RNF Pet Products Inc., a subsidiary of Riverside Natural Foods Inc., is a manufacturer of boutique-style private-label dog treats with 100% human-grade ingredients made in a certified human food facility. All Cookie Pal products are made with wholesome, organic ingredients that are ethically sourced and sold in biodegradable packaging from a certified Zero Waste facility. To learn more about us, please visit our website at www.rnfpet.com.
We are seeking a Chief Operating Officer to join our team. This position will report directly to the President of RNF Pet Products Inc.
Please note that this role is based in Concord, Ontario, and a relocation to Rexdale is planned for September 2025.
The Chief Operating Officer will lead a cross-functional operations portfolio that encompasses Supply Chain (including demand and supply planning, procurement, logistics), quality assurance & regulatory compliance, warehousing, and manufacturing. This strategic and high-impact leadership role is responsible for building operational excellence as the company scales up to open a second production facility and beyond.
You will provide leadership and oversight to the Vice President of Operations and their team, ensuring alignment across departments to optimize efficiency, cost, quality, and compliance. You will also collaborate closely with leaders in Finance, Sales, R&D, and Marketing to ensure operational scalability and continuity of supply.
We believe our leadership team should be present and engaged on-site, working closely with all team members. As a Chief Operating Officer, your presence in the office will enable you to lead by example, stay connected with daily business activities, and foster collaboration with the workforce. We value leaders who are visible, accessible, and actively contribute to the company culture and operational excellence.
Compensation:
Competitive salary commensurate with experience ($180,000 - $200,000 per annum)
e Offer:
Comprehensive health benefits coverage
Generous paid vacation
An annual performance bonus based on KPIs
Potential long-term incentives
Opportunity to create a significant impact in a growing company
Professional development and growth opportunities
Key Areas of Responsibility:
Operational Leadership and Scale-Up Strategy
Provide enterprise-wide leadership across all core operational domains: supply chain, procurement, logistics, warehousing, QA/regulatory, and manufacturing.
Oversee the VP of Operations, ensuring delivery of margin, output, safety and efficiency targets.
Drive operational integration across functional teams to ensure cross-functional collaboration and organizational agility.
Lead long-range planning, investment prioritization, and budget ownership for Operations.
End-to-End Supply Chain Management
Lead demand and supply planning processes to ensure optimal inventory levels and serviceability.
Oversee procurement strategies for raw materials and packaging, including negotiation, cost management, and supply continuity.
Develop a resilient and sustainable supply chain that embeds traceability and risk mitigation frameworks.
Logistics, Fulfillment and Warehouse Management
Lead the design, refinement and execution of warehousing and order fulfillment to support all sales channels.
Optimize third-party logistics partnerships, freight costs, and delivery service level agreements to support customer satisfaction and margin targets.
Oversee the implementation of systems for scalable logistics operations, ensuring real-time visibility.
Quality Assurance, Safety & Regulatory Compliance
Ensure company-wide adherence to regulatory frameworks (CFIA, HACCP, GFSI) and customer standards.
Maintain a robust quality management system across all manufacturing, warehousing, and logistics operations.
Champion a proactive safety culture by ensuring operational practices align with all relevant legislative mandates, company policies, and industry best practices; lead the development and enforcement of safe work processes in collaboration with the Joint Health and Safety Committee (JHSC) to continuously mitigate risk and promote employee well-being.
Champion a culture of food safety and continuous improvement in compliance practices.
Team Building & Strategic Collaboration
Build and scale a world-class operations team that fosters accountability, engagement, and performance.
Partner with executive peers on company-wide strategy, resource allocation, and growth planning.
Establish and report on key operational KPIs to inform business decisions and performance reviews.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s Degree in a relevant discipline (Business administration, operations management or related field); an MBA would be considered an asset.
10–15 years of progressive senior operations leadership in food manufacturing, Consumer Packaged Goods (“CPG”), or pet product (food) industries.
Experience in natural/sustainable product categories would be highly desirable.
Demonstrated success in leading full supply chain and manufacturing organizations through scale-up in a fast-growth company.
Expertise in facility expansion, site selection, facility build-out, capital project management, and multi-site operations.
Deep knowledge of food safety programs and certifications (e.g., HACCP, CFIA, GFSI).
Advanced knowledge of procurement, planning systems, ERP platforms, and logistics tools.
Advanced MS Office skills.
Strong leadership and effective people management capabilities in operations; supportive of team development through coaching, mentoring, and creating growth opportunities.
Excellent project management skills.
Skilled in identifying and tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) to drive business performance and decision-making.
Excellent analytical, organizational, and communication (verbal and written) skills.
Self-motivated and possessing a strong work ethic, with a commitment to professional growth
Proven ability to effectively manage multiple priorities, projects, and deadlines.
Committed to continuous improvement through the implementation of effective systems and processes.
Professional, reliable, and committed to upholding high standards of excellence.
Legally eligible to work in Canada under applicable provincial or territorial laws and regulations.
If you're an experienced operational leader passionate about natural, sustainable products — and excited to help scale a company with purpose — we want to hear from you!
Riverside Natural Foods Inc. is committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate based on race, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, protected veteran status, disability, age, or any other legally protected status. We encourage you to contact us if you require accommodation during the recruitment process or need this job posting in an alternative format.
While we appreciate all interest, only those candidates selected for an interview will be contacted.
