Chief Operating Officer

Spicin Foods is a specialty food manufacturer based in Kansas City, KS with a 60,000 square foot BRC, Kosher, and HACCP-approved manufacturing facility. We produce over five hundred sauces, in addition to our very own branded unique products in our facility. We serve hundreds of business partners around the world. Our partners chose us because of our dedication to create high-quality products! We believe our people’s ability to produce high quality and unique flavors is the foundation of our success.

Position Overview

The Chief Operations Officer (COO) is responsible for strategically leading team members acquiring, creating, and distributing world class sauces all over the world. Working closely with the CEO and leading the operation teams, the COO is the driving force behind the critical role of all food manufacturing for Spicin Foods. The COO will identify and manage the needs of the organization to successfully execute operations and financial priorities. Of key importance is the ability to be able to roll-up one’s sleeves, dive-in, and produce results utilizing the existing infrastructure to meet current operations goals, while being available to strategically plan growth for the overall effectiveness, volume and depth. They will execute the existing operations activities while providing excellent leadership to the operation teams. This position is responsible for the overall success of the company. COO reports to the Owner/CEO. Additional responsibilities include:

1.     Operations: Daily coordination, improvement, and execution of all food manufacturing operations; hands-on leadership over: production, batching, cooking, planning, distribution, maintenance, quality control, food safety, and compliance.

2.     Strategy & Product Development : Collaborate with sales to set product direction for the company; develop, communicate, and lead the implementation of the strategic plan in a manner consistent with the desired company direction; consider evolving internal and external costs, inventory, purchasing, trends, and factors then adjust planning, as necessary.      

3.     Financial Leadership : Exceed financial goals for the company’s growth plan; set the tone for financial discipline and the balance to achieve results; ensure adequate internal systems placed to protect the financial health; continuously explored and analyzed opportunities to strengthen position, growth and development; engaged robust dialogue about reporting and planning; providing sufficient and clear information about progress and results achieved. 

4.     Leadership: Hiring, training, developing and motivating leaders to harness potential and work hard for delivery of products; assigning tasks to team members with training, giving specific direction with process and procedures to follow & carry out tasks; guide team members in ensuring company maintain quality and quantity requirements

are met daily.                                                                                     

5.     Leadership: Recognizes the contribution of each individual team member, encourages them to work together in harmony driving teamwork, sharing ideas, maintaining both relationships, while delivering fair and concise feedback for improvements; holds leaders accountable for achieving performance, development, and activities to drive culture.

6.     Leadership : Strategic thought process, understanding and meeting schedules daily, always evaluating current and future needs; managing efficiencies; identifying and providing solutions for potential issues which may arise; thinking like an owner ensuring labor costs and operating costs drive decisions and operations; partner with leaders to create road map and goals to achieve KPIs, report and drive both goals and KPIs;                    

Candidate Overview

The successful candidate will possess:

• 5 years’ recent experience at a hands-on senior leadership level within the manufacturing industry.
• Successful record of running a profitable food manufacturing facility with full P&L responsibility.
• Exceptional influence, communications, and relationship building skills, key to forging consensus on priority initiatives among leaders across all facets of the business.
• A courageous leader with experience leading organization through periods of change and transformation.
• Demonstrated experience in growing customer engagement and investment.
• An ability to diversify and strengthen financial health and sustainability of an organization through diverse revenue streams.
• Physical demands: This position requires the ability to travel, involves constant moving, talking, hearing, reaching, grabbing, and standing for at least 8 hours a day. May occasionally involve stooping, kneeling, crouching, and climbing.

The successful candidate will also demonstrate the following abilities:

• Communication : Excel in both written and oral English communication; effective interpersonal and presentation skills; with professional attitude.
• Organized : Able to work independently; effective time management skills; able to manage multiple tasks concurrently, prioritize effectively, meet sales goals and deadlines with a high attention to detail.
• Adaptable : Willingness to accept change; exhibit flexibility and adaptability. Along with the ability to absorb and quickly understand information.
• Resourceful:  Ability to deliver results, with integrity, utilizing the resources available. Has a get-it-done mentality.