Head of Operations

About Us

As a leading provider of high-quality food and beverage ingredients, we work with farming communities across the globe to grow, source and produce ingredients that are good for consumers, farmers, and the world around us. We supply household food brands and manufacturers worldwide with cocoa, coffee, dairy, nuts and spices ingredients which are often grown on our own farms and estates and sourced from hundreds of thousands of farmers across 50 countries. Along with our diverse manufacturing and innovation capabilities, this means we can provide ingredients for a range of products, from a plant-based latte mix to an almond based snack bar or a dairy-free ice cream. Making a positive impact on people and planet is a core component of our Purpose, to be the change for good food and a healthy future. With a deep-rooted presence in the countries where our ingredients are grown, we are closer to farmers, enabling better quality, and more reliable, traceable, and transparent supply. And whoever we're with, whatever we're doing, we always make it real.

About ofi Private Label – Coconut Products Business

We are a Private Label partner of choice for Coconut products to retailers in USA and in other select markets. We work with a network of co-manufacturers in South East Asia to meet customer demand.

Role Overview

Job Description: Head of Operations /Private Label / RTD/ RTE / Coconut

Location: Ben Tre, Vietnam

The Head of Operations will hold end-to-end Strategic and Operational accountability for our manufacturing network. This leader will optimize, scale, and ensure flawless Quality across multiple Co-Man partners, while building the foundation for our own greenfield/brownfield production facilities. Given the highly sensitive nature of our core product portfolio (coconut and value-added products), this role requires a Leader with an uncompromising focus on Food Safety, Quality, shelf-life stability, and advanced processing technologies. The mandate includes ensuring 100% regulatory compliance for both domestic markets and global export (with emphasis on meeting US regulatory standards).

Key Responsibilities

1. System, Process, & QFS Development

System & Process: Architect, implement, and continuously improve robust operational systems and standard operating procedures (SOPs) across all manufacturing sites.

QFS Management: Design, Sustain, and Improve the Quality & Food Safety (QFS) management systems from the ground up, ensuring a culture of continuous improvement and preventative risk management.

Regulatory Compliance: Ensure 100% compliance for all products to all markets, strictly adhering to quality, food safety, and country specific regulations.

2. Audits, Traceability, & Complaint Management

Audit Ownership: Lead and successfully handle all Customer, Regulatory, Compliance, and third-party quality audits across the entire Manufacturing Footprint.

End-to-End Traceability: Establish, test, and sustain rigorous backward and forward traceability systems from raw materials (Agri-Sourcing) through to the finished product in the market.

Complaint Resolution: Act as the ultimate custodian for market and customer complaints. Analyse Root Cause Analysis (RCA) and implement robust (CAPA) to eliminate quality deviations.

3. Global Export, Supply Chain, & Logistics

International Regulations: Navigate and implement multi-country export regulations, with a practical understanding of US regulations (including US FDA/FSMA registration and preventive controls) to ensure smooth market entry.

Export & Logistics Coordination: Maintain a basic, knowledge of export logistics, container loading parameters, and shipping documentation to collaborate effectively with commercial and logistics teams.

4. Co-Manufacturing & Multi-Site Governance

Operational Oversight: Lead multi-site Co-Man operations to ensure adherence to QFS std, Production plans, yield targets,

Contracting & Agility: Identify, audit, and onboard new Co-Man partners. Match demand forecasting with Co-Man capabilities, ensuring agility to scale up for seasonal peaks and new category expansions.

Capital Projects: Lead the strategic planning, CAPEX budgeting, and execution for greenfield/brownfield facility as per business requirement.

5. People Skills: (Stakeholder Management & Leadership)

Co-Man Influence: Leverage exceptional interpersonal and negotiation skills to manage, influence, and hold Co-Man partners accountable for product delivery as per expectation.

Team Leadership: Build, mentor, and inspire a high-performing internal operations and QA team, fostering accountability and technical excellence.

Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner effectively with cross-functional peers (R&D, Sales, Finance, and Procurement) to ensure seamless product commercialization and business alignment.

Experience & Qualifications:

Industry Tenure: 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in Food & Beverage operations, with a strong preference for high-care liquid processing (Dairy, Juice, or Aseptic Beverage).

Qualification: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Dairy/ Food/ Chemical Engineering, or related manufacturing science discipline. Exposure to Coconut or Milk processing will be added advantage

Network Management: Proven track record of handling multi-site operations, dealing with external manufacturing entities, and clearing rigorous buyer audits.

Technical & Soft Competencies

Regulatory Mastery: Thorough understanding of global food safety standards (FSSC 22000, BRC, HACCP) and international frameworks required for export (like the US FSMA).

Diplomacy & Drive: A unique blend of assertive governance (to enforce quality) and collaborative diplomacy (to maintain strong relationships with independent Co-Man owners and internal peers).

Supply Chain: basic understanding of shipping workflows, export logistics, and cross-border tax

Deliverables (KPIs)

Compliance: 100% compliance rate on all market-released products; zero critical audit non-conformances.

Complaint Resolution: Reduction in Customer/Market Complaint Frequency and Defect PPM; Turnaround Time (TAT) for CAPA implementation.

Traceability: 100% traceability mock-drill pass rate within target timelines.

Operational Yield: First Time-Right (FTR) yield percentage and OEE metrics across the entire network.

ofi is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to racial or ethnic origin, color, age, religion or belief, sex, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.