Chief Operating Officer (COO) with Financial Leadership Experience

Northland Aluminum Products - Minneapolis, MN

Full-time - Senior

Minneapolis, MN

Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing

About the position

At Nordic Ware, we are passionate about creating innovative, high-quality, American-made kitchenware. With over 75 years of experience, our products have enhanced food preparation, inspired creativity, and brought people together at tables around the world. As we expand our Senior Leadership team due to the upcoming retirement of our long-tenured CFO, we are seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to join our successful, privately-owned family manufacturing business in Saint Louis Park, Minnesota. The COO will work closely with the CEO and other senior leaders to develop and implement strategic initiatives that support our long-term business plans. This role will oversee various departments including Finance, IT, HR, Procurement, Planning, and Production, ensuring their growth, efficiency, productivity, and effectiveness in the marketplace. The ideal candidate will be an inspiring and trusted leader with strong personal values such as empathy, compassion, honesty, fairness, self-discipline, good judgment, and respect for others. We are looking for a highly motivated self-starter who is a senior-level critical thinker and inquisitive problem-solver. Excellent verbal and written communication skills, high emotional intelligence, and exceptional negotiation skills are essential. The COO must have the ability to see the company holistically, understanding how all departments and teams fit together and contribute to our culture of collaborative teamwork. Qualifications for this position include a Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, manufacturing, or a related field, with an MBA strongly preferred. A CPA designation is a plus. Candidates should have 15+ years of full-time work experience in Finance or Operations, preferably in manufacturing, with at least 10 years in financial and business management, and 5 years of banking or treasury experience. The role requires a proven track record of managing and developing a direct staff of 10 or more, with a focus on financial risk management, company-wide improvement, stability, and growth. The successful candidate will also have experience working in a family-owned and operated business with active leadership and a Board of Directors.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Finance team to manage budgets, control costs, and optimize resource allocation.
• Work with the CEO and the Board of Directors on financial planning and forecasting to ensure long-term sustainable growth and profitability.
• Provide strategic direction and leadership to all operational functions, ensuring seamless coordination between departments and efficient execution of business strategies.
• Identify opportunities for process improvement, cost optimization, and increased operational efficiency in Manufacturing, Supply Chain, and all Operations.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire high-performance in our team of leaders in Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, Finance, Human Resources, IT, Compliance, and Operations.
• Build and maintain strategic partnerships with vendors and stakeholders, collaborating on joint initiatives, negotiating contracts, and managing vendor relationships.
• Collaborate and support Sales and Marketing leadership, focusing the organization on meeting customer expectations and supporting sales efforts by delivering on-time high quality and innovative products.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business, engineering, manufacturing, or other related field.
• MBA strongly preferred.
• CPA is a plus.
• 15+ years of full-time work experience in Finance or Operations post-undergraduate, preferably in manufacturing.
• 10+ years specifically in financial and business management.
• 5+ years of banking, overseeing and directing investments and/or treasury experience.
• 10+ years managing and developing a direct staff of 10 or more.
• Proven track record working both tactically and strategically with focus on financial risk management, company-wide improvement, stability, and growth.
• A conservative mindset in managing finance and operations.
• Ability to negotiate contracts, and manage corporate counsel on a variety of issues including HR matters, patent/trademark, contracts, etc.
• Technically skilled and committed to remain current with developments in technology and data management.
• Experience working in a family-owned and operated business with active and involved leadership and Board of Directors.