Title: Chief Operating Officer / COO / Integrator
Company: Orange & Fifth
Work Location: 1415 N 5th St, Milwaukee, WI 53212 - candidates must be local or willing to relocate to the Milwaukee area
Work Format: Full-time, salaried, mostly onsite with some remote work
Summary: We are seeking a highly experienced Chief Operating Officer / COO / Integrator for our snack food manufacturing business located in Milwaukee. This will be the first hire for our snack food manufacturing business. The Integrator will play a crucial role as the right-hand person to the President, who will take on the Visionary role. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to build the organization from the ground up and play a key role in its success. This person will be responsible for setting up the structure of the organization, managing day-to-day issues and holding our people, processes, systems, priorities, and strategies together to drive results. They will integrate the essential functions of the business, including supply chain, sales, marketing, operations, and finance, to create the healthy tension that drives results. This role requires a highly driven and hardworking individual with a proven track record of success.
What You'll Do:
- Establish an organizational structure and execute the business plan according to the ideas of the Visionary.
- Orchestrate and lead all major functions of the organization (supply chain, sales, marketing, operations, and finance).
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Develop a deep understanding of the company's products and business model in order to create and own the company's operating system and processes.
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Manage day-to-day issues, special projects, and hold the organization together.
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Conduct research, compile data, and prepare information related to projects and business needs.
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Work with customers and vendors from multiple points along a supply chain. For example, you might contact packaging vendors and work with designers to get samples for a new product, contact ingredient vendors to explore new flavors, or identify production equipment options including cost and timelines for installation.
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Address and avert problems at every level of the company - including telling the Visionary when they're wrong!
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Recruit, hire, and train a team of high-performing individuals to support the company's goals and objectives.
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Build and maintain a positive and productive company culture that supports employee engagement and retention.
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Create and maintain a clear and effective communication plan that ensures all stakeholders are informed and aligned.
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Manage and prioritize multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring proper execution to meet the company's goals.
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Facilitate relationships with the members of the leadership team.
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Drive clarity and communication throughout the company.
What We're Looking For:
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10 years of experience, 5 years in food manufacturing required; knowledge of bakery or perishable items a bonus
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Experience working as an Integrator, COO, Vice President, General Manager, or Business Manager role (or similar position) ; experience reporting to owner or top leader preferred
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Bachelor's degree in business administration or a related field desired
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Desire to learn and operate a business according to the Traction EOS® (EOS) model created by Gino Wickman
- Experience setting up operations, working with suppliers, negotiating, planning, and supply chain
- Experience launching products and laying the foundation for business growth; startup experience a plus
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Strategic, high-level thinker who can operate independently
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Technologically savvy, confident, calm, high-detail personality type with a "get stuff done" mentality
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Ability to play a cross-functional role to create processes, systems, and build culture
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Experienced in recruiting, leading, and managing a team
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Excellent interpersonal skills, critical thinking and analytical capabilities
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Highly driven and hardworking
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Strong integrity and ethics - able to properly highly confidential information and intellectual property
If you are a highly experienced Integrator with a proven track record of success in manufacturing, we invite you to apply for this exciting opportunity to join our team in Milwaukee. Equity is available for the right candidate.
About Us:
Orange & Fifth is developing a line of filled mini savory bite-sized snacks. The product is highly innovative - there is nothing like it on the market today! Our founder has a track record of success in the food industry, having grown and sold a pretzel business in the past. We're a start-up but are well-positioned to grow quickly.
Keywords: Integrator, General Manager, Operations Manager, Business Manager, COO (Chief Operating Officer), Vice President, Start-ups, Snack food manufacturing, Operations, Finance, Supply chain, Project management, Team management, Leadership, Business strategy, Process development, Systems integration, Cross-functional role, Food industry, Bakery, Traction EOS® model, Team building, Communication, Problem-solving, Decision-making