COO – PE Backed Manufacturer and Distributor

Page Executive; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 240,000 - 290,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Annual bonus

Long-term incentive (equity)

Car allowance

Full benefits

401K and match

Vacation and holidays

Relocation assistance

Job summary

Page Executive is seeking a Chief Operating Officer for a private equity backed industrial company in Cincinnati. You will own the P&L across all operating divisions, lead plant and branch leadership, and drive growth through organic initiatives and M&A.

The role requires 20 years in operations and 5 years in multisite leadership within manufacturing and distribution. Travel 40-50% across the Americas is expected.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business or related.
• 20 years of experience in operations, field service, and manufacturing in a b2b manufacturing and distribution organization.
• 5 years in operations leadership, division president, or senior executive leadership roles leading multisite operations.
• Proven track record in direct sales, distribution, and dealers driving profitable growth and operational excellence.
• Experience leading operational integrations within a buy-and-build platform.
• Experience in a private equity backed manufacturing company is highly preferred.
• Experience setting up processes, systems, and organizational structures in fast-growing environments.
• Able to be strategic while also hands-on and tactical when required.

Responsibilities

• Own the P&L for all operating divisions; oversee locations and budgets.
• Partner with CEO to translate platform strategy into annual operating plan with targets and accountability.
• Establish a consistent operating cadence with weekly reviews and a unified dashboard.
• Implement structured quoting review to align quote and gross profit.
• Improve production planning, scheduling, and capacity planning across sites.
• Lead lean initiatives (5S, visual management, performance boards) to raise operational maturity.
• Reduce scrap, WIP, and slow-moving inventory; improve production flow.
• Build centralized procurement to support multi-division footprint.
• Drive safety with corporate-wide programs and OSHA compliance.
• Collaborate with CEO/CFO/PE partners on M&A and integration playbook.
• Support ERP selection and implementation consolidating multiple ERPs.
• Recruit, develop and retain talent in operations.

Skills

Leadership experience

Strategic planning

Operational excellence

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business or related

Job description

• Chief Operating Officer role leading a PE backed Industrial Company


• Opportunity to lead growth through organic and M&A

About Our Client

Our client for the Chief Operating Officer opportunity is a Private Equity backed manufacturer and distributor of industrial safety products. This $100M company is looking to grow aggressively through a combination of organic growth and M&A. They serve a diverse range of customers including but not limited to – electrical utilities, power generation, nuclear, mining, infrastructure, aerospace, industrial, and more.

Job Description

• Own the P&L for all operating divisions, with plant and branch leadership reporting to this role; hold each location and facility to budget, margin, and performance standards.


• Partner with the CEO and executive team to translate platform strategy into an annual operating plan with clear targets, metrics, and accountability


• Establish a single, consistent operating cadence – weekly branch/factory and WIP reviews, monthly operating reviews, and one common performance dashboard across all sites.


• Implement structured quoting review process to reduce misalignment between quoting and realized gross profit


• Improve production and labor planning, lead times, scheduling, customer service, supply chain and capacity planning and utilization


• Drive plant and branch improvement on operational maturity implementing lean principles (5S, visual management, and performance boards)


• Reduce scrap, improve production flow, reduce work in process and slow moving inventory


• Build a centralized procurement function creating a scalable procurement and logistics network supporting a multi division and multi site footprint


• Drive safety with an emphasis on being industry leading maintaining corporate wide safety programs, training and tracking ensuring OSHA compliance


• Work with the CEO, CFO, Leadership team, and private equity partners on M&A and integration building an operational integration playbook


• Work with the CFO on an ERP selection and implementation consolidating current separate ERPs


• Recruit, development and retain talent across the operations organization


• Partner with the CFO on budgeting, capital allocation, capital projects and costs

The Successful Applicant

• Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering, Business or related


• 20 years of experience in operations, field service, and manufacturing within a b2b manufacturing and distribution organization


• 5 years of experience in operations leadership, division president, or Sr. Executive leadership roles leading multisite operations


• Proven track record and experience working within direct sales, distribution, and dealers increasing profitable growth and increasing market share driving operational excellence


• Experience leading operational integrations within a buy and build platform


• Leading operations within a private equity backed manufacturing company highly preferred


• Experience setting up processes, systems, and organizational structure within a fast growing environment


• Ability to be strategic while also being hands on and tactical when required


• Ability to work with all levels of management and team members internal and external


• Business minded with a strong entrepreneurial mindset


• Strong communication skills, time management skills, and a customer focused mindset.


• Strong work ethic and high attention to detail


• Ability to travel 40-50% across the Americas

What’s On Offer

Competitive base salary $240,000 – $290,000 depending on experience, annual bonus, long term incentive (equity) car allowance, full benefits, 401K and match, vacation, holidays, and relocation assistance if needed. Opportunity to lead operations for a private equity backed manufacturer and distributor in high growth mode. Succession candidate to the CEO.

Quote job ref: JN-102026-7135114