Vice President of Operations

Gilman Partners; Cincinnati (OH); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Comprehensive benefits

Retirement plan

Job summary

Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries seeks a Vice President of Operations to lead enterprise-wide operations and partner with the CEO and executive team to translate strategy into action. You will supervise more than 200 employees across multiple units and drive scalable systems and processes to support mission impact.

The role emphasizes Lean thinking, data-driven decision making, and collaboration with Retail, Finance, HR, and Marketing to advance growth and community programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience within complex, multi-site organizations.
• Experience leading large operational teams through growth, change, or transformation.
• Experience overseeing multiple operational disciplines such as logistics, warehousing, supply chain, transportation, manufacturing, or distribution.
• Proven ability to develop operational strategy with strong execution and accountability.
• Experience building scalable systems and implementing operational best practices.

Responsibilities

• Lead all retail support operations including transportation, logistics, warehousing, and supply chain functions.
• Provide executive leadership for 200+ employees across multiple business units.
• Translate strategic goals into executable operational plans with the executive team.
• Drive process improvement, standardization, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Build scalable operational systems and infrastructure to support growth.
• Oversee the flow of donated goods from donation to resale to maximize efficiency and impact.
• Lead initiatives strengthening transportation, routing, warehouse management, and inventory movement.
• Advance sustainability strategies to maximize reuse and reduce waste.
• Expand and strengthen Manufacturing Solutions operations and identify growth opportunities.
• Collaborate across Retail, Finance, HR, Marketing, and others to drive results.
• Utilize data and KPIs to guide decisions and identify opportunities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decision making

People development

Lean Six Sigma knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

Advanced degree preferred

Tools

ERP systems

Lean tooling

Job description

• Looking for an opportunity to help shape the future of a growing, mission-driven organization?
• Do you enjoy building high-performing teams, improving complex systems, and partnering with executive leadership to turn strategy into execution?
• Are you ready to lead enterprise-wide operations while creating lasting impact for the organization and the communities it serves?

ABOUT THE ORGANIZATION

Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries is a mission-driven social enterprise dedicated to helping individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency through the power of work. Serving the Greater Cincinnati, Northern Kentucky, and Southeast Indiana region, the organization operates an integrated model that combines retail, e-commerce, and contract services with workforce development and community-based programs. At its core, Goodwill operates a unique social enterprise model in which donated goods are resold through a large-scale retail platform to fund job training, employment placement, and wraparound services for individuals facing barriers to work including people with disabilities, veterans, and those experiencing economic hardship.

Ohio Valley Goodwill Industries is part of the broader Goodwill network which is the largest provider of workforce development services in North America, comprised of more than 150 independent organizations and over 3,300 retail stores and donation centers. Ohio Valley Goodwill serves nearly two million individuals annually through its community programs, employment opportunities, and retail stores. Also, sustainability is deeply embedded in Goodwill's mission and operating model. Ohio Valley Goodwill manages over thirty-six million pounds of products annually through resale, recycling, and repurposing efforts.

Through this integrated approach combining retail operations, workforce development, and environmental stewardship, Goodwill delivers a triple-bottom-line impact:

• Economic: generating revenue to sustain and grow mission services
• Social: helping individuals achieve independence through employment
• Environmental: reducing waste and promoting sustainable consumption

As part of its 2030 vision, Ohio Valley Goodwill is committed to growth and transformation by expanding to 30 retail stores across the region, building deeper relationships with corporations and service providers to expand community programs, increasing donations and revenue streams to scale mission impact, and broadening services that help people overcome barriers to employment and improve quality of life.

WHAT YOU'LL BE DOING

As Vice President of Operations, you'll serve as both an operational leader and strategic partner to the CEO and executive team. You'll oversee a diverse portfolio of operations while helping shape the systems, processes, and long-term strategies that position the organization for future success.

Key responsibilities include:

• Lead all retail support operations, including transportation, logistics, warehousing, donation centers, aftermarket operations, industrial services, and supply chain functions.
• Provide executive leadership for more than 200 employees while developing directors, managers, and emerging leaders across multiple business units.
• Partner with the executive team to establish organizational priorities and translate strategic goals into executable operational plans.
• Drive operational excellence through process improvement, standardization, Lean thinking, performance measurement, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Build scalable operational systems and infrastructure that support organizational growth.
• Evaluate and improve the complete flow of donated goods- from donation through warehousing, retail support, recycling, salvage, and resale to maximize efficiency and mission impact.
• Lead initiatives that strengthen transportation, routing, warehouse management, inventory movement, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Advance innovative sustainability strategies that maximize the reuse and repurposing of donated goods while reducing waste and increasing organizational value.
• Expand and strengthen Manufacturing Solutions operations while identifying opportunities for future growth and operational improvement.
• Foster strong collaboration across Retail, Finance, Human Resources, Property Development, Marketing, Community Impact, and other functional areas.
• Utilize data, KPIs, and operational metrics to guide decision-making, improve performance, and identify future opportunities.
• Champion a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous learning.

IDEAL CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The ideal candidate combines strategic vision with operational expertise and enjoys building organizations that are positioned for long-term success.

Qualified candidates will bring:

• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience within complex, multi-site organizations.
• Demonstrated success leading large operational teams through periods of growth, change, or transformation.
• Experience overseeing multiple operational disciplines such as logistics, warehousing, supply chain, transportation, manufacturing, distribution, industrial services, or similar environments.
• Proven ability to develop operational strategy while maintaining strong execution and accountability.
• Experience building scalable systems, improving organizational processes, and implementing operational best practices.
• Strong financial and business acumen with experience managing budgets, KPIs, and organizational performance.
• Experience leading cross-functional initiatives and influencing executive-level decision making.
• Familiarity with Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen, or other continuous improvement methodologies is valued.
• Experience within retail, distribution, logistics, manufacturing, nonprofit, or mission-driven organizations is beneficial but not required.

KEY PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The successful candidate will be:

• A strategic thinker who naturally sees the big picture and connects operational decisions to organizational goals.
• A systems-oriented leader who enjoys solving complex operational challenges.
• A collaborative executive who builds trust and strong relationships across departments.
• A developer of people who invests in coaching, mentoring, and building future leaders.
• A change leader who embraces innovation while bringing structure and clarity to evolving environments.
• Highly accountable with exceptional follow-through and sound judgment.
• Data-driven, intellectually curious, and committed to continuous improvement.
• Mission-minded and energized by the opportunity to create meaningful impact in the community.

THE PAYOFF

• Opportunity to play a pivotal leadership role in a mission-driven organization making measurable community impact.
• Collaborative, values-driven culture with a strong sense of purpose.
• Competitive compensation package, including base salary, incentive opportunity, and comprehensive benefits.