Chief Operating Officer

Our client, The Spice Factory, is an established and growing player in the food sector, specializing in the production and distribution of high-quality spices for retail customers. Following a recent investment, the company is entering an important next phase, with a strong focus on further professionalization, operational excellence, and strategic investments in people, processes, and systems.

In this ambitious context, The Spice Factory, in partnership with Bakker & Partners, is looking for a Chief Operating Officer (COO), a new role that will lead and strengthen the entire operational organization.

The Role

The COO is ultimately responsible for the day-to-day management and continuous improvement of all operational activities within The Spice Factory, including Supply Chain, Planning, Production, and Quality Assurance. With a clear vision for operational excellence, the COO ensures a stable, efficient, and high-quality production site, maintaining a high level of service for retail customers.

As a member of the Management Team, the COO reports directly to the CEO and plays a key role in the ongoing development and transformation of the organization. This includes overseeing strategic investment projects, digitalization initiatives, and capacity expansion.

Key Responsibilities:

• End-to-end responsibility for operational performance and daily management.
• Lead and coach the operational management team (Supply Chain, Production, QA).
• Drive performance through KPIs focused on service levels, efficiency, quality, and cost.
• Further professionalize processes, structures, and collaboration within operations.
• Optimize supply chain, planning, and inventory processes.
• Lead lean manufacturing initiatives and improvement and investment projects, including digitalization and the implementation of new systems and production lines.
• Ensure food safety and quality standards and professionally manage audits.
• Develop a high-performing organizational culture focused on ownership, safety, and continuous improvement.

Profile

The ideal candidate is an experienced operations leader who combines strategic insight with entrepreneurial drive and a hands-on approach, and who wants to make an impact in a dynamic SME environment.

• Minimum 10 years of operations experience in food, FMCG, or a comparable production environment.
• Broad experience in supply chain, production, and quality processes.
• Proven track record in organizational and change management, ideally including ERP implementations.
• Experience with implementing Lean tools.
• Strong people manager with a hands-on leadership style.
• Analytical, results-oriented, and experienced in KPI-driven management.
• Structured, pragmatic, and communicative.
• Master’s or bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, or supply chain.
• Fluency in French and English is essential; good level of (spoken) Dutch is also required.

Offer

• A key position within an ambitious and forward-looking organization.
• High degree of autonomy and impact on both strategic and operational levels.
• The opportunity to shape a growing organization and contribute to its development.
• Attractive, market-aligned compensation package, tailored to experience and responsibilities.
• Space for personal growth and professional development.