Vice President of Operations

Confidential; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 250,000 - 400,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential seeks an executive leader to direct strategic direction, operations, and profitability across engineering, manufacturing, services, and field support for large industrial projects.

The role oversees design through commissioning and aftermarket services, driving Lean, safety, quality, and customer satisfaction while managing budgeting and capital planning for engineered-to-order solutions in power generation and heavy energy sectors.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years of progressive leadership experience in heavy industrial manufacturing, power generation, engineered equipment, or industrial services organizations.
• Experience leading engineering, project management, manufacturing, and field service functions.
• Strong business acumen and financial management capabilities.
• ERP system experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with growth objectives.
• Lead engineering, quality, lean manufacturing, and services operations.
• Drive operational excellence, safety, quality, productivity, and profitability.
• Oversee project execution from design through commissioning and warranty support.
• Lead manufacturing operations, production planning, quality assurance, procurement, and supply chain activities.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure safe and successful field service and outage management activities.
• Own operational budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, and P&L performance.
• Develop leadership talent, succession plans, and organizational capabilities.
• Establish KPIs and accountability systems to improve operational performance.

Skills

Executive leadership

Project management

ERP systems

Financial acumen

Lean manufacturing

Strategic planning

Change management

Education

Mechanical Engineering

Electrical Engineering

Manufacturing Engineering

Industrial Engineering

Job description

This role is a key executive leader responsible for the strategic direction,

operational performance, and profitability of the organization's engineering,

manufacturing, Services, and operational support functions. This role provides enterprise

leadership across the full lifecycle of complex industrial equipment projects—from

engineering design and project execution through manufacturing, installation,

commissioning, and aftermarket field services.

This role will drive operational excellence, safety, quality, customer

satisfaction, and financial performance while ensuring alignment with the organization’s

strategic objectives. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise with strong

business acumen and a proven record of leading complex, engineered-to-order

manufacturing and field service organizations within the power generation or heavy

industrial/energy sectors.

Key Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Manufacturing
• Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or related engineering discipline.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive leadership experience within heavy industrial manufacturing, power generation, engineered equipment, or industrial services
• organizations.
• Experience leading engineering, project management, manufacturing, and field
• service functions.
• Strong business acumen and financial management capabilities.
• ERP system experience.

Preferred:

• Master's Degree in Business Administration (MBA), Engineering Management, or
• related field.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Mechanical or Electrical Engineering background.

Core Responsibilities

• Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with company growth
• objectives.
• Lead engineering, quality, lean manufacturing, and services operations.
• Drive operational excellence, safety, quality, productivity, and profitability.
• Oversee project execution from design through commissioning and warranty support.
• Lead manufacturing operations, production planning, quality assurance, procurement, and supply chain activities.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure safe and successful field service and outage management activities.
• Own operational budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, and P&L performance.
• Develop leadership talent, succession plans, and organizational capabilities.
• Establish KPIs and accountability systems to improve operational performance.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong leadership and executive presence.
• Deep understanding of engineering, manufacturing, project management, and field
• service operations.
• Expertise in Lean Manufacturing and Continuous Improvement methodologies.
• Strong customer focus and relationship management skills.
• Excellent strategic planning and execution capabilities.
• Ability to lead organizational change and transformation.
• Strong analytical and decision-making skills.