COO Bulgaria & SEE region

Chief Operating Officer (COO) – Bulgaria & SEE Region Food-Tech / Fermentation Location: Sofia, Bulgaria (located in Sofia, regular travel across the region) ABOUT GRASHKA Grashka is a European food-tech company headquartered in Slovenia, with its own R&D and a proprietary native fermentation technology. We turn legumes and grains into clean-label, high-protein foods and ingredients with great taste and texture, without additives. Our products are sold in eight European markets, including Tesco, Spar and Lidl, and have received several innovation and sustainability awards. Alongside our own brand, we work with industrial food and dairy producers as a technology and ingredient partner. THE PROJECT IN SOFIA We are establishing a Bulgarian subsidiary in Sofia as our operational and business-development hub for Southeast Europe. The aim is to bring our fermentation-based solutions closer to food and dairy producers in the region and to build strong local supply partnerships, including with organic and regenerative farmers. The subsidiary has investor backing and will be built step by step. In 2027 we will set up the company, the team and the first strategic partnerships. After that, we will scale commercial and industrial activities. This is a rare chance to build a company from the ground up. You will have proven technology, an existing customer base and an experienced founding team behind you. THE ROLE As COO Bulgaria & SEE Region, you will be the first senior leader on the ground and the local face of Grashka. You will set up and run the Sofia subsidiary, lead its team and open strategic partnerships across the region. You report directly to the CEO and work closely with our R&D, sales and operations teams in Slovenia. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Build the companySet up and run the Sofia subsidiary: office, local processes, budgets, reporting and compliance, together with local legal and accounting advisorsRecruit, lead and develop a small, high-performing local teamTranslate company goals into a clear local business plan with measurable targets Business development and partnershipsIdentify, approach and close strategic B2B partnerships with food and dairy producers, manufacturers and co-packers in Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Serbia and the wider SEE region Lead complex B2B negotiations from first meeting to signed agreement, together with HQBuild supply partnerships with organic and regenerative farmers and agricultural cooperativesRepresent Grashka at trade fairs, industry associations, investor and institutional meetings Sales and market developmentDrive commercial growth in the region, both for industrial ingredient partners and for our retail productsSupport HQ sales teams with market insight, key-account relationships and distributor networksBuild a qualified pipeline and report on progress against targets Operations and executionCoordinate industrial trials and the start of local production with partners, working with our R&D and quality teamsEnsure food-safety, quality and regulatory requirements are met with every partnerExplore and apply for EU and national funding opportunities relevant to the subsidiary WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE IN THE FIRST 12 MONTHSThe Sofia subsidiary is fully set up and operational, with a core team in placeA pipeline of qualified B2B partners in at least three SEE countriesFirst strategic partnership agreements signed and first industrial trials startedA network of local farming and supply partners established WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR Must-haves10+ years of experience in the food industry, with at least 5 years in a senior management role (COO, General Manager, Country Manager, Business Development Director or similar)Proven track record in B2B business development and sales with food manufacturers, dairy producers, ingredient companies or retail chainsExperience negotiating and closing partnership, supply or licensing agreements with industrial partnersExperience leading teams and running an office or business unit, ideally including a start-up or market-entry phaseA strong professional network in the Bulgarian food industry and in at least one more SEE market (Romania, Greece, Serbia, North Macedonia, Croatia or others)Solid understanding of food production, food safety and quality standards (HACCP, IFS/BRC)An entrepreneurial, hands-on mindset: you are comfortable building structure where none exists yetFluent Bulgarian and English; willingness to travel regularly across the region and to Slovenia Nice-to-havesBackground in the dairy industry, dairy alternatives or plant-based foodsExperience with fermentation, food ingredients or food technologyConnections with organic or regenerative farming networks and agricultural cooperativesExperience with EU-funded projects or public funding programmesAdditional regional languages (Romanian, Greek, Serbian or others) Who you are You are a builder and a door-opener. People in the food industry trust you, and you know how decisions are made inside a factory and a boardroom. You combine commercial drive with operational discipline, and you are motivated by making food systems healthier and more resilient. WHAT WE OFFERA founding leadership role with real ownership: you build the subsidiary and shape its strategyCompetitive salary plus performance bonus tied to partnerships and revenue milestonesLong-term incentive participation for the right candidateDirect work with the founders and access to proven technology, R&D and an existing international customer baseA mission-driven, international team working on healthier, more resilient food systemsHybrid work from Sofia with regular travel across the region; establishing office for regular work and building the team; HOW TO APPLY Apply via LinkedIn with your CV and a short note (max. one page) answering: Which three food or dairy companies in the SEE region would you approach first, and why? We review applications on a rolling basis. Deadline: 30 November 2026. All applications are treated confidentially. SELECTION PROCESS 1. CV and motivation screening 2. First interview with the CEO (online) 3. Business case: a short market-entry plan for one SEE country 4. Final interview with the founders in Slovenia or Sofia