Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officer

Job Description

COMPANY DESCRIPTION

Great Lakes Wholesale Group has over 25 years of experience marketing and distributing 5,000+ continuity and closeout items including grocery, tools and hardware, healthcare, dry goods and beauty care products. Our successful customers include hardware stores, dollar stores, discount stores, convenience stores, florists, and supermarkets, as well as other retail outlets and other wholesalers. 

THE ROLE

As the Chief Operating Officer (COO), you will oversee the daily operations of a wholesale distribution company and warehouse, ensuring smooth running, optimizing efficiency and effectiveness, ensuring quality control, driving continuous improvement, and fostering a productive work environment while meeting customer demands, maintaining cost efficiency, and setting the stage for future growth.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Operational Strategy and Vision: Develop operational strategy aligned with overall company strategy, run leadership meetings, implement goal setting and performance management.
2. Operational Planning and Execution: Create budgets, set performance targets, monitor progress, streamline processes, optimize workflows, facilitate communication, allocate resources effectively, implement KPIs, streamline operations, and implement technology solutions while acting as EOS Integrator.
3. Supply Chain and Logistics Management: Optimize warehouse operations, manage inventory levels, streamline processes, negotiate with carriers, and delivery logistics.
4. Quality Control and Customer Satisfaction: Implement quality control measures, conduct inspections, ensure product and service quality meets standards and customer expectations.
5. Team Management: Oversee and manage departments including Warehouse Operations, Finance/HR, Sales, Marketing, and Business Support, recruit and develop skilled workforce, provide leadership and guidance, foster collaborative environment.
6. Innovation and Continuous Improvement: Identify opportunities for process enhancements, cost reduction, and increased efficiency, implement new technologies and automation, stay informed of industry trends and best practices.
7. Health and Safety/Risk Management: Ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, identify and address risks, implement risk management strategies and safety protocols.
8. Collaboration and Communication: Collaborate closely with executive team, communicate effectively, align operational strategies with business objectives.

EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or similar fields or 10 years of warehouse distribution experience required. MBA preferred.
• Proven senior operations management experience in wholesale distribution, retail, or related industry, with a track record of optimizing operations and achieving cost savings. Experience in EOS preferred.
• Leadership experience, team development, and management.
• Strategic planning and execution, driving growth and improving efficiency.
• Financial acumen, budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning.
• Supply chain and logistics management.
• Vendor and stakeholder management, negotiation skills.
• Technology savvy, experience with ERP systems and operational technologies.

SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES

• Strategic thinking and problem-solving.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Adaptability and flexibility.
• Organizational skills, multitasking, prioritization, and project management.
• Strong leadership and people management.
• Customer-centric mindset.
• Risk management.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

• Highly motivated and results-driven.
• Ethical and trustworthy.
• Innovative thinker.
• Resilient and persistent.