Head of Manufacturing Strategy
About The Position
Food has lost its soul to modern convenience. And with it, it has lost the power to nourish, inspire, and connect us. So in 2018, CookUnity was founded as the first-of-its-kind platform that connects the world with the source of truly great food: chefs. Today, CookUnity delivers 50 million meals a year from the industry’s best chefs to homes all over the country. Fresh. Ready-to-eat. And crafted with the passion that nourishes body and soul. Unwilling to stop there, CookUnity is expanding beyond delivery to become an ever-innovating marketplace focused on our singular mission: empower Chefs to nourish the world. If that mission has you hungry in more ways than one, you’ve found the right job posting. CookUnity is growing at an extraordinary pace, with more than one million square feet of new facilities coming online in the next few years. Every 1% optimization in how we design and run our operations translates into millions of dollars saved and happier customers. We are looking for our first senior technical individual contributor in manufacturing—a proven process excellence leader who can bring a unifying, systems-level approach to food production. Today, our specialist teams (culinary, FSQA, procurement, operations, logistics, etc.) each contribute valuable solutions. This role will knit those perspectives together, ensuring that layouts, processes, and tools work as one integrated system built for scale. This leader will act as both a strategic architect and a hands-on change agent, driving continuous improvement and operational excellence across all manufacturing sites. They will also hold ownership of integral recommendations to the CEO and COO on all operations and manufacturing design decisions. This position can start as a consulting or project-based engagement with the potential to evolve into a full-time leadership role, offering the opportunity to make an immediate impact while also influencing the future of our manufacturing and operations strategy. Open for candidates based in NY, LA or Chicago area.
Requirements
- Proven experience leading cross-functional initiatives with measurable impact on cost, throughput, and quality.
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
- Experience in large-scale, structured environments (Fortune 500, CPG, high-volume manufacturing); startup/high-growth adaptability is a plus.
- 5–8 years of direct plant ownership experience, running production lines, full departments, or entire plants (depending on size).
- Demonstrated ownership of P&L for a plant, department, or business unit at some point in their career.
- Clear track record of driving efficiency, throughput, and operational improvements with measurable impact on cost, quality, and productivity.
- Strong leadership presence with the ability to balance hands-on operational problem-solving and strategic process design.
- Black Belt or Master Black Belt in Six Sigma (or equivalent process improvement certification) strongly preferred.
- Expertise in Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, or related continuous improvement methodologies.
- Deep expertise in food manufacturing, CPG operations, or highly optimized process industries.
- Strong plant management exposure: materials, layouts, utilities, and regulatory compliance.
Responsibilities
- Own high-impact, cross-functional projects that improve throughput, reduce costs, and optimize workflows across Culinary, Marketplace, Supply Chain, Fulfillment, and Logistics.
- Champion continuous improvement by deploying Lean and Six Sigma methodologies to eliminate waste, reduce variability, and drive productivity gains.
- Build and scale food manufacturing processes to support rapid company growth while maintaining uncompromising food safety and regulatory compliance.
- Apply plant-level expertise — layouts, material flows, drainage/flooring design, utilities, regulatory standards — to ensure world-class facility design and operations.
- Leverage data-driven insights and Six Sigma methodologies to prioritize and measure improvement initiatives.
- Partner with executive leadership to define and execute the long-term manufacturing strategy, including facilities design, automation, process design, and technology enablement.
- Develop, coach, and mentor high-performing manufacturing leaders, fostering a culture of safety, quality, ownership, and innovation.
- Act as a change leader, influencing cross-departmental alignment and ensuring seamless execution of projects across the broader organization.
Benefits
- 🩺 Health Insurance coverage
- ⛱ Unlimited PTO
- 📈 We grow, you grow: Stock Options Plan granted on Day 1.
- 🌟 Eligible for bi-annual performance bonus
- 🐣 Family leave fully paid
- 🕯 Compassionate Leave: 3-5 days each time the need arises
- 🥘 A generous amount of CookUnity credits to enjoy our amazing meals, added to your account, monthly
- 🧘🏽♀️ Wellness perks: access to a nutritional coach and fitness subsidies to build a healthy lifestyle
- 👩🏾🏫 Personalized Spanish coach
- 🌟 Awesome opportunity to join a company that is looking to change how we eat and how chefs work!
- 🗓️ 5- year Sabbatical: After 5 years with CookUnity, you get a 4-week paid sabbatical
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
Number of Employees
501-1,000 employees
