Confidential Vice President of Operations / General Manager - Manufacturing
Location: Columbus, OH | OnsiteRelocation: Available
Employment Type: Direct HireBase Salary: $260,000-$265,000 Bonus: 30% target annual bonusLong-Term Incentives: Equity participationPosition OverviewWe are conducting a confidential search for an experienced Vice President / General Manager to lead a complex, multi-facility manufacturing operation in the Columbus, Ohio area.This executive will have full responsibility for overall business performance, operational strategy, and execution, with a strong emphasis on driving sustainable improvements across manufacturing, quality, productivity, and organizational effectiveness.The ideal candidate is a hands-on, results-oriented operational leader who knows how to build high-performing leadership teams, establish a culture of accountability, improve manufacturing performance, and translate strategic objectives into measurable business results.This is an opportunity for a proven executive to make a meaningful impact on an established manufacturing organization with approximately 500 employees across multiple facilities.Key ResponsibilitiesBusiness & Operational LeadershipAssume overall ownership of business unit performance, including operational results, financial performance, safety, quality, inventory, and EBITDA.Develop and execute strategic and operational plans aligned with organizational objectives.Oversee day-to-day operations to ensure consistent execution, operational efficiency, and on-time delivery.Drive improvements in manufacturing throughput, productivity, capacity utilization, and overall operational performance.Identify and eliminate operational complexity, inefficiencies, and unnecessary process variation.Continuous Improvement & Operational ExcellenceEstablish and execute continuous improvement initiatives across the organization.Apply Lean Manufacturing principles and best practices to improve efficiency, quality, and cost performance.Evaluate existing processes and implement sustainable improvements across the full value stream, including commercial, engineering, operations, and quality.Establish clear performance metrics, accountability measures, and operational standards.Champion a culture of continuous improvement and operational discipline.Leadership & Organizational DevelopmentLead, develop, and inspire a diverse team of functional leaders and employees.Build a high-performing leadership team with clear roles, responsibilities, and accountability.Develop organizational capabilities through leadership development, succession planning, and talent management.Establish a positive, collaborative, and performance-driven culture.Foster open communication, recognize achievements, and promote employee engagement.Provide leadership and direction on employee relations matters and organizational challenges.Quality, Safety & Customer ExperienceDrive improvements in product quality, consistency, and operational reliability.Promote a strong safety culture through effective safety management practices.Partner with customers and senior leadership to ensure business objectives and customer expectations are consistently achieved.Maintain professionalism and sound judgment in a demanding, customer-focused environment.Executive Communication & Business StrategyPresent operational performance, business results, and strategic initiatives to senior leadership.Communicate effectively with stakeholders at all organizational levels.Make timely, data-driven decisions while maintaining accountability for business outcomes.Required QualificationsBachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, or a related discipline.MBA, Master's degree in Business Management, or equivalent advanced education strongly preferred.Minimum of 10 years of progressive professional experience, including at least 5 years in senior operational leadership.Demonstrated success leading complex manufacturing operations and multi-functional teams.Proven ability to drive operational improvements, improve manufacturing efficiency, and deliver measurable business results.Strong background in continuous improvement methodologies and Lean Manufacturing principles.Demonstrated ability to build, develop, and lead high-performing teams.Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making capabilities.Excellent communication and executive presentation skills.Proficiency in Microsoft Office / Microsoft 365.Preferred ExperienceExperience within specialized, engineered-to-order, or complex manufacturing environments.Background leading multi-facility operations or large-scale business units.Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing, operational excellence, and process improvement initiatives.Familiarity with enterprise systems such as SAP, Workday, SuccessFactors, or comparable ERP / HR platforms.Demonstrated success improving operational accountability, quality, throughput, and organizational effectiveness.Why Consider This Opportunity?Executive-level ownership of a substantial manufacturing operation.Opportunity to drive meaningful organizational and operational transformation.Leadership responsibility across multiple facilities and approximately 500 employees.Competitive executive compensation package, including performance-based incentives and long-term equity participation.Direct visibility and partnership with senior executive leadership.Opportunity to build a stronger leadership organization and establish sustainable operational improvements.Confidential Search: Additional information regarding the organization will be shared with qualified candidates as they progress through the interview process.
A confidentiality agreement may be required before disclosure of further company details Equal Opportunity NoticeHighspring LLC (d/b/a Vaco by Highspring) and its parents, affiliates, and subsidiaries ("we," "our," or "Vaco by Highspring") are committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and does not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race (including but not limited to traits historically associated with race such as hair texture and hair style), color, sex (includes pregnancy or related conditions), religion or creed, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, status as a veteran, union membership, ethnicity, gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, political affiliation, or any other protected characteristics as required by applicable law. The company is also committed to ensuring that persons who need them are provided with reasonable accommodations; if an accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact HR@vaco.com .Vaco by Highspring also wants all applicants to know their rights that workplace discrimination is illegal.Representation NoticeBy submitting to this position, you agree that you will be giving Vaco by Highspring the exclusive right to present your as a candidate for the foregoing employment opportunity. Additionally, you agree to be included in our talent pool for future hiring for similarly qualified positions. You further agree that you have represented information about yourself accurately and have not affirmatively misrepresented your qualifications. Lastly, you agree to maintain as confidential, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any information you learn from Vaco by Highspring about the position and you will limit disclosure of information about the position only to the extent necessary to perform any obligations in furtherance of your application. In exchange, Vaco by Highspring agrees to exercise reasonable efforts to represent you through all solicitation, job screening and resume dispersal.For residents of Ontario, Canada only: to the extent the position for employment is not with Highspring or not otherwise noted as vacant above, candidate should be informed that this role is to replace a presently employed person at Vaco by Highspring's client.Privacy NoticeVaco by Highspring respects your privacy and are committed to providing transparent notice of our policies.California residents may access Vaco by Highspring HR Notice at Collection for California Applicants and Employees here.Virginia residents may access our state specific policies here.Residents of all other states may access our policies here.Canadian residents may access our policies in English here and in French here.Residents of countries governed by GDPR and UK GDPR may access our policies here.Additionally, submissions to this position are subject to the use of AI to perform preliminary candidate screenings, focused on ensuring minimum job requirements noted in the position are satisfied. More details about Vaco by Highspring's use of AI can be found here (https://www.highspring.com/ai-use-notices/). Further assessment of candidates beyond this initial phase will be conducted by recruiters and hiring managers. Vaco by Highspring does not know and cannot opine on if its client's use of AI products in hiring.Pay Transparency NoticeDetermining compensation for this role (and others) at Vaco by Highspring depends upon a wide array of factors including but not limited to:· the individual's skill sets, experience and training;· licensure and certification requirements;· office location and other geographic considerations; and· other business and organizational needs.With that said, as required by local law, Vaco by Highspring believes that the following salary range referenced above reasonably estimates the base compensation for an individual hired into this position in geographies that require salary range disclosure. The individual may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses and/or participation in medical, dental, and vision benefits as well as the company's retirement plan (or similar retirement benefits).