Sr. Director, Chief of Staff

Novolex; Lake Forest (IL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental and vision insurance

Tuition Reimbursement Program

Learning Management System

Job summary

Novolex is seeking a Chief of Staff to the COO to advance cross-functional initiatives that improve operational efficiency and align with corporate priorities.

The role partners with manufacturing operations, supply chain, and brand strategy teams to translate vision into executable plans, measure performance, and drive results while maintaining strong leadership presence.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field.
• MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in operations, strategy, or project management.
• Experience in food manufacturing or consumer packaged goods.
• Knowledge of SQF, HACCP, and lean methodologies.
• Strong analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• High EQ and ability to handle sensitive information.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Experience creating and implementing large-scale strategic processes.
• Strategic planning and long-range operational planning.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic support to the COO and prioritize high-impact initiatives across manufacturing, supply chain, and quality.
• Develop and monitor KPIs and performance metrics aligned with goals.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives and coordinate governance with leaders.
• Draft and track project plans, timelines, and resource needs.
• Communicate effectively with executives and stakeholders at all levels.
• Drive continuous improvement and lean initiatives across operations.

Skills

Strategic Agility

Operational Excellence

Project Management

Influential Communication

Cross-functional Leadership

Business Acumen

Problem Solving

Leadership & Culture

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

Why Choose Us?

Novolex is a leading manufacturer of food, beverage, and specialty packaging that supports multiple industries including foodservice, restaurant delivery and carryout, food processing, grocery and retail, and industrial sectors. Novolex manufacturing and sourcing expertise spans a diverse range of substrates including resin, paper, molded fiber, aluminum and more. We provide customers a broad array of stock and customized solutions with 120 product categories, 250 brands and over 39,000 SKUs.

Our Sustainability Commitment

The Novolex sustainability vision is built upon three pillars: our products, our operations and our people. Each is critically important to our growth and future as a business. These pillars form the foundation of our company-wide commitment to sustainability, helping us achieve our ambitious goals through our wide-ranging initiatives.

Position Summary

The Chief of Staff to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as a strategic partner, advisor, and force multiplier to the COO for Novolex. This role is responsible for driving cross-functional initiatives, improving operational efficiency, ensuring alignment with organizational priorities, and acting as a key liaison between the COO and internal/external stakeholders. The ideal candidate is a high-potential leader that brings a mix of strategic thinking, operational discipline, and leadership presence to help translate vision into execution.

Key Responsibilities

• Strategic Support
• Partner with the COO to prioritize, plan, and execute high-impact initiatives across manufacturing operations, supply chain, and quality functions.
• Develop and monitor KPIs and performance metrics aligned with operational goals.
• Facilitate and track progress of strategic projects and operational improvements.
• Assist with driving compliance to global strategic operations roadmaps (BU, functional, regional).
• Develop and execute project plans including resource requirements, deliverables, milestones, and completion timelines.
• Partner and be a voice of COO with Supply Chain and Brand strategy teams.
• Partner with the strategy office to ensure compliance within operating model, strategic roadmaps, and strategic processes.
• Operational Coordination
• Prepare for and follow up on COO's meetings, including gathering data, drafting agendas, documenting decisions, and ensuring timely follow-up.
• Lead cross-functional meetings, synthesize complex information, and drive action plans for the leadership team.
• Serve as the COO’s delegate in meetings and project reviews when appropriate.
• Support strategic event planning and execution.
• Continuously improve the governance structure, processes and metrics for effective tracking of the business' performance against strategic goals.
• Organize, review, and lead Global Operations rituals and routines.
• Responsible for driving cross functional collaboration to ensure Operations is delivering performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost & People.
• Performance Management
  • KPI coordination and management
  • Build and maintain the central T&E
  • Executive Communication
  • Draft internal and external communications, presentations, board reports, and updates on behalf of the COO.
  • Ensure consistent messaging and alignment across departments.
  • Process & Program Management
  • Oversee special projects related to operational performance, lean manufacturing, plant expansions, and food safety initiatives.
  • Identify opportunities to streamline workflows, reduce waste, and enhance efficiency in collaboration with operations leaders.
  • Leadership & Culture
  • Act as a cultural ambassador, promoting collaboration and alignment within the operations team.
  • Support change management initiatives and help drive employee engagement across manufacturing sites.

Travel

Up to 25% travel to manufacturing facilities and key vendor or partner sites.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management, or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 8+ years of progressive experience in operations, strategy, or project management, preferably in food manufacturing or consumer packaged goods.
• Proven experience in a Chief of Staff, operational strategy, or plant operations role.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing principles, supply chain operations, food safety standards (e.g., SQF, HACCP), and lean methodologies.
• Exceptional analytical, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• High EQ, sound judgment, and the ability to work discreetly with sensitive information.
• Adept at managing multiple priorities and driving initiatives to completion in a fast-paced environment.
• Extensive operating experience creating and implementing large scale strategic processes.
• Strategic planning – strategic thinking, long-range planning, operational planning.
• Partner with business leaders outside of global supply chain to ensure seamless execution of strategic programs.

Key Competencies

• Strategic Agility
• Operational Excellence
• Project Management
• Influential CommunicationProblem Solving
• Cross-functional Leadership
• Business Acumen

Company Benefits

What You’ll Get From Us Benefits

With safety as our top priority and a commitment to employee well-being an important focus, we offer comprehensive and competitive benefits that include medical, dental and vision insurance as well as a variety of other well-being resources focused on mental, physical and financial health. Specific benefits and well-being programs may vary depending on where you work.

Community Engagement

At Novolex, giving back to the local communities that support us is important. Our Focused Giving Program prioritizes support for organizations whose missions promote sustainability initiatives or address food and hunger needs. We also encourage facility level support of activities in the communities where our employees live and work.

Training and Development

We offer constant opportunities for advancement. From skills development to advanced education programs, training and development programs and courses are available through MyLearning. Programs include company and industry training curricula, support for formal education through the Tuition Reimbursement Program (Non-Union), and a Learning Management System that supports and enhances employee skills at all levels of the organization.

Novolex is committed to providing equal employment opportunity in all employment practices, including but not limited to selection, hiring, promotion, transfer, and compensation to all qualified applicants and employees without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, handicap or disability, genetics, citizenship status, service member or veteran status, or any other category protected by federal, state, or local law. Any individual who, because of his or her disability, needs an accommodation in connection with an aspect of the Company's application process should contact [e-mail].

Formerly Pactiv Evergreen