Vice President, Operations

Vice President, Operations

Kasco LLC is a Steel Partners portfolio company and a leading manufacturer of precision blades and knives for industrial and food processing applications. Operating across North American and EMEA markets, Kasco serves a diverse global customer base with products manufactured at its USMCA-compliant facility in Matamoros, Mexico and finished at its UK operation in Wales. The Kasco Product Business represents the company's core manufacturing and product segment, encompassing both the North American Product and EMEA businesses.

The Vice President, Operations is the senior operational leader of Kasco's Product Business and, in practice, functions as the de facto chief operating officer of the segment. This executive holds joint P&L ownership of the Product Business alongside the President, with direct operational accountability spanning manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, quality, EHS, and customer service and order management — everything that touches cost, output, and delivery. Sales, marketing, and finance sit outside this role's direct ownership, but virtually all other functions of consequence flow through it.

The VP of Operations will lead four direct reports — the Matamoros Plant Manager, the Wales Site Manager, the Supply Chain/Procurement Manager, and the Quality Manager — and will be the senior operational interface across two international manufacturing sites. The role requires daily cross-border engagement with the Matamoros facility via commute from the Rio Grande Valley and regular transatlantic travel to the Wales finishing operation on a quarterly basis or more frequently as business needs require.

The ideal candidate brings demonstrated experience managing a USMCA or maquiladora manufacturing environment, direct exposure to European or UK plant operations, and bilingual (English/Spanish) fluency. This is a role for an operator who thrives on complexity, moves with urgency, and takes genuine ownership of outcomes.

Reports To: President, Kasco LLC

Location: Brownsville, Harlingen, or McAllen, TX (Rio Grande Valley)

Business Scope: $35M Product Business — industrial & food processing blades and knives

P&L Role: Joint P&L ownership of the Product Business; operational accountability for all non-commercial, non-finance functions

Manufacturing: USMCA plant, Matamoros, Mexico — daily cross-border commute

Finishing Ops: Atlantic Service Company (UK) Ltd — finishing operation, Wales, UK

Travel: Quarterly+ to Wales; periodic to Kasco North American locations

Direct Reports: Plant Manager (Matamoros) · Site Manager (Wales) · Supply Chain/Procurement Manager · Quality Manager

Hold joint P&L accountability for the Kasco Product Business alongside the President, with direct ownership of the cost, operational efficiency, and working capital levers that drive EBITDA performance. Serve as the operational chief executive of the Product Business — the senior decision-maker across all manufacturing, supply chain, quality, engineering, and customer-facing operational functions. Partner with the President and Finance to manage the annual operating plan, monthly performance reviews, and strategic planning processes, contributing full operational perspective to business decisions. Drive operational initiatives that protect and improve gross margin, reduce structural costs, and support the longterm competitiveness of the Product Business. Support the President and Steel Partners in broader strategic initiatives as they evolve.

Own and drive operational performance across the Matamoros manufacturing plant and Wales finishing operation, ensuring safety, quality, delivery, and cost targets are consistently met. Lead and develop a cohesive cross-site leadership team, establishing clear accountability, operating cadences, and performance management disciplines across both geographies. Champion a culture of continuous improvement, lean manufacturing, and operational rigor throughout the organization. Ensure full compliance with applicable regulatory, EHS, and labor requirements in both Mexico and the UK.

Provide day-to-day strategic oversight of the Matamoros USMCA plant, working in close partnership with the Plant Manager to optimize throughput, uptime, quality, and production efficiency. Commute daily to the Matamoros facility from the Rio Grande Valley, maintaining an active and visible presence on the plant floor. Maintain deep fluency in USMCA trade compliance, maquiladora operating requirements, and cross-border customs and logistics protocols. Drive plant-level OEE improvement, scrap reduction, and capacity planning aligned with the Product Business operating plan. Serve as the senior US-side operational interface for Mexican site leadership, shelter operators, and relevant authorities.

Provide executive oversight of the Atlantic Service Company (UK) Ltd finishing operation in Wales, ensuring effective integration with North American manufacturing and on-time delivery to EMEA customers. Travel to the Wales site on a quarterly basis or more frequently as business needs require, providing on-theground leadership and strategic direction. Manage the operational and commercial interface between the Wales facility and the broader Product Business, including cross-Atlantic production scheduling, quality alignment, and inventory coordination. Maintain working awareness of UK regulatory, EHS, and employment requirements applicable to the Wales site.

Oversee the Supply Chain/Procurement Manager and direct the sourcing of raw materials (including steel and consumables), vendor relationships, and inbound logistics across both manufacturing geographies. Manage multi-currency procurement exposure (USD / MXN / GBP) and support tariff and trade compliance strategies, including USMCA rules of origin and UK/EU import requirements. Drive inventory optimization and working capital discipline across both sites, maintaining appropriate inventory turns in support of P&L and cash flow objectives.

Own the quality management system across the Product Business, ensuring consistent product standards for both industrial and food processing blade and knife applications. Lead the Quality Manager in managing and improving customer quality metrics, scrap rates, and product return rates across Matamoros and Wales Ensure EHS programs are robust, compliant, and actively managed at both sites.

Oversee the engineering function, including capital planning, equipment investment, and maintenance strategy across both manufacturing sites. Lead the annual capex budgeting process and manage project execution to scope, schedule, and budget. Identify and drive process and technology investments that meaningfully improve manufacturing efficiency, product quality, or cost structure.

Provide executive oversight of customer service and order management operations, ensuring fulfillment performance meets or exceeds customer expectations across the NA Product and EMEA segments. Serve as an operational escalation point for key customer issues and partner with commercial leadership where operational performance is a factor in customer relationships.

Establishes credibility and operational authority with both the Matamoros and Wales site teams within the first 90 days; recognized as the operational decision-maker across both geographies. Delivers EBITDA performance at or above plan for the Product Business in the first full operating year, with clear line of sight to cost improvement initiatives in year two. Drives measurable improvement in Matamoros OEE and scrap rates; implements a visible and sustained CI cadence at both sites. Strengthens supply chain and procurement discipline, improving inventory turns and reducing raw material cost exposure. Builds a cohesive cross-site leadership team with clear accountabilities, operating rhythms, and a shared performance culture. Develops and presents a 3-year operational roadmap — aligned with P&L and strategic objectives — that gives the President and Steel Partners confidence in the operational trajectory of the business.

10+ years of progressive operations and manufacturing leadership, with at least 3 years in a VP or Director-level role carrying multi-site and multi-functional responsibility. Demonstrated experience managing a USMCA or maquiladora manufacturing operation, with strong working knowledge of cross-border trade compliance, customs protocols, and Mexican labor practices. Experience overseeing or managing a European or UK manufacturing facility — candidates with direct Wales, UK, or broader EU plant management experience strongly preferred. Full professional bilingual fluency in English and Spanish — required for effective leadership of the Matamoros operation and its workforce. Proven joint or full P&L ownership in an industrial or discrete manufacturing environment, with direct accountability for EBITDA performance across multiple cost centers. Track record of leading multi-functional teams spanning manufacturing, supply chain, quality, engineering, and customer service in a complex, multi-geography business. Deep working knowledge of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational excellence methodologies. Comfortable operating in a PE-backed or portfolio company environment where pace, accountability, and financial discipline are paramount. Willingness and ability to commute daily to Matamoros, Mexico from the Rio Grande Valley and travel internationally to Wales on a quarterly basis or more.

Experience with precision blade, knife, or cutting tool manufacturing — or adjacent industries such as metal stamping, industrial tooling, or food processing equipment. Exposure to multi-currency cost structures and international transfer pricing considerations. Experience supporting M&A processes, integration activity, or business unit strategic initiatives. Formal lean or continuous improvement certification (Lean Six Sigma, Shingo, or equivalent). Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or a related technical discipline; MBA a plus.