Chief Operating Officer

Role overview

The organization is a well-established global health and wellness business known for science-backed products and an active customer community. As the company expands and evolves into a more advanced, quality-led medical device manufacturing operation, it is looking for a senior leader who can scale systems, strengthen compliance and quality infrastructure, and build the operational foundation needed for the next stage of growth.

The Chief Operating Officer will be the executive in charge of day-to-day operations, enterprise execution, and continuous improvement. This role places major emphasis on Quality Management Systems (QMS), Lean Six Sigma practices, and turning company strategy into practical, measurable outcomes. The COO will help ensure operations remain efficient, scalable, customer-oriented, compliant, and aligned with long-term business goals.

This is a full-time, on-site leadership position in the greater Salt Lake City, Utah area. Relocation assistance is available.

Key responsibilities

• Work alongside the CEO and executive leadership to shape and execute the company’s strategic plan.
• Convert strategy into operating priorities, action plans, and measurable results.
• Design and guide operational approaches that support growth, scalability, profitability, and customer satisfaction.
• Track market, industry, and internal operating trends to support better business decisions and strengthen competitiveness.
• Align teams across functions so that strategic priorities are implemented consistently across the business.
• Oversee day-to-day operations to maintain efficiency, reliability, and consistency across the organization.
• Create and sustain strong operating structures, workflows, and governance practices.
• Spot opportunities to improve cost efficiency, productivity, service quality, and overall performance.
• Build and monitor KPIs, dashboards, and other performance measures to guide decision-making.
• Lead business continuity planning, operational risk management, and organizational resilience efforts.
• Provide executive oversight of the Quality Management System and ensure it remains effective, compliant, and business-relevant.
• Make sure policies, procedures, controls, and documentation are properly implemented, maintained, and continuously improved.
• Champion a culture centered on quality, compliance, accountability, and ongoing improvement.
• Direct quality assurance and quality control efforts to improve product, service, and process outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with applicable quality and regulatory requirements, including ISO 13485 and ISO 9001.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on efficiency, shorter cycle times, reduced defects, and stronger business results.
• Develop internal capability in Lean, Six Sigma, root cause analysis, value stream mapping, and structured problem solving.
• Encourage decision-making based on data and reinforce process discipline and operational excellence.
• Coach, lead, and develop senior operations leaders and functional teams.
• Promote a high-performance environment built on accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Support succession planning, capability building, and leadership development within operations.
• Partner with HR and business leaders so the operating model supports workforce strategy and business expansion.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to align operations with customer needs, regulatory obligations, and strategic goals.
• Present operational results, improvement initiatives, and strategic recommendations to the CEO and executive team.
• Build strong cross-functional relationships to support smooth execution of company-wide initiatives.

Requirements

• A bachelor’s degree in a scientific, engineering, business, or related discipline is required; a master’s degree is preferred.
• 10 to 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in relevant industries, including substantial executive responsibility.
• Proven ability to manage global teams and collaborate across functions in varied organizational settings.
• Comfort working through complexity and across cultural differences in international environments.
• Strong background in operational leadership with responsibility for multiple business functions.
• Experience managing complex operations in tightly regulated industries.
• Strong working knowledge of ISO 13485, ISO 9001, and ISO 14001, with direct experience leading global compliance and quality programs.
• Experience designing and managing KPI frameworks and performance-oriented management systems.
• Demonstrated achievement in strategic planning, financial management, and scaling organizations.
• Advanced strategic, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
• Strong financial understanding, including global P&L ownership in large, complex organizations.

Additional information

This role is based on-site in the greater Salt Lake City, Utah region. Relocation support is provided.

Ideal candidate profile

The company is seeking a practical yet strategic operational leader with deep expertise in process improvement, quality systems, performance optimization, risk management, and organizational transformation.