Chief Operations Officer (COO) - Darling Ingredients R&S Poland
HQ in Mirowice near Grójec
If you are client-oriented and closely connected to technologies used in food, pet food, or feed production (from raw materials and end products) and/or rendering, with a strong commercial mindset and a hands-on leadership style, this role is written for you! Especially if you enjoy working with engaged teams in both local and international environments.
O Darling Ingredients Miropasz
Darling Ingredients Inc. is a global leader in the circular economy, transforming animal by-products and food waste into sustainable ingredients for feed, food, and renewable energy. The company operates internationally, supplying proteins, fats, collagen, and biofuels to multiple industries. Its activities support waste reduction and efficient resource use. The Group employs 16.000 people globally.
In Poland, Darling Ingredients’ operations are primarily industrial and focused on rendering (collection, grinding, cooking, separating and refining animal by-products into valuable fats and protein ingredients) and feed ingredients. Its key local brand is Miropasz Group. Miropasz processes Category III poultry by-products into high-quality animal proteins and fats for feed and pet food sectors. Other group brands active in Poland include Sonac (feed ingredients) and Ecoson (renewable energy solutions).
Due to continued growth and a strong focus on further strengthening operational excellence, the company is currently seeking a Chief Operations Officer (COO) for Darling Ingredients R&S Poland. In this role you will be responsible for overseeing operational performance, driving strategic execution, and ensuring organizational excellence across the Polish rendering operations, with a primary focus on the Darling Ingredients brands Miropasz. The COO will also act (in a later stage) as Vice Chairman of Darling Ingredients Poland Board. This role plays a pivotal role in integrating operations, improving efficiency, fostering innovation, and ensuring sustainable growth.
Stanowisko
Lead day-to-day operations to ensure operational excellence, cost efficiency and high productivity.
- Ensure that operational processes, supply chains, production, quality and performance management systems operate effectively and in alignment with the broader Rendering and Specialties (R&S) business unit strategy.
- Develop, implement and monitor strategic operational plans that support the company’s long-term goals. Translate Group strategy into concrete operational objectives for the Polish entities.
- Align operational processes to enhance synergy, resource utilization, and best practice sharing
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to enhance profitability and operational efficiency.
- Foster a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and safety across all facilities. Strengthen a culture of collaboration, empowerment and cross-functional teamwork.
- Identify operational risks and opportunities.
- Oversee production planning, capacity management, maintenance and quality control.
- Optimize supply chain processes, including procurement and inventory control.
- Ensure that production and supply chain operations meet customer expectations, regulatory standards (local and EU), and sustainability requirements.
- Drive sustainability initiatives aligned with R&S’s ESG strategy—including waste reduction, energy efficiency, and responsible resource management.
- Build and maintain performance dashboards, operations KPI’s, and reporting systems that ensure transparency and accountability.
- Collaborate with Finance to manage budgets, operational forecasts, cost control initiatives and investment decisions.
- Support HR in workforce planning, performance management, leadership development and employee engagement initiatives.
- Strengthen a culture of collaboration, empowerment, and cross functional teamwork.
- Act as a key business partner to local and group leadership teams.
- Maintain effective communication with suppliers (poultry slaughterhouses), customers (pet food producers), regulators and internal stakeholders.
- The COO reports to and closely cooperates with the CEO of Darling Ingredients Poland.
Profil
A pro-active production and operations leader, close to people and market. Requirements
- Master’s degree in Operations Management, Engineering, Business Administration, Supply Chain, or related field preferably in animal nutrition, food technology or similar.
- 10+ years of senior operational leadership experience, preferably in food/feed production/ingredients, animal by-product processing, commodity business or recycling sectors.
- Proven track record in managing multi-site operations and driving operational transformations, preferably in an international matrix organization.
- Experience with continuous improvement methodologies.
- Strong understanding of Polish regulatory frameworks.
- Very good command of business English (written and spoken).
Competences
- Highly developed analytical and conceptual (finance) skills, sharp analyst.
- Strong business orientation & client focused.
- Natural leadership, able to connect and motivate people in a complex matrix organisation.
- No nonsense and hands-on approach, eagerness to deliver, action & result driven.
- Intelligence driven, able to rely and build on facts and figures.
Oferta
In this role you will become part of a company where sustainability is a core value, alongside integrity and transparency. Poland is currently a key strategic market and a central focus for the company’s growth in Europe. The business is expanding dynamically, with significant investments in production assets and a strong commitment to employee development. This role offers substantial entrepreneurial scope, with the autonomy to identify opportunities, drive initiatives, and deliver tangible results.
The company is seeking a proactive, solution-oriented leader who takes ownership and leads from the front. As COO, you will serve as a member of the R&S Poland Management Team and (in a later stage) as Vice Chairman of the Board of Darling Ingredients Poland, represent the organization in strategic discussions with Group Management (HQ in Texas, USA). The position also provides broad international exposure and the opportunity to deepen your expertise in the rendering industry through close collaboration with other regional hubs. A competitive compensation package is offered, including a premium company car, all necessary tools for the role.
Location
HQ in Mirowice near Grójec, mazowieckie. Frequent national travelling.
Contact
Darling Ingredients has outsourced the Search and Selection for the Chief Operational Officer – R&S Poland exclusively to CeresRecruitment. You can send your application (English cv) via the website www.ceresrecruitment.pl. For further information, please contact Koen Lecluyse on +48 696 307 999. More information about Darling Ingredients / Miropasz can be found on https://www.darlingii.com/pl-PL/miropasz. A personality questionnaire can be part of the recruitment process.
