Chief Operating Officer, Western U.S. Agriculture Operations

Manulife•Time, IL

2d•Remote

About The Position

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Western Crops serves as a key strategic leader within Manulife Agriculture Services. This role exemplifies our corporate values and strategic pillars—prioritizing safety, talent development, stakeholder satisfaction, and continuous improvement. The COO is responsible for planning, organizing, and overseeing property operations to maximize return on investment while ensuring responsible stewardship on the assets we operate and in the communities we serve. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience managing permanent crop operations, particularly nuts, wine grapes, citrus, apples, and cherries. Expertise in crop planning, budgeting (operational and capital), project execution, marketing strategy, and investment reporting is essential.

Requirements

Proven experience leading large teams in complex agricultural operations.
Proven ability to build and sustain a positive team culture while delivering operational results.
Established network with market participants (industry boards, associations, processors, crop consultants, etc.)
Strong knowledge of permanent crop management and marketing.
Exceptional communication, presentation and negotiation skills.
Strong interpersonal skills with a focus on collaboration and conflict resolution.
Highly entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to drive initiatives to completion.
Advanced financial acumen, including budgeting and cost analysis.
Proficiency in sustainable practices, technology and data-driven decision-making.
Ability to thrive under pressure in a fast-paced environment.
Willingness to travel extensively (50+%).

Responsibilities

Leadership & Workforce Development: Recruit, train, and develop high-performing teams. Provide coaching and mentorship to expand team capabilities and leadership skills. Foster a collaborative culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement. Promote cross-functional teamwork to achieve shared goals.
Operational Excellence: Oversee day-to-day property operations across multiple regions. Implement strategies that align with stakeholder needs and company objectives. Drive efficiency initiatives and cost optimization measures, driving towards improved ROI. Promote transparent communication of KPI’s and performance metrics to develop ownership and alignment across all business units.
Financial & Strategic Planning: Develop and manage annual operating budgets and capital expenditure plans. Monitor performance against KPIs and adjust strategies as needed. Communicate variances and operational challenges to the portfolio management and client service leads promptly.
Stakeholder Engagement: Build strong relationships with clients, vendors, and partners to ensure competitive pricing, favorable terms, and exceptional service.
Risk Management & Compliance: Lead with a de-risking mindset to ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, industry standards, and internal governance.
Organizational Planning & Change Management: Lead organizational planning efforts, including workforce planning and organizational design. Support major change initiatives such as mergers, system implementations, or restructuring. Champion change management strategies to ensure adoption and smooth transitions.
Reporting & Communication: Provide regular reports and insights to the Head of Asset Management, and at times, the platform leadership team. Communicate operational priorities, progress, and performance to internal teams. Ensure transparency and alignment across organizational levels.

Benefits

health
dental
mental health
vision
short- and long-term disability
life and AD&D insurance coverage
adoption/surrogacy and wellness benefits
employee/family assistance plans
retirement savings plans (including pension/401(k) savings plans and a global share ownership plan with employer matching contributions)
financial education and counseling resources
paid time off program in the U.S. includes up to 11 paid holidays, 3 personal days, 150 hours of vacation, and 40 hours of sick time (or more where required by law) each year, and we offer the full range of statutory leaves of absence.