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# Chief Operating Officer for a food-tech startup in , Chicago, IL



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  "title" : "Chief Operating Officer – Food-Tech Startup",
  "description" : "Seeking a data-driven COO for a high-growth, venture-backed food-tech startup in Chicago, IL. Responsible for scaling all national operations, including supply chain, food production, and last-mile logistics. Must own P&L and unit economics.",
  "jobBenefits" : "A highly competitive executive compensation package, including a strong base salary, annual performance bonus (STI), a significant long-term equity (LTI) package, and comprehensive benefits.",
  "datePosted" : "2025-11-16",
  "validThrough" : "2026-05-16",
  "employmentType" : "FULL_TIME",
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    "@type" : "Organization",
    "name" : "JRG Partners",
    "sameAs" : "https://www.jrgpartners.com"
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  "jobLocation": {
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    "address": {
      "@type": "PostalAddress",
      "addressLocality": "Chicago",
      "addressRegion": "IL",
      "postalCode": "60601",
      "addressCountry": "US"
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  "responsibilities": "P&L Management, Supply Chain & Procurement, Food Production/Commissary Operations, Food Safety & Quality (HACCP/SQF), Last-Mile Logistics, Process Improvement.",
  "qualifications": "15+ years ops leadership. Direct experience in food production, CPG, or food-tech/delivery is required. Proven track record scaling a physical ops org. Deep P&L and unit economics expertise. Food safety (HACCP/SQF) leadership experience."
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The Opportunity
Our client, a high-growth, venture-backed food-tech startup, is seeking a data-driven and operationally-elite Chief Operating Officer (COO). Based in the CPG and logistics hub of Chicago, IL, this is a unique opportunity to build and scale the entire physical operations backbone of a disruptive brand.
Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer, the COO will be the executive leader responsible for scaling the company’s “atoms” – the complex, real-world operations that are powered by the company’s “bits” (technology). This is a P&L-owning role focused obsessively on unit economics, food safety, and building a world-class, scalable supply chain from procurement to production to the customer’s doorstep.
About the Organization
Our client is a private, investor-backed company that is revolutionizing the way people eat. They combine a seamless D2C e-commerce platform with a complex, vertically-integrated operational backbone to deliver [e.g., fresh, healthy, convenient] food solutions. With a strong product-market fit and backing from top-tier venture firms, they are in a period of hyper-growth and are poised to capture a massive share of the multi-billion dollar food market.
Key Responsibilities
The COO will have full ownership of the company’s operational P&L, strategy, and execution.
P&L and Operational Leadership

Assume full P&L ownership for all operational functions, with a relentless focus on improving unit economics (e.g., COGS, labor, fulfillment, delivery cost).
Set and manage all operational KPIs (e.g., on-time delivery, order accuracy, food cost, labor productivity, food safety).
Lead the annual operating budget, forecasting, and resource planning for the operations department.

Supply Chain & Procurement

Lead the end-to-end supply chain, including demand planning, global sourcing, and procurement of all ingredients, packaging, and indirect spend.
Manage all vendor and co-packer/co-manufacturer relationships, ensuring quality, cost, and reliability.
Build a resilient and scalable supply chain to support national expansion.

Food Production & Fulfillment

Oversee all production and fulfillment operations, whether in-house (commissary) or through co-packers.
Lead a large, non-exempt workforce, driving a culture of safety, quality, and accountability.
Implement best-in-class manufacturing processes (e.g., Lean) to optimize throughput, reduce waste, and improve quality.

Food Safety & Quality Assurance

Serve as the ultimate champion for food safety.
Lead the Quality Assurance and Food Safety teams, ensuring iron-clad compliance with all FDA, USDA, HACCP, and/or SQF regulations.
Build a “food-safe” culture that protects both the customer and the brand.

Logistics & Last-Mile

Design and manage the company’s logistics network, including middle-mile and last-mile delivery.
Manage all 3PL and last-mile carrier relationships, negotiating contracts and holding partners accountable to strict SLAs.
Oversee all cold-chain logistics to ensure product integrity from the production line to the customer’s home.

Candidate Profile & Qualifications
The ideal candidate is a “battle-tested” operator who thrives in a fast-paced, high-volume, “atoms and bits” environment. You are a “builder” who can be both strategic and deeply hands-on.
Required Qualifications

A minimum of 15+ years of progressive senior operations leadership.
Direct, hands-on experience in a high-volume, perishable environment: food-tech, food CPG manufacturing, meal-kit, e-commerce fulfillment, or QSR/ghost kitchen operations is required.
Proven track record of full P&L ownership (multi-million dollar) and a deep mastery of unit economics.
Demonstrable experience scaling a complex, geographically-dispersed operation and managing a large (1,000s) non-exempt workforce.
Deep, non-negotiable experience leading food safety and quality programs (HACCP, SQF, FDA/USDA).
A Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Supply Chain, or a related field.

Preferred Attributes

An MBA or Master’s in Supply Chain Management or Engineering is highly preferred.


Formal training in Lean, Six Sigma, or other continuous improvement methodologies.
Experience in both venture-backed “builder” environments and large-scale “optimizer” environments.
An existing network in the Chicago food CPG and logistics community.

Compensation & Benefits
Our client offers a highly competitive executive compensation package designed to attract a top-tier operational leader. This includes:

Competitive Base Salary: A strong, six-figure base salary appropriate for a Chicago-based executive.
Annual Bonus (STI): A significant annual performance-based bonus (Short-Term Incentive) tied directly to operational and financial KPIs (e.g., unit economics, margin, safety).
Significant Equity (LTI): A meaningful, life-changing equity package (Long-Term Incentive) that provides a true stake in the company’s success.
Comprehensive Benefits: A robust benefits plan, including premium medical, dental, and vision insurance for you and your family, and a 401(k) matching program.
Executive Perks: Generous paid time off (PTO), a wellness stipend, and a fast-paced, high-impact culture. (And, of course, free food/product!).

Location
This position is based in the Chicago, IL metro area.

Work Model: This is a hands-on, high-presence executive role. This is not a remote or typical hybrid/corporate job. The COO is expected to be “on the floor” and visible, spending significant time at the company’s production/fulfillment facilities first, and the corporate headquarters second.
Presence: Expect to be in-person 5 days a week, splitting time between the Chicago, IL corporate headquarters and the [e.g., Chicagoland] production facilities.
Relocation: A comprehensive executive relocation package is available for the right candidate.
Travel: National travel (e.g., 25-30%) will be required to visit new market launches, co-packers, and suppliers.

To Apply
If you are a strategic, data-driven, and results-oriented operations executive with a strong background in food production/CPG, high-growth logistics, unit economics, and operational excellence, we invite you to apply for the Chief Operating Officer – Food-Tech Startup role in Chicago, IL.
To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter outlining your experience in P&L management, scaling a physical supply chain, managing food safety (HACCP/SQF), and driving process improvements in a tech-enabled environment. Highlight your achievements in improving unit economics, scaling operations, and building high-performance teams.
This is a high-impact executive role where you will directly influence operational performance, customer satisfaction, and long-term business success. Apply today to take the next step in your executive career as Chief Operating Officer – Food-Tech Startup – Chicago, IL!
For more information or to explore similar opportunities, visit our Food-Tech & CPG Executive Search Firm Page.
Our client is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to building a diverse and inclusive team. We strongly encourage candidates from all backgrounds to apply.