Chief Operating Officer

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER (COO)

Travel: 50%

Comp range: $250,000, 50% bonus potential.

Food and beverage manufacturing experience is mandatory.

Direct applicants only; no agencies at this time.

Build More Than a Manufacturing Operation—Help Build the Future of SIP Manufacturing

As Chief Operating Officer, you will lead established operations while helping prepare SIP Manufacturing for its next stage of growth, including the launch of a new Southaven, Mississippi facility expected to represent approximately $100 million in investment upon full buildout.

This is a rare opportunity to shape strategy, build teams, influence facility readiness, and create the operational foundation for a growing national manufacturing organization. While construction execution will be led by dedicated project teams, the COO will have a meaningful voice in facility design, equipment strategy, staffing, operational readiness, production startup, and long-term operational success.

Position Summary

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) serves as the senior operational leader for SIP Manufacturing and is responsible for the strategic and day-to-day leadership of all manufacturing, warehousing, maintenance, engineering, supply chain, quality, safety, and continuous improvement activities across the organization.

The COO will oversee current operations in Lake Elsinore, California while partnering with executive leadership on the operational development of Southaven, Mississippi and future locations. Although construction and facility development activities will be led by designated project teams, the COO will provide operational guidance, facility readiness support, staffing recommendations, equipment and process input, startup planning, and ongoing operational leadership.

The successful candidate will be a hands-on manufacturing executive with a proven track record of leading multi-site operations, developing high-performing teams, driving continuous improvement, and delivering strong financial results. Beverage, food, contract manufacturing, or consumer packaged goods (CPG) experience is strongly preferred.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Operational Leadership

• Direct all manufacturing, warehouse, maintenance, engineering, logistics, and operational activities across the company.
• Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with company growth, profitability, customer service, and scalability objectives.
• Lead operational planning, forecasting, and performance reviews with site leadership teams.
• Establish accountability systems and performance standards throughout the organization.
• Partner with the CEO to execute strategic initiatives and organizational goals.

Multi-Site Leadership

• Provide executive oversight of manufacturing and distribution operations across all SIP Manufacturing locations.
• Lead Plant Managers, Warehouse Managers, Maintenance Leaders, and regional operational teams.
• Standardize operating procedures, reporting structures, and performance metrics across facilities.
• Develop the operational infrastructure required to support future geographic expansion.
• Travel regularly between locations to support leadership teams, customers, and operational initiatives.

Facility Startup & Expansion Support

• Serve as the operational representative for facility expansions, equipment installations, and future site developments.
• Provide recommendations regarding plant layout, workflow, equipment selection, labor planning, warehouse design, and scalability.
• Partner with ownership, contractors, engineers, and project teams to ensure facilities are built with operational excellence in mind.
• Lead operational readiness initiatives, including staffing plans, training programs, SOP development, startup planning, and customer onboarding.
• Build scalable operating structures capable of supporting future manufacturing and distribution facilities.

Manufacturing Excellence

• Improve throughput, productivity, labor efficiency, equipment utilization, and Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE).
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives focused on cost reduction and waste elimination.
• Ensure production schedules are executed safely, efficiently, and profitably.
• Partner with maintenance and engineering teams to maximize equipment reliability and uptime.
• Establish operational best practices across all locations.

Financial Leadership

• Own operational budgets and support annual strategic planning efforts.
• Drive EBITDA growth through operational improvements and cost management initiatives.
• Evaluate capital investments, automation opportunities, and operational efficiency projects.
• Monitor inventory, labor costs, productivity, and operating performance metrics.
• Support long-term capacity planning and growth strategies.

People Leadership & Culture

• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain high-performing operational leaders.
• Create and maintain succession plans throughout the organization.
• Foster a culture centered on accountability, teamwork, safety, customer service, and continuous improvement.
• Develop future leaders capable of supporting SIP Manufacturing's growth strategy.
• Ensure performance expectations and development plans are consistently applied.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Champion a culture of safety, quality, food safety, and compliance.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, FDA, GMP, customer, and company standards.
• Establish programs focused on risk reduction, workplace safety, and quality improvement.
• Partner with Quality leadership to maintain customer specifications and quality standards.

Strategic Leadership

• Collaborate with the CEO and executive team on growth strategy, expansion plans, customer development, and operational scalability.
• Evaluate opportunities for automation, efficiency improvements, and operational innovation.
• Support acquisitions, facility expansions, and major customer growth initiatives when appropriate.
• Build and maintain a national operational platform capable of supporting SIP Manufacturing's long-term vision.

Key Performance Indicators

Success in this role will be measured through operational, financial, safety, quality, and strategic execution outcomes.

Category

Measures

Operational Performance

Throughput growth; OEE improvement; labor productivity; cost per unit reduction; on-time delivery; inventory accuracy and turns

Financial Performance

EBITDA growth and margin expansion; cost management; cash flow improvement; budget performance

Safety & Quality

Reduction in recordable incidents; quality performance metrics; customer complaint reduction; regulatory compliance performance

Strategic Execution

Operational readiness of new facilities; leadership team development; continuous improvement results; scalability and growth readiness

Qualifications

Required

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, or a related field.
• 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• 5 years in a senior operational or executive leadership role.
• Demonstrated success leading multi-site manufacturing operations.
• Strong financial and business acumen.
• Proven record of improving operational performance, profitability, and organizational effectiveness.
• Experience building and leading high-performing teams.
• Exceptional communication and leadership skills.

Preferred

• Beverage manufacturing experience.
• Food, beverage, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or contract manufacturing background.
• Experience supporting facility startups and operational readiness efforts.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, or Continuous Improvement certifications.
• Experience working in privately held and growth-oriented manufacturing organizations.

Core Competencies

Strategic Leadership

Operational Excellence

Financial Acumen

Change Management

Continuous Improvement

Project Leadership

Talent Development

Decision Making

Customer Focus

Communication

Accountability

Organizational Development

Travel Requirements

• Travel is expected and may reach up to 50% depending on business needs, customer requirements, facility launches, and strategic initiatives.
• Regular travel between Lake Elsinore, California, Southaven, Mississippi, and future SIP Manufacturing locations.
• Frequent presence at operating facilities to support leadership teams, operational reviews, continuous improvement initiatives, and customer relationships.
• Ability to travel on short notice when required to support critical business priorities.

Compensation & Benefits

SIP Manufacturing offers a competitive executive compensation package designed to attract and retain a high-impact operational leader. Compensation will be commensurate with experience, qualifications, and the ability to drive operational excellence and company growth.

• Base salary
• Performance-based annual incentive opportunity
• Executive benefits package
• Retirement benefits
• Professional development opportunities
• Long-term incentive participation

SIP Manufacturing is committed to building a world-class manufacturing organization focused on safety, quality, customer service, operational excellence, and sustainable growth.