Vice President Operations

Position Overview Our client is a market-leading manufacturer of highly engineered, high-mix, low-volume industrial equipment serving critical commercial and industrial end markets. As the company continues to grow through operational excellence and strategic investment, they are seeking a Vice President of Operations to serve as a hands-on operational leader across multiple manufacturing businesses. This is not a traditional corporate oversight role. The Vice President of Operations will act as the organization's operational "special forces" leader—deploying to facilities where execution, leadership, or performance requires immediate attention. Whether stabilizing operations, driving turnaround initiatives, supporting new leadership, leading complex improvement efforts, or stepping into an interim VP/General Manager capacity, this executive will be expected to roll up their sleeves and lead from the front. The ideal candidate thrives in dynamic environments, quickly earns credibility with frontline teams, and has a proven track record of transforming manufacturing operations through hands-on leadership rather than remote oversight. Key Responsibilities Partner with executive leadership to identify operational priorities and deploy to manufacturing sites requiring immediate leadership or execution support. Lead operational turnarounds by addressing challenges related to safety, quality, delivery, productivity, inventory, labor utilization, and profitability. Serve as a trusted operating partner to site Presidents, General Managers, and Operations leaders while holding teams accountable for results. Personally lead Kaizen events, value stream improvements, production recovery efforts, and continuous improvement initiatives. Diagnose operational issues quickly through direct engagement on the manufacturing floor and develop practical action plans. Standardize operational best practices across multiple business units while respecting the unique needs of each operation. Mentor and develop plant leadership teams, helping build sustainable operational capability beyond immediate improvements. Partner with Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Finance, and Commercial teams to remove barriers impacting execution. Support facility launches, capacity expansions, footprint optimization, and strategic manufacturing initiatives. Step into interim VP/General Manager or senior operational leadership roles when required to provide stability during leadership transitions or periods of accelerated change. Monitor operational performance through KPIs while maintaining a strong presence on the production floor. Build a culture centered on accountability, urgency, continuous improvement, and servant leadership. Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field; MBA preferred. 15+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience within high-mix, low-volume industrial manufacturing environments. Experience leading multiple manufacturing facilities or business units. Proven success leading operational turnarounds, cultural transformations, and performance improvement initiatives. Prior experience as a Plant Manager, General Manager, Vice President of Operations, Division Operations Leader, or similar executive leadership role. Deep knowledge of Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Operational Excellence, and continuous improvement methodologies. Strong financial acumen with experience improving operational profitability and working capital performance. Ability to influence at every level of the organization—from executive leadership to hourly manufacturing associates. Demonstrated ability to quickly assess complex situations, establish priorities, and execute with urgency. Willingness to travel extensively (50–75%) to manufacturing facilities across North America. Ideal Candidate Profile The successful candidate is a pragmatic operator who enjoys solving difficult manufacturing problems rather than managing from a corporate office. They bring credibility because they have personally led plants, improved struggling operations, and built high‑performing teams in demanding manufacturing environments. They possess the versatility to coach an experienced leadership team one month, lead a plant turnaround the next, and step into an interim VP/General Manager role when the business requires it. They are equally comfortable reviewing financial performance in the boardroom and troubleshooting production bottlenecks on the shop floor. This leader embraces ambiguity, thrives in fast‑paced environments, and is motivated by making tangible operational improvements that create lasting organizational impact. What Success Looks Like Rapid stabilization and improvement of underperforming manufacturing operations. Sustainable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and profitability across multiple facilities. Stronger operational leadership pipelines through coaching and mentoring. Successful execution of strategic manufacturing initiatives and business‑critical projects. A culture of accountability, operational discipline, and continuous improvement that can be replicated across the enterprise. #J-18808-Ljbffr Vida Group International