COO Food and Beverage

About the Role

A well-established and growing food distribution company in the Bronx is seeking a proven operational executive to step into a Chief Operating Officer (COO) or President-level leadership role. This individual will be the top-ranking leader at the company’s Bronx headquarters, reporting directly to the CEO and working closely with the Executive Chairman. The COO will have full P&L ownership and be responsible for leading all aspects of the company’s daily operations and long-term strategy.
This is a hands-on, high-impact position overseeing purchasing, production, quality, logistics, inventory, maintenance, facilities, and more. You will lead a team of 100+ employees and drive the operational strategy, systems, and infrastructure needed to support continued growth.
Candidates must have senior executive experience (COO, President, Division President, or equivalent) and a demonstrated track record of full organizational oversight and P&L responsibility in a complex, high-volume operation.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Operational Leadership

• Lead all aspects of day-to-day operations across distribution, production, warehousing, and logistics
• Ensure high efficiency, safety, and quality standards in all functions
• Implement systems and process improvements that drive throughput, accuracy, and cost savings
• Build and maintain strong vendor, supplier, and partner relationships

Strategic Growth & Business Planning

• Partner with the CEO and Executive Chairman to define and execute strategic plans
• Own full P&L performance and align operational goals with financial targets
• Shape company direction through operational insights, market data, and performance metrics
• Develop scalable systems, teams, and infrastructure to support expansion

Team Leadership & Culture

• Serve as the senior-most leader on-site at Bronx HQ, overseeing all teams and departments
• Mentor department heads and promote cross-functional alignment
• Build a strong leadership bench and drive succession planning
• Foster a culture of performance, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Partner with HR to implement training, performance, and retention strategies

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree required; MS, MBA, or other advanced degree preferred
• 10+ years in a senior executive role with full P&L ownership and site-wide leadership
• Proven experience as a COO, President, Division President, or similar high-level operational leader
• Deep expertise in food distribution, consumer packaged goods, or related industries
• Strong operational background across logistics, inventory, warehousing, production, and supply chain
• Experience implementing ERP/WMS systems and continuous improvement initiatives
• Knowledge of food industry compliance (SQF, USDA preferred)
• Ability to balance strategic vision with hands-on execution
• Demonstrated success managing teams, scaling operations, and driving growth

Why This Role?
This is a rare opportunity to step into a true leadership position with full operational control of a growing distribution business. You will have the authority and autonomy to make impactful decisions while shaping the company’s future from the top.

We are an equal-opportunity employer and comply with all applicable federal, state, and local fair employment practices laws. We strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants, or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, creed, national origin or ancestry, ethnicity, sex, sexual orientation, gender (including gender identity and expression), marital or familial status, age, physical or mental disability, perceived disability, citizenship status, service in the uniformed services, genetic information, height, weight, or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law. Applications from members of minority groups and women are encouraged.

Pay:$200,000.00 - $300,000.00