Vice President of Manufacturing

Vice President of Operations / VP Manufacturing

Location: Greater Sacramento Area (Onsite)

Compensation: $200,000 - $250,000 DOE + Discretionary Performance Bonus

Position Summary

A rapidly growing, highly regulated life sciences manufacturing organization is seeking an experienced Vice President of Operations / Site Operations Director to provide executive leadership for all site operations. Reporting directly to the CEO, this individual will have full operational and financial responsibility for the manufacturing site, driving business performance, regulatory compliance, operational excellence, and long-term strategic growth.

This executive leadership role is responsible for overseeing manufacturing, quality, facilities, engineering, supply chain, environmental health and safety (EHS), capital projects, and overall site performance. The successful candidate will lead cross-functional teams while balancing customer commitments, regulatory compliance, employee development, operational efficiency, and financial performance.

Key Responsibilities

Executive Leadership & Business Operations

• Provide strategic leadership for all site operations, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and long-term business strategy.
• Maintain full site P&L responsibility, including annual operating budgets, capital expenditures, forecasting, and cost optimization.
• Establish annual business objectives and monitor key performance indicators related to safety, quality, delivery, productivity, customer satisfaction, and financial performance.
• Present operational updates, financial performance, and strategic initiatives to executive leadership.
• Build and develop a high-performing leadership team while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Manufacturing Operations

• Direct all manufacturing operations to ensure safe, efficient, and compliant production.
• Oversee production planning, capacity management, resource allocation, and operational scheduling to meet customer commitments.
• Partner with Quality and Engineering to resolve production challenges, improve manufacturing performance, and implement operational improvements.
• Lead initiatives that improve productivity, reduce costs, optimize throughput, and maximize operational efficiency.
• Support new product introductions, technology transfers, process improvements, and operational readiness initiatives.

Quality & Regulatory Compliance

• Ensure site-wide compliance with applicable FDA, cGMP, OSHA, EPA, and other regulatory requirements.
• Provide executive oversight for Quality Assurance and Quality Control while promoting a strong culture of compliance and operational excellence.
• Lead regulatory inspections, customer audits, and internal compliance initiatives.
• Oversee quality systems, risk management programs, CAPA effectiveness, change management, and continuous improvement activities.
• Ensure the organization maintains a constant state of inspection readiness.

Facilities, Engineering & Capital Projects

• Provide executive oversight for facilities, utilities, engineering, maintenance, and capital improvement projects.
• Lead facility expansion, equipment installation, infrastructure improvements, and long-term capital planning.
• Ensure preventative maintenance programs maximize equipment reliability and operational uptime.
• Partner with Engineering and Validation teams to support facility qualification, equipment commissioning, and manufacturing readiness.

Supply Chain & Business Operations

• Oversee procurement, inventory management, warehousing, logistics, and supplier performance.
• Develop strategies that strengthen supply chain resilience, improve inventory management, and reduce operational risk.
• Partner closely with Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Commercial teams to support organizational objectives.
• Ensure business processes support scalable growth while maintaining operational excellence.

Environmental Health & Safety

• Champion a culture of workplace safety and environmental compliance throughout the organization.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and applicable environmental regulations.
• Lead site-wide safety initiatives, emergency preparedness programs, and risk mitigation efforts.
• Establish performance metrics that drive continuous improvement in safety and environmental performance.

Leadership & Continuous Improvement

• Build, mentor, and develop high-performing leadership teams while creating strong succession plans.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the organization.
• Promote a culture focused on operational excellence, customer satisfaction, employee engagement, accountability, and innovation.
• Balance business growth, regulatory compliance, operational efficiency, and long-term profitability.

Qualifications

Required

• Master's degree in Engineering, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline. Advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum of 12 years of progressive leadership experience within a highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• Minimum of 5 years leading site-wide manufacturing operations with full operational and financial accountability.
• Demonstrated experience managing manufacturing, quality, engineering, facilities, supply chain, and cross-functional business operations.
• Strong understanding of FDA regulations, cGMP requirements, OSHA, EPA, and quality management systems.
• Proven experience leading regulatory inspections, customer audits, and operational excellence initiatives.
• Demonstrated success managing capital projects, manufacturing expansion, organizational growth, and business transformation.
• Experience with ERP systems, manufacturing planning software, and business performance reporting.

Preferred

• Experience leading new facility start-ups, significant site expansions, or major operational transformations.
• Track record of implementing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
• Experience scaling manufacturing operations while maintaining regulatory compliance and customer satisfaction.
• Executive leadership experience within pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.

What You'll Bring

• Executive leadership with a strategic, hands-on management style.
• Strong financial acumen, including P&L ownership, budgeting, forecasting, and cost management.
• Ability to influence and lead cross-functional teams across manufacturing, quality, engineering, supply chain, and corporate functions.
• Excellent communication skills with experience presenting to executive leadership, customers, and regulatory agencies.
• Passion for building high-performing organizations while driving operational excellence, compliance, safety, and sustainable business growth.