Chief Operating Officer

Chief Operating Officer (COO)

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is a key member of the Executive Leadership Team responsible for translating Arbill's strategic vision into operational execution and modernizing how the entire business runs. Arbill is an established, profitable, 80-year-old company that is stable and ready to scale — the COO is the builder who re-engineers our operating engine for that next era: technology-driven, data-informed, and built for growth.

This executive owns Operations, Supply Chain, and Information Technology — and the mandate extends further, into modernizing Sales and Customer Support with automation and AI. Today, Sales and Customer Service run with almost no automation; that changes under this role, with new technology, workflow automation, and AI-enabled tools that raise both revenue capacity and service quality across the client lifecycle.

The COO is also the steward of IT infrastructure stability and security, ensuring the systems the business depends on are resilient, protected, and positioned for growth — while re-architecting supply chain economics: reducing inventory and increasing cash, finessing logistics to lower cost and elevate the customer experience, maximizing our vending program, and negotiating the best overall supplier pricing and packaging. This role also owns turning our imported Truline product line into a highest-turn, continuously innovated part of the offering.

Data is central to this role: the COO builds the systems that give Arbill accurate, actionable information — for internal decision-making and for clients through self-service tools — and elevates our website into a genuine competitive advantage for client experience. Warehouses and safety stores continue becoming more automated under this leader, driving the most efficient picking, packing, and receiving operations in company history.

The COO partners closely with the CEO and executive leadership team to execute strategic initiatives, support geographic expansion, integrate new capabilities, and ensure operational readiness for future growth. This is a builder's role — a leader who treats inefficiency as opportunity and technology as the lever for scale, championing continuous improvement, accountability, innovation, and data-driven decision making throughout the organization.

Primary Responsibilities

Responsibility #1 - Talent Management (15%):

• Build, mentor, and develop high-performing leadership teams to ensure clear expectations, consistent execution, and accountability across assigned functions.
• Establish and monitor performance expectations, KPIs, staffing plans, and capacity models to align team resources with business needs.
• Provide feedback, identify development opportunities, and foster a culture of safety, service, accountability, productivity, accuracy, and continuous improvement
• Establish succession planning, workforce development strategies, and leadership development initiatives.
• Promote employee engagement while reinforcing Arbill's Core Values.

Responsibility #2 - Operational Leadership & Business Strategy/Execution (15%):

• Serve as a strategic member of the Executive Leadership Team, helping establish and execute company objectives.
• Translate strategic initiatives into executable operational plans with measurable outcomes.
• Develop and maintain the operating model required to support sustainable growth.
• Establish organizational priorities and ensure alignment across Operations, Supply Chain, and Information Technology.
• Drive accountability for company performance through operational metrics, financial discipline, and execution.
• Develop operational strategies that improve productivity, customer service, quality, profitability, and scalability.
• Establish operational KPIs, dashboards, and reporting systems that drive accountability and informed decision-making.
• Remove operational bottlenecks and improve cross-functional collaboration.

Responsibility #3 - Organizational Growth & Scalability (10%):

• Build scalable systems, organizational structures, and business processes that support company growth.
• Lead operational readiness for geographic expansion, acquisitions, new business initiatives, and product introductions.
• Evaluate emerging technologies and operational innovations that improve competitive advantage.
• Ensure organizational infrastructure evolves to support increasing customer demand.

Responsibility #4 - Continuous Improvement, Process Optimization & Warehouse Automation (15%):

• Lead continuous improvement initiatives across operational functions by identifying gaps, optimizing processes and systems, and implementing standard work practices.
• Delegate tasks and define clear ownership, then measure results through KPIs and performance tracking. Monitor outcomes and refine processes to improve efficiency, accuracy, service levels, safety, and scalability.
• Champion a culture of continuous improvement across the organization.
• Analyze workflows, identify process gaps, redesign business processes, and implement sustainable operational improvements.
• Standardize operating procedures and establish clear ownership and accountability.
• Continue automating our warehouses and safety stores, building the most efficient and effective picking, packing, and receiving systems in company history.
• Maximize and expand our vending solutions as an automated, always-on growth and service channel.

Responsibility #5 - Technology, AI & Digital Transformation (20%):

• Own IT infrastructure stability and security, ensuring systems, networks, and data are resilient, protected, and positioned to support business growth.
• Lead the modernization of Sales and Customer Support through automation, workflow technology, and AI-enabled tools — the two functions most in need of technology investment today — to drive growth and a better client experience.
• Identify, evaluate, and implement automation and AI solutions that reduce manual work, improve speed and accuracy, and elevate the client experience across the full sales and service lifecycle.
• Build the data infrastructure and reporting systems that deliver accurate, actionable business intelligence, both for internal decision-making and for client-facing self-service tools.
• Enhance and evolve Arbill's website ( into a best-in-class digital experience that strengthens client service, self-service, and engagement.
• Partner with the Director of IT to ensure enterprise architecture, cybersecurity, ERP performance, and digital transformation initiatives align with business strategy.

Responsibility #6 - Supply Chain, Inventory & Vendor Management (25%):

• Drive strategies to reduce inventory levels while increasing available cash, balancing service levels with working capital efficiency.
• Optimize logistics networks and carrier strategy to reduce total delivered cost while providing the best possible customer experience.
• Negotiate with suppliers to secure the best overall pricing and packaging, balancing cost, quality, and service.
• Own the Truline imported product line — maximizing inventory turns and continuously evaluating category performance and innovations that elevate the offering.
• Oversee supplier performance, procurement strategy, and demand forecasting to strengthen supply chain resilience.

Management Responsibility:

• Direct reports include Director of IT, VP of Supply Chain, WH Leadership and Field Service Manager
• Partners cross-functionally with Sales and Customer Support leadership to drive shared technology, automation, and AI initiatives.

Requirements

Experience/Education & Knowledge, Skills & Abilities (aka Competencies), Traits:

Experience:

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, supply chain, manufacturing, distribution, industrial products, or related industries.
• Minimum of 8 years leading multiple business functions at the executive or senior leadership level.
• Demonstrated success leading organizational growth, operational transformation, and enterprise-wide process improvement.
• Experience implementing ERP systems, digital transformation initiatives, and operational technologies.
• Distribution, industrial supply, safety products, PPE, manufacturing, or B2B experience.
• Multi-site operational leadership.
• Proven experience leading technology-enabled transformation, including automation, AI adoption, and digital tools that modernize sales and customer service operations.
• Experience optimizing inventory, working capital, logistics, and supplier relationships in a distribution or product-based business.
• Familiarity with e-commerce, client self-service platforms, and website/digital experience strategy is highly valued.

Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field required. MBA or Master's degree preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities, and Competencies:

• Analytical Thinking: Ability to analyze complex operational issues, interpret data, solve problems, and apply strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Team Leadership: Ability to build, lead, coach, motivate, and develop teams while promoting accountability, clear communication, active listening, and cultural awareness.
• Relationship Management: Ability to build and maintain effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders through strong interpersonal skills, collaboration, and emotional intelligence.