Chief Operating Officer

Kalon Executive Search for Nutraceuticals, VMS and wellness CPG; New York (NY); On-site; USD 255,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Kalon Staffing is seeking a Chief Operating Officer for a privatel held CDMO focused on nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, and wellness products. The role demands leading operations, scaling manufacturing capacity, and driving customer delivery in a fast-paced, FDA-regulated environment.

You will build a high-performing leadership team, tightly integrating Operations with Sales, QA/QC, Finance, and Commercialization to ensure seamless customer experiences and strong margins.

Qualifications

• Proven track record driving results in fast-paced environments without waiting for perfect information.
• Direct CDMO/contract manufacturing leadership experience with customer-focused delivery.
• Leadership of complex manufacturing ops: production, supply chain, planning, maintenance and performance.
• Ability to install processes, KPIs, accountability, and operating rhythms for consistent performance.
• High energy leadership with a bias for rapid, high-quality execution.
• FDA-regulated manufacturing experience with audit exposure and rapid decision-making.

Responsibilities

• Lead a true CDMO model, aligning production schedules with customer specifications, timelines, and cost structures.
• Provide executive leadership for manufacturing operations including production, supply chain, planning, maintenance, and performance management.
• Drive decisive, timely decisions to maintain momentum even with imperfect information.

Skills

Executive leadership

CDMO / contract manufacturing

FDA regulated

Strategic planning

Cross-functional collaboration

Operational excellence

Audit readiness

Change management

Education

MBA or equivalent

Job description

Our client is seeking an exceptional Chief Operating Officer to lead operations for a growing, privately held Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO) specializing in nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, and related wellness products. This is a high-impact executive role reporting to the CEO, responsible for driving operational excellence, scaling manufacturing capacity, strengthening customer delivery, and building a high-performing leadership team capable of supporting aggressive growth.

The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced, customer-centric contract manufacturing environment where production schedules and client relationships are tightly linked. Success requires decisive leadership, operational discipline, and the ability to deliver measurable improvements without relying on constant CEO intervention

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead in a true CDMO / contract manufacturing model-managing to customer specifications, timelines, and cost structures rather than a single internal product roadmap.
• Provide overall leadership for complex manufacturing operations, including production, supply chain, planning, maintenance, and operational performance.
• Drive executive decision-making with urgency and confidence, making timely calls and maintaining momentum even without perfect information.
• Establish and enforce operational discipline through clear processes, KPIs, accountability systems, and consistent operating rhythms that eliminate firefighting.
• Build, develop, and lead a high-energy, high-performing operations leadership team focused on rapid and disciplined execution.
• Oversee operations in an FDA-regulated environment, ensuring quality and compliance while maintaining speed; manage customer and third-party audit readiness and responses.
• Tightly integrate Operations with Sales, Account Management, Commercialization, QA/QC, and Finance to ensure seamless customer experience and commercial success.
• Manage both internal production and outsourced manufacturing partners / co-packers, including quality oversight, capacity planning, and margin accountability across models.
• Drive continuous improvement in productivity, capacity utilization, cost, quality, service levels, and on-time delivery.
• Support executive-level transitions and organizational change with strategic clarity and practical execution.

Required Qualifications & Experience:

• Proven track record of executive decision-making and driving results in fast-paced environments without waiting for perfect information.
• Direct experience in a CDMO or contract manufacturing setting where customer relationships and production schedules are inseparable.
• Significant experience leading complex manufacturing operations (production, supply chain, planning, maintenance, and performance management).
• Demonstrated ability to install processes, KPIs, accountability, and operating rhythms that create consistent performance.
• Strong team-building skills combined with high energy and a bias for rapid, high-quality implementation.
• Direct experience operating in an FDA-regulated manufacturing facility, including customer and third-party audit exposure; comfortable balancing quality/compliance constraints with speed.
• Experience with executive-level transitions (either leading them or having a meaningful seat in the room).
• Ability to tightly connect Operations with Sales, Account Management, Commercialization, QA/QC, and Finance.
• Track record managing external manufacturing partners or co-packers alongside internal production, with clear ownership of quality, capacity, and margins.
• Proven continuous improvement results in productivity, capacity, cost, quality, service levels, and on-time delivery.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Significant industry gravitas that immediately elevates the company's credibility and "Q" rating with customers, partners, and the broader nutraceutical ecosystem.
• Ideally full-time onsite presence; a realistic minimum of 3 days per week onsite is expected.
• Experience in private company environments.

Compensation:

$300,000+

Kalon Staffing is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.