Job Description

The Chief Operations Officer (COO) is a key member of the leadership team responsible for overseeing the safe day-to-day operations of the manufacturing, cut and sew, supply chain (including Asia Operations), inventory replenishment, sales & operations planning (S&OP), facilities maintenance, quality assurance and distribution/logistics. The COO has accountability for a large operational staff and relevant vendor relationships. This position is responsible for creating and implementing a clear operational and organizational strategy for these departments. The position is also tasked with creating a highly standardized environment in which employees can do their best and the business runs with ease.

Essential Job Duties

Safety – Creates a work environment and team culture where no compromises are made on safety.

Supports the Customer Experience – In partnership with leadership team, works with departments to continually improve operations to deliver a differentiated customer experience; through efficient management of warehouses and logistics, reduces cycle times to meet customer expectations and industry best practices; and partners with leadership team to reduce and resolve customer service issues, particularly in the areas of product damages, repairs, exchanges/transfers, shipping, etc.

Strategic Leadership and Management – Leads by example and model’s behavior that reflects the Company’s core values; serves as member of the leadership team including frequent collaboration with other members; manages budget and expenses; sets clear goals and expectations and holds people accountable; provides consistent training and coaching on Company guidelines and inventory management; contributes to maintaining all brand and operational standards to support brand consistency; and builds a performing organization including adherence to the entrepreneurial operating system used to manage the business.

Operational Excellence – Acts as the operational expert on all operational policies, procedures, and guidelines for all aspects of the Company; leads and provides support in all operational areas including production, resource planning, product movement, material handling, workflow optimization, product storage and capacity; ensures the disciplined management of inventory levels and works to minimize loss due to defects, damages, and incorrect shipments; ensures the timely execution of RMAs (returned merchandise authorizations), transfers, damages, replenishments, shipping and receiving in order to maintain inventory accuracy and ideal product flow; and maximizes effectiveness of storage and capacity of all products within warehouses.

Supply Chain and Logistics - Works toward improving lead-times and support demand planning to improve inventory turns and cycle-time compression, reducing potential out of stock conditions and logistics costs; builds the best supply chain strategy that fits with long-term corporate goals, including planning the tactical operations, prioritizing suppliers, better servicing customers and building unique and differentiated products; drives success around orders that are delivered complete, on time and accurate; improves freight and logistics processes and performance on ocean freight, common carrier, small parcel, furniture carrier and white glove delivery; helps enhance customer order status visibility, negotiates bids, reduces costs and improves efficiencies across all forms of delivery; streamlines and standardizes processes using lean methodologies and improved technologies; and oversees Asia Team in improving supplier performance, risk mitigation, streamlining supply chain via scorecard and relationship management.

Domestic Manufacturing - Responsible for ensuring upholstery and soft goods manufacturing operations operate safely, efficiently, and on budget by fostering a lean manufacturing culture, a focus on operational excellence, identifying expansion opportunities, driving change and results through continuous improvement, and implementing new technologies that improve quality, reduce cost, and improve customer loyalty.  

International Sourcing - Direct international sourcing strategies to ensure accurate capacity planning execution to meet business objectives and goals.

Quality and Vendor Management – Sets direction for continuous quality improvement; implements system improvements to maintain product and process quality; performs appropriate measurement & analysis; establishes, communicates, and measures compliance across vendors and sets action plans. 

Loss Prevention – Protects company assets by adhering to all loss prevention policies and procedures. 

Roles

• Lead, manage, and hold employees Accountable
• Production management & vendor relations (international and domestic)
• Purchasing
• Distribution & Logistics
• Quality Control

Metrics

• Dollars shipped vs plan
• Units shipped vs plan
• Cushion Plant Productivity
• Upholstery Plant Productivity
• Customer returns - % of revenue
• Level of service 

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Engineer, Industrial Distribution or closely related field preferred; MBA strongly preferred.
• Ten plus years of progressively responsible leadership experience for a large-scale operations department, preferably in the furniture industry; international experience in working with oversees suppliers strongly preferred.
• Outstanding leadership skills required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of key metrics and financial analysis.
• Excellent written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills required.
• Demonstrated experience partnering with an executive team.
• Excellent computer skills – advanced knowledge of Microsoft suite required.  Tableau experience preferred.