Senior Vice President Operations

Nexus Search; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 300,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

Nexus Search's client, a private equity-backed food manufacturer, seeks a Senior Vice President of Operations to lead manufacturing and operational strategy across multiple production sites.

You will oversee manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and regulatory compliance, drive efficiency, capacity expansion, and align capabilities with product innovation and customer needs; build leadership teams and set performance metrics.

Qualifications

• Extensive leadership experience in food manufacturing or related process industries.
• Experience managing multi-site manufacturing operations and supply chains.
• Strong understanding of regulated food production and quality systems.
• Proven track record driving operational improvements and facility expansions.
• Ability to align manufacturing with product development and customer needs.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership across manufacturing operations, supply chain, quality, and planning for multiple facilities.
• Develop strategies to improve efficiency, capacity utilization, and cost performance.
• Ensure compliance with food safety standards and regulatory requirements.
• Partner with commercial and R&D teams to support product development and customer-driven innovations.
• Establish metrics and lead capital planning for facility improvements and scalability.
• Build strong leadership teams across manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain.

Skills

Leadership

Multi-site operations

Supply chain management

Quality systems & compliance

Process optimization

Capital planning

Job description

Our client is a private equity-backed food manufacturer specializing in customized ingredient solutions used across the food and beverage industry. The company develops and produces flavor systems and related specialty ingredients that support product development for a wide range of consumer products.

With decades of experience supporting customers in areas such as beverages, bakery, dairy, confectionery, and savory applications, the business has built a strong reputation for technical expertise, responsiveness, and collaborative product development. The organization operates multiple facilities in the United States and continues to invest in expanding its manufacturing and operational capabilities.

Position Summary

The Senior Vice President of Operations will lead the company’s manufacturing and operational strategy across multiple production sites. This executive will be responsible for overseeing manufacturing, supply chain, quality, and operational performance while ensuring the business is positioned to support continued growth.

The role will focus on strengthening operational processes, improving efficiency and scalability, and aligning manufacturing capabilities with the company’s product innovation and customer requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership across manufacturing operations, supply chain, quality, and operational planning for multiple production facilities.
• Develop and execute strategies to improve operational efficiency, capacity utilization, and cost performance.
• Ensure strong quality and regulatory compliance across operations, including adherence to food safety standards and industry regulations.
• Partner with commercial and technical teams to support product development, commercialization, and customer-driven innovation.
• Establish and track operational metrics and performance indicators to drive accountability and continuous improvement.
• Lead capital planning initiatives to support facility improvements, equipment investments, and operational scalability.
• Build and develop strong leadership teams across manufacturing, engineering, and supply chain functions.
• Foster a culture of operational discipline, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Significant leadership experience in food ingredients, food manufacturing, flavor manufacturing, or related process manufacturing environments.
• Track record of managing multi-site manufacturing operations and supply chain functions.
• Strong understanding of regulated food production environments and quality systems.
• Experience driving operational improvements, process optimization, and facility expansion initiatives.
• Ability to work closely with cross-functional teams supporting innovation, technical development, and customer-facing functions.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to operate both strategically and operationally.
• This role offers the opportunity to join an established and growing manufacturer where operations leadership will play a central role in supporting business expansion, improving operational performance, and strengthening manufacturing capabilities.