Group COO – Food Industry - Premium Frozen Snacks Manufacturer

An industrial food group in formation, specializing in premium frozen snacking, resulting from the merger of two production companies located in the southern suburbs of Paris.

Following a merger and acquisition transaction scheduled for the first half of 2026, the future Group will represent:

Approximately 40 million euros in revenue

3 factories, representing 13,000 m² of production space

In this context of growth and structuring, we are creating a Group COO position. This role is one of the two highest management positions in the Group, alongside the CEO and the CFO.

Your role

Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, you will oversee all industrial and operational dimensions of the future Group on a day-to-day basis. You will allow the CEO to focus on strategic vision and development while you guarantee consistency and performance across the 3 production sites and act as the leader on all daily operational and structural decisions.

Your main responsibilities

Industrial Operations Management

• Oversee daily operations across 3 production sites (planning, capacity, flow)
• Ensure volumes, quality and delivery deadlines are met
• Optimize OEE, material yields and production rates
• Deploy and monitor industrial performance KPIs (OEE, scrap rates, cost per ton)
• Control industrial costs (labor, energy, consumables, maintenance)
• Produce weekly and monthly operational reports for the CEO and Board
• Lead continuous improvement projects (Lean, 5S, SMED, Kaizen)

Technical & Maintenance

• Lead the Technical Department and the multi-site maintenance organization (preventive, curative, predictive)
• Define and enforce maintenance plans for production lines, utilities, refrigeration and building infrastructure
• Manage external technical contractors and service‑level agreements (refrigeration, electrical, mechanical, fluids)
• Build the multi‑year CAPEX plan, prioritize investments and control payback and budget execution
• Ensure regulatory compliance of installations (electrical Q18, ICPE, ATEX, fire safety, lifts, pressure equipment)
• Reduce unplanned downtime and breakdown frequency; monitor MTBF, MTTR and intervention costs by line
• Manage spare‑parts inventory, technical documentation and equipment lifecycle from commissioning to retirement

Supply Chain & Planning

• Oversee factory production planning across all sites (S&OP, master production schedule, weekly scheduling)
• Ensure finished products are delivered to customers on time and in full (OTIF)
• Secure raw material and packaging supply; prevent stockouts while minimizing working capital tied up in inventory
• Manage inventory accuracy across raw materials, work‑in‑progress and finished goods; optimize logistics flows and 3PL relationships
• Ensure HACCP, IFS and ISO 22000 compliance and food industry regulations
• Supervise quality teams and their action plans
• Drive internal and external audits, address major non‑conformities
• Ensure traceability of raw materials and finished products

Team Management

• Directly manage Production, Technical, Quality and Supply Chain
• Unite multi‑site teams around a shared culture and common objectives
• Be a hands‑on leader, visible and accessible across all sites

Post‑M&A Integration

• Drive the operational integration of both entities (harmonization of processes, tools and practices)
• Lead the implementation of an ERP for Foo Seng
• Build a unified Group culture while respecting the identity of each site
• Prepare the organization for potential future external growth operations

Desired Profile

• Master's degree: engineering school (agri‑food, generalist), business school with industrial specialization, or specialized Master's in Production / Supply Chain. A dual engineering + management background is a major asset
• Minimum 15 years of experience, including at least 5 years as Operations Director, COO or multi‑functional Site Director in the food industry
• Food industry experience is mandatory. Specific experience in frozen products, snacking, ready meals, or bakery/pastry products is highly valued
• Proven expertise in multi‑site industrial management, Lean Manufacturing, food quality standards (HACCP, IFS, BRC) and S&OP
• Experience in an industrial SME or mid‑market company, ideally in a context of rapid growth, restructuring or post‑acquisition integration
• Hands‑on leadership: physically present on sites, drives action, does not delegate without ensuring proper follow‑through
• Results‑oriented, comfortable with industrial complexity and operational urgency
• Entrepreneurial mindset: capable of building processes where none exist, taking initiative and owning decisions
• Fluent English mandatory (external contacts, suppliers, potential investors). A second language is a plus

What we offer

• One of the two highest management positions in a Group in formation, true right hand of the CEO
• A strong operational and strategic mandate over 3 plants and over 100 employees
• The opportunity to lead the post‑merger industrial integration of two food companies
• High level of autonomy, in direct contact with the CEO and Board
• A human‑scale environment, in growth mode, with concrete operational and transformation challenges

Package

• Competitive package based on profile
• Company car
• Good health insurance and associated benefits
• Possibility to acquire equity in the near future