Chief Operating Officer

Role Overview

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will serve as a strategic partner and the operational foundation for a consumer products company focused on baby and maternal health. This executive will develop and scale a world-class operational system that ensures superior product quality, dependability, and efficiency.

Responsibilities encompass the full spectrum of operations from supply and demand planning, inventory and manufacturing oversight, sourcing, to quality control and readiness. The COO must combine deep, practical insights into manufacturing and materials with an understanding of how operational choices influence product performance, brand reputation, and customer satisfaction. Openness to utilizing emerging technologies such as AI-based tools to enhance forecasting, efficiency, quality assurance, and speed to market is essential.

This role demands a hands-on, operationally savvy leader who thoroughly comprehends product creation, supply chain dynamics, and how to effectively collaborate with Product Development and Marketing teams. The COO should ensure products are scalable, profitable, and meet exceptional standards for quality and safety. Balancing long-term strategic vision with detail-oriented execution in a growing company will be key.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct comprehensive operations including supply planning, demand forecasting, manufacturing, sourcing, logistics, and fulfillment.
• Create and oversee an integrated demand and supply planning framework across direct-to-consumer, omni-channel retail, and marketplace platforms.
• Maintain consistent product availability while minimizing inventory risks and wastage.
• Establish operational cadences, key performance indicators, and dashboards to monitor performance, potential risks, and opportunities.
• Manage strategic partnerships with manufacturers, co-packers, and suppliers. Assess processes, materials, cost drivers with specialized knowledge in personal care or beauty/skincare sectors.
• Collaborate closely with manufacturing partners to drive continuous improvements, innovation, and cost efficiencies without compromising on quality and safety.
• Partner with Product Development to ensure products are designed for manufacturability and scalability, offering operational insight into materials, formulations, sourcing, and process optimization.
• Lead operational readiness for product launches, managing pilot production through full commercialization.
• Leverage AI and data-driven tools to enhance forecasting, inventory management, and decision-making processes.
• Take ownership of inventory strategy to balance service levels with cash flow, quality, and freshness across multiple sales channels.
• Ensure all products adhere to strict quality, safety, regulatory, and compliance standards.
• Build and lead a high-performing operations team while fostering cross-functional collaboration with Marketing and Brand to support business growth and consumer trust.

Qualifications

• Minimum 12 years of experience with increasing responsibility in operations, supply chain, or manufacturing, ideally in baby care, personal care, beauty, or wellness product categories.
• Strong practical knowledge of manufacturing processes, materials, and sourcing beyond management oversight.
• Experience implementing or scaling operational systems, analytics or automation within supply chain or manufacturing contexts.
• Demonstrated collaboration with product development and marketing teams.
• Success managing complex inventory requirements across multiple channels with distinct service levels.
• Proven capacity to scale operations in a growing consumer business environment.
• Excellent judgment focused on product quality, consumer safety, and brand integrity.
• Adept at handling complexity, uncertainty, and operational trade-offs.
• Creative and adaptable mindset suitable for entrepreneurial settings.
• Strong mission-driven leadership committed to the principle that production methods are as critical as product outcomes.