Interim Chief Operating Officer / VP of Operations

Value Driven Solutions, Inc.; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 221,000 - 351,000; Full time

Job summary

Value Driven Solutions, Inc. seeks an on-site operating leader for a 6–12 month contract to run the plant network while the permanent search runs. You’ll own one or more sites, drive performance, and manage day-to-day operations against an sponsor-approved plan.

The role emphasizes plant consolidation, layout redesign to lift throughput, and stabilizing the leadership team. Expect travel M–F across CONUS and a fast-paced, hands-on leadership environment.

Qualifications

• 15+ years in manufacturing operations, including 5+ years in a plant manager, VP Ops, or COO role.
• Direct experience carrying a P&L in a private-equity-owned or leveraged environment.
• At least one completed plant consolidation, relocation, or major footprint change.
• Fluency in lean operating systems with tiered daily management.
• Willingness to be on site five days a week.
• Strong plus: interim work; multi-site network; nearshoring experience.

Responsibilities

• Full P&L and operational accountability across one or more manufacturing sites.
• Safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance against a sponsor-approved operating plan.
• Plant consolidation or footprint change: sequencing, equipment moves, customer qualification, downtime management.
• Layout and flow redesign to lift throughput without capital where possible.
• Offshore-to-nearshore transitions, including supplier qualification and dual-running periods.
• Stabilizing and developing the existing leadership team — you will likely be assessing your own successor.
• Weekly reporting cadence to the CEO, board, and sponsor operating partner.

Skills

P&L ownership

Plant ops leadership

Multi-site experience

Lean manufacturing

On-site leadership

Job description

Contract | 6–12 months | Day rate + expenses | Travel M–F, CONUS

The mandate

A sponsor-backed manufacturer needs an operating leader on site now — because the seat is empty, because the thesis is behind schedule, or because the plan calls for structural change the incumbent team has never executed. You take the chair and run the plant network while the permanent search runs in parallel or the transformation completes.

Mandates vary by portfolio company. Common versions include modernizing plant layout and material flow, consolidating two or three sites into one, standing up a nearshore footprint to replace offshore capacity, or simply installing the daily management discipline that makes the rest of the plan possible.

What you'll own

• Full P&L and operational accountability across one or more manufacturing sites
• Safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance against a sponsor-approved operating plan
• Plant consolidation or footprint change: sequencing, equipment moves, customer qualification, downtime management
• Layout and flow redesign to lift throughput without capital where possible
• Offshore-to-nearshore transitions, including supplier qualification and dual-running periods
• Stabilizing and developing the existing leadership team — you will likely be assessing your own successor
• Weekly reporting cadence to the CEO, board, and sponsor operating partner

First 90 days

Establish a factual operating baseline within three weeks. Identify the constraint. Publish a ranked value-lever list with sizing, owner, and confidence level. Get the top three moving.

What you bring

• 15+ years in manufacturing operations, with at least 5 in a plant manager, VP Ops, or COO seat
• Direct experience carrying a P&L in a private-equity-owned or otherwise leveraged environment
• At least one completed plant consolidation, relocation, or major footprint change
• Fluency in lean operating systems — you can run a tiered daily management structure, not just describe one
• Comfort operating without a full staff, a clean data set, or a long runway
• Willingness to be on site five days a week

Strong plus: prior interim work; multi-site network experience; nearshoring into Mexico or Central America; union environment experience.