VP of Operations - Manufacturing

This is the role for an operator who is done running things that other people built.

A privately held, PE-backed metal fabrication company serving OEM customers in the renewables sector is on a steep growth curve. Revenue is already tracking well above $60M. A confirmed order backlog points to substantial additional growth in the next twelve months alone. The physical capacity to expand production significantly is already in place. What the business needs now is the strategic leader who decides what it becomes at scale.

The Vice President of Operations carries COO-level responsibility: full ownership of plant operations, direct leadership of multi-site management teams, oversight of capital deployment, and a close working partnership with the CEO. This is not a role about maintaining what exists. It is about building the operating infrastructure, the leadership bench, and the performance culture that carry this company to its next tier.

For the right person, there is real authority here, meaningful financial upside, and a genuine path to the top seat over time. The CEO is a fast-moving, verbal thinker who wants a partner who keeps pace and elevates his ideas rather than waiting for direction. If your track record is scaling manufacturing businesses rather than just managing them, this is worth a conversation.

JOB DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Champion safety as a core organizational value and own the vision, strategy, and culture that makes it real across all facilities.
• Ensure full regulatory safety compliance and direct resources toward continuous improvement in safety performance.
• Lead all manufacturing operations through direct oversight of the Director of Operations and plant management teams.
• Develop and execute long-term operational strategies tied to company growth and profitability objectives.
• Build a scalable operating system including KPIs, reporting structures, and performance management frameworks designed to grow with the business.
• Partner with the executive team to advance business strategy, profitability, and growth initiatives.
• Own capital planning and long-term investment strategy including ROI analysis and prioritization of the approved CAPEX budget.
• Develop a high-performing leadership bench through succession planning, coaching, and organizational capability building at the director and plant levels.
• Drive accountability on enterprise-level performance metrics across safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Build a culture of continuous improvement, operational excellence, and accountability across all levels of the organization.
• Support key customer relationships and strategic initiatives as needed.
• Advance ERP utilization and operational technology to improve visibility and decision-making across the business.

QUALIFICATIONS
Required

• 10 or more years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations with meaningful depth in metal fabrication or precision manufacturing.
• Proven executive leadership across multiple sites including direct oversight of plant and operations management teams.
• Track record of scaling a manufacturing business with measurable outcomes in revenue growth or production capacity expansion.
• Expertise in Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement applied as a growth strategy rather than a cost-reduction exercise.
• Financial acumen with direct accountability for budgeting, capital planning, and ROI analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to develop leaders, build high-performing teams, and drive succession planning in a growth-stage environment.
• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field preferred; equivalent combination of experience and training considered.

Preferred

• OEM manufacturing experience with working knowledge of customer production requirements, throughput, and specification management.
• Experience implementing or advancing ERP systems and using data-driven tools to improve operational performance.
• Background in renewables, power generation, or industrial sectors with comparable fabrication complexity.
• Experience in a PE-backed environment with familiarity with EBITDA accountability, board-level reporting, and performance culture.
• History of partnering with senior leadership to align operational strategy with company-wide growth objectives.