Chief Operating Officer

Stipendio: 150.000 +

About Ocean Twist Ocean Twist Biotechnology is a young company active in the Blue Economy sector.
We create sustainable proteins for aquaculture feeds through biotech extraction of proteins from agricultural side streams and insects.
We aim to fast-track the ecological transition of aquaculture and minimize its negative impact on marine life and the environment.
Currently, over 25 million tons of fish caught annually (almost a quarter of the total) are used for animal feed rather than human consumption.
Our mission is to protect the oceans from overfishing by making aquaculture less impactful and completely independent of wild fishing, thus eliminating human harm to marine ecosystems.
Aquaculture is the most sustainable source of animal protein, and Ocean Twist empowers fish farmers to be even more environmentally friendly with feeds that reduce their impact on marine ecosystems.
How do we do it? With a team of marine biologists, biotechnologists, engineers, and boundless motivation.
We received 1. 5M€ in funding from Italian, Norwegian, and Portuguese impact-focused funds as well as national and international grants and today we're gearing up for a production scale-up that will allow us to sell our products internationally.
About the Role We are seeking a Chief Operating Officer (COO) to partner with the CEO in leading the strategic and operational growth of the company.
Ocean Twist is looking to improve its total revenue in the short term while setting the base for improving marginalities in the medium-long term.
The COO will oversee and optimize all aspects of operations, ensuring the successful growth of the company.
Growth involves the further commercial development of the existing products as well as the technical scale up of new products from working prototype to mass-production.
We are seeking an experienced manager who can balance strategic vision with hands-on execution.
We are looking to improve the management strength of the company, supporting organizational development and fostering a culture of efficiency, innovation, and sustainable growth.
The role is office-based in Rome with occasional remote working.
Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership and Fundraising Support Collaborate with the CEO to define and implement the company’s strategic roadmap.
Assist in investor relations, including preparing operational insights for fundraising efforts and engaging with key stakeholders.
Drive initiatives to secure funding, leveraging operational metrics and strategic goals.
Operational Management Lead the commercial and technical growth of the company, ensuring alignment with market readiness metrics.
Oversee day-to-day operations, addressing challenges directly and implementing solutions to ensure efficiency and quality.
Lead the assessment of different business models such as contract manufacturing, licensing or in-house production.
Define and monitor KP Is specific to production, supply chain, and cost optimization, ensuring continuous improvement.
Team Leadership and Development Build and mentor a high-performing operational team, fostering a collaborative and innovative culture.
Train the management team into becoming leaders with a broader skillset.
Performance Management and Metrics Develop and oversee metrics such as production efficiency, scalability benchmarks, cost per unit, and time-to-market improvements.
Monitor the progress of product scale-up, market penetration, and client satisfaction KP Is.
Ensure adherence to budgetary constraints and deliver financial performance insights.
Stakeholder Collaboration Act as a bridge between internal teams and external partners, ensuring alignment on production timelines, quality standards, and strategic goals.
Manage relationships with production partners, suppliers, and clients to optimize collaboration and outcomes.
Change Management and Growth Enablement Guide the organization through critical growth phases, including team expansion and market entry.
Implement systems and processes to support scalability and operational resilience.
Ideal Candidate Profile At least 5 years of proven experience in operational leadership roles, particularly in scaling production from pilot to industrial levels.
Strong understanding of KP Is relevant to biotech or agritech industries, such as cost per unit, production efficiency, and supply chain metrics.
Demonstrated ability to support fundraising efforts through operational insights and stakeholder engagement.
Background in engineering, industrial management, or related fields; advanced degrees (MBA, M Sc) are a plus.
Exceptional leadership, problem-solving, and cross-functional collaboration skills.
Fluent in English; additional languages are advantageous.
Short and Medium- Term Objectives Within 6 Months Finalize and oversee the scale-up plan for protein ingredients (fully insect-based and plant-based byproducts).
Define and implement key operational KP Is, including production efficiency and cost optimization.
Achieve full operational readiness for the externalized production of protein ingredients (fully insect-based and plant-based byproducts).
Within 18 Months Support the development of strategic partnerships for ingredient production and distribution.
Establish a robust monitoring system for financial and operational metrics to prepare for joint ventures and future growth.
Collaborate in the Series A fundraising round.
Engagement Details This is a full-time position based in Rome.
The COO will report directly to the CEO and play a key role in scaling the company to its next phase of industrial and commercial success.
Job Type: Full-time Pay: €35,000. 00 - €70,000. 00 per year Ability to commute/relocate: 00131 Roma, RM: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work ( Preferred) Education: Bachelor's ( Required) Experience: Top Management: 2 years ( Required) Language: English ( Required) Italian ( Preferred) Expected Start Date: 01/04/2025 J-18808- Ljbffr

Stipendio: 150. 000 +

Salario minimo: 150.000 + €