Chief Operations Officer (COO)

Drive Excellence – Shape the Future - Honor a Legacy.

Carriere Family Farms is a fifth-generation, family-owned walnut grower and processor with more than 130 years of agricultural heritage. While deeply rooted in tradition, the business is firmly focused on the future — investing in people, infrastructure, technology, and leadership to support long-term, sustainable growth.

We are seeking a Chief Operations Officer (COO) to lead our walnut manufacturing and processing operations and serve as a key strategic partner to the CEO and Board of Directors. This is a rare opportunity for a seasoned operations executive to make a lasting impact in a values-driven, family enterprise while shaping the next chapter of operational excellence and leadership development.

This role goes far beyond day-to-day plant operations. The COO will own enterprise-level operational performance across walnut manufacturing, hulling, quality, supply chain, logistics, and capital projects, translating long-term strategy into disciplined execution, measurable results, and scalable systems. As a trusted advisor to ownership and the Board, this leader will contribute meaningfully to growth strategy, investment decisions, and risk management, while also building, mentoring, and preparing the next generation of operational leaders to support the company’s long-term succession and continuity.

For the right executive, this role offers visibility, influence, and long-term career runway within a stable, profitable family business.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic & Enterprise Leadership

• Partner with the CEO, leadership team, and Board to develop and execute multi-year growth strategies


• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, optimize cost structures, and enhance profitability


• Anticipate industry, technology, and demographic trends — positioning operations for future success


• Prepare and present quarterly Board updates with clarity, insight, and accountability

Operational Excellence

• Oversee all walnut manufacturing and hulling operations, ensuring alignment with sales demand, product mix, and quality expectations


• Lead KPI development and performance management across production, food safety, inventory, maintenance, logistics, and workforce safety


• Champion real-time data, reporting systems, and continuous improvement initiatives, including Lean and emerging AI applications


• Provide hands-on leadership presence on the plant floor while maintaining strategic altitude

Financial Stewardship

• Partner with the CFO on long-range financial planning, capital investment strategy, and risk management


• Drive disciplined budgeting, cost controls, and operational financial performance metrics


• Lead budget-to-actual reviews and take decisive corrective action when targets are missed

People & Succession Leadership

• Develop, mentor, and coach a high-caliber plant and operations leadership team


• Build formal succession plans and long-term development paths for key leaders


• Foster a culture of high trust, accountability, continuous improvement, and healthy conflict

Governance, Safety & Compliance

• Ensure strong compliance across food safety (SQF, HACCP, GMP), OSHA, environmental, and regulatory standards


• Set the tone for a safety-first, quality-driven culture throughout the organization


• Act as senior site leader during emergency response situations

The Ideal Profile:

You are a seasoned operations leader who thrives in both boardroom and plant-floor environments and understands the nuance of working within a family-owned enterprise.

You bring:

• 15+ years of progressive leadership in manufacturing or food processing operations


• Experience at the GM, VP Operations, or COO level, with readiness to operate at full enterprise scale


• Strong P&L ownership, capital project leadership, and financial acumen


• A track record of building, mentoring, and advancing leadership teams


• Comfort working with Boards and family ownership — balancing governance, relationships, and results


• Exposure to Lean manufacturing and modern operational technologies


• A leadership style grounded in integrity, accountability, and people development

What sets this opportunity apart:

• Family ownership with long-term vision — not quarterly pressure


• Direct influence with the CEO and Board


• Opportunity to shape systems, structure, and succession


• Meaningful agricultural impact with global reach


• A business investing in modernization, data, and leadership

This is an ideal role for an executive who wants legacy impact, not just a title — someone who values stewardship, excellence, and building something that lasts.