COO

Schelstraete Delacourt is looking for a COO for a Belgian company active in premium FMCG .

The organization is strongly established in Western Europe with accelerating growth in the United States and expanding rapidly in developing regions such as the Middle East and Southern Europe. The revenue has grown significantly over the past five years.

The COO needs to drive operational excellence by delivering high service levels while minimizing working capital, transforming the organization from a reactive, operational setup into a structured, integrated, efficient, and performance-driven Supply Chain.

Tasks & Responsibilities

Forecast & Demand Planning

• Develop and implement reliable, data-driven demand forecasting processes
• Lead S&OP (Sales & Operations Planning) implementation and continuous improvement
• Integrate AI and advanced tools to automate forecasting
• Collaborate with field teams to incorporate real-time demand inputs

Purchasing & Procurement

• Transition from reactive to proactive procurement strategies
• Align purchasing decisions with demand forecasts
• Manage supplier relationships and conduct regular performance reviews
• Optimize stock levels and ensure supply security

Warehouse & Logistics

• Oversee warehouse operations and address space constraints
• Standardize logistics processes and workflows
• Implement partial automation and improve picking efficiency
• Drive continuous optimization and digitalization of logistics operations

Production

• Improve production flows to increase efficiency, throughput, and reliability
• Strengthen the link between production and supply chain planning
• Identify bottlenecks and implement continuous flow improvements
• Drive operational excellence across production processes
• Align production activities with demand forecasts and supply chain priorities

Quality & After-Sales

• Establish and enhance quality monitoring systems
• Implement standardized and digital quality processes
• Ensure quality performance is tracked, measured, and continuously improved
• Strengthen after-sales support and feedback loops

KPI & Performance Management

• Define and implement key supply chain KPIs
• Establish shared KPIs across teams with regular reporting cycles
• Monitor performance in real time and drive accountability
• Use KPIs to support decision-making and continuous improvement

IT & Data Management

• Deploy and optimize ERP and Business Intelligence (BI) tools
• Establish strong data governance practices
• Improve data reliability and accessibility
• Leverage AI for performance tracking and decision support

Processes & Talent Development

• Identify skill gaps and improve cross-functional coordination
• Lead upskilling initiatives and targeted recruitment efforts
• Build a structured, data-driven team culture
• Promote best practices and continuous process improvement

Profile

• 10+ years of broad Supply Chain experience gained within a production context
• 5+ years of experience with managing teams: strong in people management and team development
• Background in FMCG
• Experience with change management, ideally in an organization with a focus on bottom line
• Knowledge of automation, digitalization, and ERP systems
• Hands-on, down-to-earth, and pragmatic mindset
• Focused on collaboration, long-term relationships, and trust