Chief Operating Officer

We are seeking a hands-on, strategic, COO to lead a rapidly expanding nutraceutical and functional food manufacturing business with two adjacent production sites in the Netherlands. This is a key leadership position for an experienced operational professional who thrives in high-growth, fast-paced manufacturing environments, balancing day-to-day execution with long-term transformation.You will drive operational excellence, process discipline, and scalable performance across all aspects of the business, while fostering a culture of accountability, empowerment, and continuous improvement.Key ResponsibilitiesLead end-to-end operations including planning, procurement, production, quality, maintenance, and logistics across two complementary manufacturing sites.Bring structure, clarity, and process discipline to a scaling organisation while maintaining its entrepreneurial energy.Define, implement, and monitor KPIs across all functions (production, planning, warehousing, maintenance) to improve OEE, yield, productivity, plan adherence, and overall profitability.Coach and develop teams at every level, from operators to department heads, to build a culture of ownership and operational excellence.Design and embed a structured Operational Excellence System, ensuring improvements are measurable, repeatable, and sustainable.Balance short-term problem-solving with long-term capability building to drive both stability and scalability.Work closely with the founders and group leadership, as well as commercial and product development teams, ensuring strong alignment between operations and business strategy.What You’ll BringAt least 10 years’ operational leadership experience within complex manufacturing environments such as food, nutraceuticals, pharmaceuticals, automotive, or similar sectors.A proven track record of delivering measurable improvements in OEE, yield, throughput, and cost efficiency.Demonstrable experience in implementing Lean or Six Sigma (Black Belt or equivalent) methodologies and continuous improvement frameworks.A hands-on leadership style, equally comfortable on the production floor and in the boardroom.Strong communication and coaching skills, capable of uniting teams around clear goals and performance routines.Fluency in English; Dutch proficiency is highly desirable but not essential.Experience within food, nutraceutical, or consumer health manufacturing.Background in high-growth or transformational environments, establishing structure and systems from the ground up.Experience with multi-site operations and the introduction of digital tools to enhance transparency and efficiency.