Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer in Denver, CO
Are you a strategic operations leader with a passion for plant-based innovation? We are seeking a seasoned Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join a fast-growing vegan food manufacturer in Denver, CO. This is a unique opportunity to lead operational strategy, streamline supply chain efficiency, and scale a mission-driven CPG brand in one of the fastest-growing segments of the food industry. If you’re driven by purpose and performance, this role could be your next big move.
Drive Operational Excellence in a High-Growth Vegan CPG Brand
A leading vegan food manufacturing company based in Denver, CO is searching for a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to oversee and optimize all facets of operations. The right candidate will have deep experience in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) sector—particularly food manufacturing—with a track record of scaling operations, improving margins, and building high-performing teams. This is a high-impact role for a hands-on leader committed to delivering exceptional product quality and sustainability at scale.
Key Responsibilities of the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer – Consumer Packaged Goods
Operational Strategy & Execution:
Lead the development and execution of operational strategies that align with the company’s mission and growth objectives. As the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer, you will be responsible for enhancing process efficiency, improving production workflows, and scaling operations to meet the rising demand for plant-based products.
Supply Chain Optimization:
Manage and continuously improve the end-to-end supply chain—including procurement, production, inventory, and distribution. Focus on sustainable sourcing, supplier partnerships, and cost-effective logistics that support the values and scalability of a vegan CPG business.
Manufacturing Excellence:
Oversee daily manufacturing operations to ensure high product quality, safety, and compliance with food industry standards. Implement lean manufacturing practices and drive continuous improvement initiatives to increase productivity and reduce waste.
Cross-Functional Collaboration:
Coordinate with R&D, Marketing, Sales, and Finance teams to ensure seamless execution of company initiatives. As the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer, you will bridge operational functions and strategic goals, fostering interdepartmental alignment and accountability.
Team Leadership & Talent Development:
Build and lead a high-performing operations team. Foster a collaborative and purpose-driven culture, emphasizing innovation, accountability, and continuous learning. Mentor key operations leaders to build future leadership pipelines.
Performance Metrics & KPIs:
Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess operational performance and efficiency. Use data analytics to inform decisions, measure progress, and identify areas for operational improvement.
Regulatory & Quality Compliance:
Ensure compliance with FDA, USDA, and other food safety regulations, as well as vegan certification standards. Oversee quality assurance programs and audits to guarantee product integrity and consumer trust.
Sustainability & Ethical Practices:
Champion sustainable and ethical business practices in sourcing, packaging, and production. As a key leader in a mission-driven company, the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer must ensure operations reflect the brand’s environmental and ethical commitments.
Budgeting & Financial Management:
Work closely with finance leadership to manage operational budgets, control costs, and drive profitability. Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising quality or brand values.
Scalability & Innovation:
Support expansion efforts by developing infrastructure and systems capable of scaling rapidly. Embrace operational innovation, automation, and digital tools to future-proof the company’s growth trajectory.
What the Client is Looking for in You
As the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer, the client is seeking a forward-thinking operations leader who brings both industry expertise and a passion for purpose-driven food innovation. You should be a results-oriented executive with deep experience in scaling Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) operations and driving operational excellence across production, supply chain, and team leadership. If you’re committed to sustainability and ready to lead a growing plant-based brand into its next phase, this role is for you.
Extensive Operations Experience in the CPG Industry
The ideal candidate will have a strong background in the CPG space—preferably in food manufacturing—with a track record of building scalable systems and improving profitability. As the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer, your ability to streamline processes, reduce costs, and maintain high-quality standards will be critical to success.
Strategic Operational Leadership
You must demonstrate the ability to design and implement long-term operational strategies that support business goals and sustainable growth. The client values candidates who think strategically, act decisively, and have a vision for expanding capacity and geographic reach, all while staying aligned with the company’s plant-based mission.
Deep Financial and Analytical Acumen
An analytical mindset and strong financial capabilities are essential. The client is seeking someone who can manage budgets, evaluate performance metrics, and contribute to executive-level decision-making. As the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer, you should be skilled at identifying cost-saving opportunities and maximizing operational ROI without compromising quality or brand values.
Exceptional Team Leadership and Culture Building
Your ability to lead and motivate cross-functional teams in a collaborative, fast-paced environment will set you apart. The client wants a COO who can foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement—someone who empowers their teams while maintaining high performance standards.
Commitment to Sustainability and Ethical Practices
A passion for ethical sourcing, environmental responsibility, and transparent business practices is essential. As the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer, your leadership will directly influence how the company upholds its mission to deliver clean, sustainable, and cruelty-free products to consumers.
Strong Communication and Stakeholder Management
The client is looking for a polished and persuasive communicator who can engage with internal teams, external partners, and stakeholders. Your ability to translate operational goals into strategic outcomes and maintain alignment across departments is key to achieving company-wide success.
FAQs About the Role – Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer
1. What are the key responsibilities of the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer?
As the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer, you will be responsible for overseeing daily operations, optimizing the supply chain, leading production and manufacturing teams, and implementing efficient systems to support scalability. Your focus will include enhancing operational efficiency, ensuring product quality, reducing costs, and aligning operations with the company’s mission to deliver sustainable, plant-based products. You’ll work cross-functionally with executive leadership to support company growth, profitability, and long-term strategy.
2. What qualifications and experience are required for this position?
The ideal candidate for the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer role should have substantial leadership experience in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry—particularly in food or beverage manufacturing. A deep understanding of supply chain management, production optimization, team leadership, and financial planning is essential. Experience with plant-based or health-conscious food products is a strong plus. A bachelor’s degree in business, operations, or engineering is required; an MBA or advanced degree is preferred.
3. What leadership qualities are essential for this role?
This position demands a hands-on, strategic leader who can manage complexity while inspiring teams. The client is seeking a Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer background who excels at collaboration, decision-making, and operational innovation. Strong communication skills, the ability to lead through change, and a commitment to sustainability and ethical practices are essential leadership qualities for success in this role.
4. What are the biggest challenges I might face in this position?
As a Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer, you may face challenges such as scaling production quickly to meet growing demand, maintaining strict quality and compliance standards, managing costs while upholding sustainability, and navigating supply chain disruptions. You’ll also be expected to optimize existing systems and ensure smooth coordination across departments, all while helping the company remain agile in a competitive CPG landscape.
5. How will this role impact the company’s growth and mission?
Your contributions as the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer will be central to the company’s success. By driving operational excellence and reducing inefficiencies, you will help the company expand its market presence, enhance customer satisfaction, and improve profit margins. Your leadership will play a vital role in aligning day-to-day operations with the company’s mission of delivering clean, ethical, and plant-based food products to a growing customer base.
6. What is the work environment and company culture like?
The organization prides itself on a collaborative, mission-driven culture that blends purpose with performance. As the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer, you’ll be part of a passionate team dedicated to innovation, sustainability, and health-conscious consumer values. The company fosters open communication, accountability, and continuous improvement, making it an exciting place to grow and lead.
What Remuneration Can You Expect from This Job?
As the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer in Denver, CO, you can expect a competitive and comprehensive compensation package that reflects the strategic importance of the role within a growing, mission-driven company in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry. Compensation is designed to attract top operational leadership talent and reward performance, sustainability, and innovation.
1. Base Salary
The base salary for a Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer typically ranges between $200,000 and $350,000 annually, depending on company size, revenue stage, and experience level. Companies in high-growth plant-based food sectors may offer salaries at the upper end of this range to attract experienced CPG leaders.
2. Performance-Based Bonuses
Incentive-based bonuses are a core component of the COO compensation structure. These annual bonuses are typically tied to key operational metrics such as supply chain efficiency, production output, gross margins, sustainability benchmarks, and on-time delivery rates. Performance bonuses may range from 25% to 75% of the base salary, depending on personal and company performance.
3. Equity & Stock Options
To align long-term interests with business outcomes, many vegan CPG companies include equity incentives in their compensation packages. As the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer, you may receive stock options, RSUs (Restricted Stock Units), or performance shares, especially if the company is preparing for fundraising, acquisition, or IPO. Equity can significantly enhance the total value of the compensation package over time.
4. Profit-Sharing & Long-Term Incentive Plans (LTIPs)
Some employers offer additional long-term incentive structures such as profit-sharing programs or LTIPs. These plans are typically based on multi-year performance goals and provide further compensation when the company meets its growth and profitability targets. This allows the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer to benefit directly from the sustainable success of the business.
5. Executive Benefits & Perks
A full suite of executive-level benefits is often included, such as:
Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
401(k) or retirement plans with employer contributions
Paid time off and wellness stipends
Company-paid travel and relocation assistance (if applicable)
Executive coaching or leadership development programs
Expense accounts for business operations and team management
6. Signing Bonuses & Relocation Support
To attract the right candidate, especially those transitioning from out of state or from high-demand sectors, companies may offer signing bonuses or relocation packages. These can range from $25,000 to $100,000, depending on the urgency of the role and the seniority of the candidate.
Total Compensation Potential
Factoring in base salary, performance bonuses, equity, and incentives, total annual compensation for the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer can range from $300,000 to over $600,000, especially in growth-stage or investor-backed companies. The overall package is structured to reward strategic execution, operational excellence, and alignment with the company’s plant-based mission and values.
How to Apply
If you are an experienced operations executive with a strong background in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) industry and a passion for purpose-driven leadership, we encourage you to apply for the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer role based in Denver, CO. This is a rare opportunity to lead operational strategy, drive manufacturing efficiency, and contribute to the growth of a mission-focused, plant-based food brand.
To apply, please submit your updated resume and a compelling cover letter outlining your expertise in food manufacturing, supply chain optimization, team leadership, production scaling, and operational performance. Emphasize your experience in CPG operations and your ability to align day-to-day execution with strategic business objectives in a high-growth, sustainability-focused environment.
This is your chance to step into a pivotal leadership role as the Chief Operating Officer with a Vegan Food Manufacturer, where your impact will be felt across operations, culture, and innovation. Apply now to help scale a company that’s reshaping the future of food through ethical and efficient manufacturing practices.
For more information or to explore similar opportunities, visit our Plant‑Based / Functional Food C‑Suite Recruitment Page.
Tags:
Chief Operating Officer | CPG Operations Jobs | Vegan Food Manufacturing | Plant-Based CPG | Food Production Leadership | Supply Chain & Logistics | Sustainability-Driven Brands | Manufacturing Excellence | Executive Food Operations | Operations Strategy in CPG
