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Head of Manufacturing Strategy

New York, New York, United States

About CookUnity

Food has lost its soul to modern convenience. And with 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.

The Role

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.

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.

Qualifications

  • 8–12+ years of total experience, including 3–5 years directly leading continuous improvement programs
  • 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.
  • Proven track record of end-to-end project ownership in complex, cross-functional environments.
  • Exceptional leadership and communication skills, with the ability to influence across departments and executive levels.
  • Experience in large-scale, structured environments (Fortune 500, CPG, high-volume manufacturing); startup/high-growth adaptability is a plus.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field; advanced degree preferred.

Success in This Role Looks Like

  • Reduction of manufacturing cost per meal while maintaining uncompromising quality and safety.
  • Scalable systems and processes that enable CookUnity to double or triple output seamlessly.
  • Integral recommendations to CEO and COO that drive company-wide decisions on manufacturing strategy.
  • Cross-functional projects delivered on time, within scope, and with clear, measurable business results.
  • A manufacturing team that is empowered, aligned, and operating at world-class standards.

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

 
 

Compensation

All final pay rates will be determined by candidates experience, knowledge, skills, and abilities of the applicant, internal equity, and alignment with market data.

Pay Range for this position

$170,000 - $180,000 USD

 

If you’re interested in this role, please submit your application and if we think you might be a fit, we'll get in touch with you. Thank you for your time!

CookUnity is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We are dedicated to creating a community of inclusion and an environment free from discrimination or harassment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, protected veteran status, genetic information, or physical or mental disability.

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