Chief Operating Officer

The client is seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to function as General Manager and oversee distribution operations. This role will ensure seamless order fulfillment, efficient logistics, and strong customer satisfaction while driving operational excellence, optimizing processes, and fostering a high-performance culture. The COO will play a pivotal part in supporting growth and maintaining the company’s reputation for quality and reliability serving customers in the New York City metro area. The COO will oversee daily distribution operations, including logistics, inventory management, warehousing, and transportation. Responsibilities include developing and implementing operational strategies to improve efficiency and reduce costs, monitoring key performance indicators to drive continuous improvement, and collaborating with suppliers and vendors to secure products and negotiate favorable terms. The role also includes ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements related to alcohol importation and distribution, implementing quality control processes to protect product integrity, and promptly addressing operational issues and customer complaints. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record in operational leadership within the wine and spirits industry or a closely related field, with strong strategic thinking, organizational skills, and a hands-on approach to problem-solving. They should be adept at managing complex logistics and supply chain management, with excellent communication and interpersonal skills to build and maintain relationships across suppliers, clients, and internal teams. Requirements include a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, or a related field (with an MBA preferred), at least 10 years of operations management experience with at least 5 years in a leadership role in the wine and spirits industry or similar sector, and proficiency with ERP systems and other relevant software tools.