Chief Operating Officer

JOB TITLE:Chief Operations Officer, Finlays Extracts

DEPARTMENT:Corporate

REPORTS TO:Chief Executive Officer

LOCATION:Chicago, IL

Since 1750, Finlays has served as the industry’s trusted leader in the supply of tea, coffee, and botanical extracts to the world’s beverage brand owners. Through engaged employees and a continuous improvement mindset, Finlays has grown this legacy in the North and South American regions. Finlays Americas delivers safe and consistent “fit for purpose” quality products and services, meeting regulatory requirements and customer expectations by being an integrated, customer-centric solution provider.

Description

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), the COO will be a vital member of a senior leadership team, whose goal is to achieve an ambitious, sustainable, and profitable growth plan over the next 5 years. This is to be done through the development and execution of clear strategic goals, the motivation of teams across multiple geographic markets, and the successful identification and completion of targeted mergers and acquisitions.

Leading our World Class Manufacturing agenda, the COO will provide leadership, management, and vision ensuring that the company has the proper operational controls, administrative and reporting procedures, quality, sustainability, and people systems in place to effectively grow the business and ensure financial strength and operating efficiency. This role will lead and manage our network of factories (3) in the United States, (1) in the UK, and (1) in Nairobi, Kenya, our business unit supply chain that includes coffee and tea procurement, inbound and outbound logistics, business unit specific health and safety requirements, sustainability, and engineering.

Essential Duties

• As a member of the senior leadership team, the COO will collaborate in the development and execution of the business mission and strategy.
• Provide direct and motivational leadership of the Manufacturing and Supply Chain functions aligned with Finlays’ corporate mission, sustainability commitments, and core values.
• Drive and implement best-in-class manufacturing practices, methodologies, and strategies to optimize employee engagement, productivity, quality, and efficiency.
• Lead the Health, Safety, and Environmental strategy for the business, driving continuous improvements and ensuring that the business is focused on always providing a safe working environment.
• Lead, motivate, encourage, and develop direct reports (H&S, Sustainability, Manufacturing) through the application of effective performance management.
• Track, and report on key performance indicators (KPIs) with business leads, guiding the team to evaluate and accelerate business opportunities based on insights and results.
• Develop and manage departmental budgets in collaboration with department heads.
• Champion Finlays’ purpose and values, develop team capabilities and processes and partner across the organization to deliver dependent projects.
  
  

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree of Science in a STEM field or related area, with a strong preference for a master’s degree or equivalent education and experience.
• 15 years of directly related operations experience as a COO or senior a) manufacturing preferred and/or b) supply chain secondary leadership role is required.
• Must have direct food/beverage industry experience in multi-state operational facilities, preferably overseeing Safety, Supply Chain Management, Procurement, Shipping and Logistics, Manufacturing, New Product Development launches, Engineering & Quality.
• Track record of continuous improvement in a Food/Beverage Manufacturing & Supply Chain environment. Knowledge & experience of Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, and other world-class manufacturing tools & techniques.
• Ability to strategically develop, layout, and follow through on detailed business plans and programs to include manufacturing & supply chain Strategy development.
• Advanced knowledge of Microsoft Office (MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint)
• Strong influence and negotiating ability. Strong interpersonal, leadership skills, and self-confidence. Strong communication and presentation skills.
• Ability to travel regularly to Finlays’ facilities across the country & occasional foreign travel.
• Ability to collaborate with other Finlays businesses internationally.
  
  

Quality Statement

Our Quality and Food Safety Management strategy is anchored by our food safety and quality culture and a two-pronged approach to “be the best” as we produce “only the best”. Every employee has a role to play in this strategy as outlined by the following:

• Follow Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s), allergen control, food defense, HACCP, SQF, and regulatory requirements so that we make consistently safe, quality products.
• Ensure the presence of visitors, contractors, and customers is documented on each visit in and out of the facility to maintain good manufacturing practices, allergen controls, food defense/food security, and HACCP controls.
• Report all food safety and quality issues to management immediately.
• Partner with colleagues across all functions to share knowledge, skills, and information regarding quality and food safety.
• Adhere to all health and safety work practices.
• Exhibit an understanding of quality and food safety standards and be able to speak about the Finlays quality and food safety system and your role in it.
• Handle customer complaints in a timely and professional manner so that the customer is always put first, always.
• Participate fully in Finlays’ programs that drive continuous improvement methodologies.
  
  

Any employee in doubt as to the role they play in the Finlays quality and food safety management system must reach out to the site Quality Manager or VP of Quality.

Finlays Americas is an equal employment opportunity employer seeking diversity in qualified applicants for employment. All applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, gender, gender identity, age, religion, national origin, ancestry, disability, perceived disability, medical condition, genetic information, veteran status, sexual orientation, or any other protected status, as defined by applicable law. Finlays employs individuals that are 18 years of age or older.

This position is not eligible for Visa Sponsorship