Vice President of Operations ~ RETAINED SEARCH

True North Consultants, Inc.; Morgantown (PA); On-site; USD 275,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

True North Consultants, Inc. is seeking a Vice President of Operations to lead manufacturing operations, drive Lean improvements, and partner with senior executives to achieve strategic goals in Allegheny County, PA.

The role focuses on profitability, workforce efficiency, and process optimization. Responsibility includes budgeting, driving CI savings, and expanding operations to support growth, with a strong emphasis on leadership and cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• BS/BA from an accredited college or university.
• MBA preferred.
• 10+ years in progressively responsible leadership roles in a multi-site manufacturing environment.
• Lean Black Belt preferred.
• Lean/continuous improvement expertise is essential.
• Strategic planning and financial analysis experience.
• Ability to lead cross-functional teams and partner with senior executives.
• Experience with budgeting, cost control, and ROI evaluation.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high performance in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and team engagement.
• Act as trusted operational advisor to the President and senior leaders.
• Apply Lean and continuous improvement to guide organizational planning and advancement initiatives.
• Establish and manage budgets to keep the business profitable and sustainable.
• Lead expansion of operations to support growth strategies.
• Foster a positive culture through leadership and open communication.
• Participate in quarterly management reviews with the parent company and executives.
• Implement systems for capital and operating expenditures and overhead control.
• Identify training needs and ensure proper training is developed and delivered.
• Ensure compliance with labor laws, safety, environmental regulations, and ethics.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

5S

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Project management

Financial management

MS Office

Customer service

Cross-functional leadership

Education

BS/BA

MBA

Job description

Position Summary:

The Vice President of Operations supports the organization's profitability and values by leading manufacturing operations and ensuring workforce and process efficiency. The incumbent will partner with key company executives and functional leaders to enhance the operational quality and identify and implement long-range strategic operational goals.

Location

Allegheny County, PA

Compensation

$275,000 -$300,000 plus bonus

Relocation and Benefit Packages? Yes

Availability

Immediate

Position Responsibilities:

• Responsible for delivering high performance in the areas of safety, quality, delivery, cost, and team member engagement and morale.
• Act as a trusted operational advisor and business partner for the President and other senior business leaders
• Utilize Lean and continuous improvement principles to provide proactive, tactical guidance and support for organizational planning and advancement initiatives in support of key business strategies and initiatives
• Establish and administer the budget using strategic decision-making to ensure the business runs smoothly, sustainably, and profitably
• Ability to expand operations to meet growth strategies
• Play a leading role in helping to define, shape, and drive the processes and skills necessary for establishing and sustaining a positive team member culture
• Promote a results-oriented mindset of collaboration, employee development, candid communication, innovation, safety, and inclusion to become an employer of choice
• Participate in quarterly management review meetings with the parent company and senior executives.
• Achieve financial goals by carrying out effective systems for capital expenditures, operating expenditures, and overhead
• Maintain knowledge of emerging technologies and trends in operations management
• Identify training needs and ensure proper training is developed and provided
• Ensure observance of labor laws, safety and environmental regulations, and ethical standards
• Establish and utilize effective operational and economic metrics to measure, analyze, and communicate results within the manufacturing operation

Financial Responsibility

• Responsibility for several cost centers. Operate within allotted departmental budgets plus deliver targeted CI savings. Report monthly progress using appropriate policy deployment tools (e.g. bowling chart) and develop relevant, cogent corrective action plans as required.
• Responsibility for several cost centers, plus responsibility for profit & loss statements with total revenues >$50 MM.

Position Qualifications & Requirements:

Education

• BS/BA from an accredited College/University
• MBA/MA preferred

Experience

• The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 10+ years of experience in progressively responsible roles, including functional leadership in a high growth, multi-site manufacturing environment.

Certification /License

• Lean Black Belt preferred

Skills and Abilities

• The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 10+ years of experience in progressively responsible roles, including functional leadership in a high-growth, multi-site up-fit environment. Proven ability to expand operations with a strong track record of location growth.
• Expertise in lean/continuous improvement required.
• Business/Functional Expertise: Influences internal/external business and regulatory issues that may impact the business; expertise in leading-edge theories, techniques, and/or technologies.
• Strategy Management: Develops long-term strategies that influence business model and performance.
• Project Management: Effectively leads organization-wide projects or programs that have significant business impact.
• Financial Management: Manages resource requirements, business needs, and return-on-investment for projects.
• Strong leadership skills and characteristics
• Strategic thinker with proven analytical, assessment, and leadership skills
• Strong ability to work outside traditional functional silos and build relationships across the organization at all levels, particularly with senior business leaders and executives
• Experience with core financial principles (Costing, Budgeting, Financial Analysis)
• High level of proficiency with MS Office
• Excellent customer service skills and the ability to engage customers and suppliers in a professional manner.
• Well-versed in implementation of Lean Manufacturing and 5S

Supervisory responsibilities

• Manufacturing site leadership
• Position works in a matrix organization

Work environment

• Professional office environment
• Sedentary work with extended periods of computer use
• Occasional presence on shop floor
• Must be able to wear required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
  

Travel

• Ability to travel 25%