output, and loss/shrink trends
• Identify and execute on operational synergies between the distribution and manufacturing sides of the business
• Lead process improvement initiatives across procurement, fulfillment, production, and logistics
• Manage, develop, and hold accountable operations, warehouse, and production staff
• Support facilities and capacity planning decisions (site consolidation, expansion, lease vs. buy analysis)
• Partner with the President and leadership team on budgeting, cost control, and operational risk management

Qualifications

• 7+ years in operations leadership, with experience spanning distribution and/or manufacturing environments
• Proven ability to bridge sales, purchasing, and operations functions - not just manage operations in isolation
• Experience working as part of a senior leadership team
• Track record managing multi‑SKU inventory, vendor relationships, and retail account operations
• Experience overseeing production or manufacturing operations, including quality and efficiency management
• Strong analytical skills - comfortable with reporting, forecasting, and KPI‑driven management
• Experience managing warehouse, logistics, and/or production teams
• Demonstrated ability to operate effectively across multiple business units or entities
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field (or equivalent experience)

Preferred

• Direct, hands‑on experience leading a warehouse or production facility - this is a strong plus
• Experience in regulated or scrutiny‑prone product categories
• Experience working with convenience store/retail distribution channels
• Familiarity with manufacturing compliance and quality standards relevant to the industry