Chief Operating Officer recruitment
Chief Operating Officer recruitment for UK & US food manufacturing
A COO in UK & US food manufacturing has to deliver plant performance, food safety, capital deployment, and people development at the same time, across multiple sites, often multiple business units, and under sustained margin pressure. My COO search identifies operationally credible leaders with EBITDA-improvement track records and the regulatory fluency required for FDA, USDA, and customer-audited environments.
Typical requirements
15+ years operations leadership in UK & US food manufacturing. Multi-site P&L ownership at $100M+ scale. Track record of EBITDA improvement and OEE expansion. Capital project execution and capacity build-outs. Comfortable in FDA, USDA, and GFSI-audited environments. Strong on safety culture, food safety, and labor relations. MBA or equivalent operating depth preferred. PE-backed or family-owned experience a strong plus.
Salary ranges (2026)
Northeast
$300,000 to $450,000
Midwest
$260,000 to $400,000
Southeast
$250,000 to $375,000
West Coast
$310,000 to $475,000
Plus 30 to 50% target bonus, 401(k) match, full benefits, and meaningful LTI / equity at PE-backed firms.
Engagement fee
30% of the role's first-year compensation. 10% paid as a retainer to begin the search; the balance paid on placement. Every search is backed by Williams365, my full 12-month placement guarantee.
Typical benefits
Annual bonus 30 to 50%. 401(k) with 4 to 6% employer match. Full medical, dental, and vision. Life and disability insurance. 20 to 30 days PTO. Relocation and sign-on package. RSUs, performance shares, or LTI participation at PE-backed and pre-IPO firms. Executive coaching budget.
Sectors I recruit for
Bakery and Snacks. Dairy and Cheese. Meat, Poultry, and Seafood. Ready Meals and Refrigerated Foods. Frozen Foods. Beverages and Functional Drinks. Confectionery. Plant-Based and Alternative Protein. Pet Food. Ingredients and Co-Manufacturing.
COOs in UK & US food manufacturing operate at the intersection of margin, food safety, and people, every quarter. Every placement is backed by Williams365, my full 12-month guarantee.
Recent placements
Anonymous outcomes from recent COO searches.
Group COO · National Snacks Manufacturer
6 plants. $600M revenue. EBITDA up 280bps in year one.
COO · PE-backed Frozen Foods Platform
Post-acquisition operations integration across 3 newly acquired sites.
VP Operations stepping into COO · Family-owned Bakery Group
4 sites. $180M revenue. Full continuous-improvement turnaround.
COO · Plant-Based Protein Manufacturer
$95M revenue. Scale-up from startup to at-scale commercial operation.
"Scott delivered our Group COO shortlist in eight weeks. Three of four finalists could have run the platform. The one we hired added 280 basis points to EBITDA inside a year. We've used Scott on two further searches since."
Chair · National Snacks Manufacturer · 6 plants, ~$600M revenue
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