SVP Operations (Personal Care/Cosmetics)

Executive Search Announcement

SVP OPERATIONS (Product Supply)

Our client is a rapidly growing branded personal care products/cosmetics, middle market private equity portfolio company with a value creation plan to organically grow the business >2X over the next five years. The company has very innovative and successful omni-channel brands successfully growing domestically and internationally.

Promoting cross-functional collaboration, customer communication & excellence in service, flexibility & adaptability, and innovation, we seek a strategic SVP Operations to lead our client’s strategic and tactical operations management. The SVP Operations will oversee the technical and supply organizations within the rapidly changing high sku personal care products environment.

The objective of the SVP Operations is to serve as a trusted partner to the Chief Executive Officer to effectively assess, continuously evaluate, plan and execute against the company’s operating plans, talent development goals, and aggressive growth objectives. Overseeing the operations, he/she is expected to ensure the overall effectiveness of the company’s operations; focusing on customer service commitments, cost savings, supply/demand planning, inventory control, warehouse/distribution, purchasing, manufacturing, quality improvement, and maintaining a competitive edge in the marketplace.

TITLE: SVP Operations (JH18586)

REPORTS TO: CEO

LOCATION: Los Angeles, CA

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

· Initiate key strategic initiatives across the manufacturing & distribution sites to continually improve working capital utilization, network optimization and operating cash flow. Focus areas of opportunity include leading operations, supply, engineering, NPD/quality, and contributing to sales objectives.

· Assess available data and establish key metrics to measure success including: Manufacturing Metrics (OEE, Throughput, Capacity Utilization, Rejects, Production Attainment, Downtime to Operating Time, Rate of NPI, Changeover Time, Manufacturing Cost Ratios), Supply Objectives (WIP Inventory & Turns, MRP, Customer Fill Rate/On-Time delivery/Perfect Order Percentage, Inventory Management, Customer Service), and other key metrics and SMART goals (EBIDTA, CAGR, Market Share, ROI, Target Achievement.) The company currently has a CPO responsible for Supplier Performance Management (Quality, Cost, Delivery, Service).

· Develop strategic plans to drive step change improvements in areas of opportunity within the company’s inventory portfolio, and in meeting/exceeding customers’ needs for improved communication, quick turns & on- time delivery related to promotional products, year-round products, new product launches, and seasonal demands.

· Continuously develop costing and timelines for RFPs, maintaining customer service levels and interfacing with customers as needed, while overseeing items quoted though turnkey partners.

· Effectively utilize financial statements, sales and activity reports, along with other available performance data to identify areas for cost savings, increased efficiencies and capacity, and new areas of revenue generation.

· Backstop manufacturing and technical (R&D, Quality, Product Development) team members on challenges or issues providing the necessary resources or support as required.

· Represent the organization in key customer meetings providing insight into the overall supply and technical capabilities as it relates to innovation, delivering finished products, and in identifying new ways to better serve customers.

· Benchmark and establish targets for forecast accuracy, inventory turns, inventory obsolescence and monitoring results to ensure targets are met/exceeded.

· Establish and implement short- and long-term objectives, initiatives, procedures and policies in collaboration with the CEO & Board’s objectives.

· Partner with the commercial group to develop annual sales forecast and growth strategies that roll up into demand plan, incorporating these into operational plans, initiatives and objectives.

· Create and maintain an environment focused on development, training & growth. Ensure reports have active growth plans and are coached to strengthen developmental areas of opportunity, while also ensuring his/her own succession/growth.

· Adhere to the company’s values regarding loyalty, transparency, inclusiveness, meritocracy and collaboration in daily activities, interactions and communications.

Manufacturing

· Responsible for overall product manufacture strategy, with focus on meeting IBP requirements, customer demand & customer service levels, quality of production, and manufacturing cost standards.

· Maximizes the utilization manufacturing resources through rigorous review of 3rd party contract manufacturing production partners.

· Evaluate and elevate a next level quality standards and processes and embed them into the culture.

· Collaboratively engage in new product innovation strategies partnering with development capabilities of manufacturing and development partners.

· Ensures that the global contract manufacturing facilities are managed in compliance with all applicable workplace standards, regulations and “good manufacturing practices.”

Logistics (Distribution, Warehousing, Transportation and Customer Logistics)

· Responsible for overseeing customer service and order fulfillment results that routinely meet targets for all customers.

· Development and execution of transportation business plans covering pricing, services, freight terms, financial stability and overall operating capability to support the company business requirements.

· Responsible for warehousing, distribution and transportation activities for direct materials, finished goods, POP and permanent cabinetry.

· Lead the domestic and global assessment, analysis and implementation of distribution operations improvements.

Supply Chain (Procurement and Materials Management)

· Strategically manages the global procurement of material, components and services. Manages vendor selection and performance in order to optimize the procured cost of goods and services while minimizing disruptions in manufacturing production and distribution of finished goods so as to maximize sales and customer service.

· Rigorously manages global inventory throughout the entire product life cycle, including raw materials, components, finished goods, field inventories and return goods inventories in order to optimize working capital utilization while maximizing sales and customer service.

Ideal Experience

· 10+ years of progressive leadership roles within Operations and Product Supply in CPG industry (preferably Personal Care/Beauty).

· Experience in a High Volume, High SKU Complexity, Fast Inventory Churn Environment. Customer Interfacing required.

· Track record of Strategy Setting & Deployment, Change Management, & Large-Scale Time-Compressed Growth Projects.

· Ability to work in a growing, entrepreneurial, and small to mid-sized organization poised for significant growth.

· Proven growth & cultural awareness in fast-moving organizations. Upwardly mobile, self-driven, adaptive leadership style.

· Key Competencies: leadership & development, impact focused, adaptability, project management, strong influencing skills, and high-level communication/negotiation/problem solving.

· Financial and Business Acumen is essential. Private Equity portfolio experience is preferred, but not required.

Critical Competencies for Success

· Must have a thorough understanding of Supply Chain and Manufacturing with Omni-channel experience, mass market, drug, specialty retail & ecommerce experience required

· Must be able to balance conflicting goals of customer service and cost across the Supply Chain

· Must have outstanding interpersonal communication skills to drive cross-functional coordination throughout the global organization

· Must be a “hands on”, connected and engaged team builder

· Must be able to thrive in a truly “entrepreneurial” culture and environment

Hunt Executive Search Project Team

Joe Hunt

Managing Partner

212-861-2680

joehunt@huntsearch.com

25 years w/ Hunt Search

Cyndi Johnson

Sr Client Partner