Vice President Operations

StaffSource; Knoxville (TN); On-site; USD 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

StaffSource in Knoxville, TN seeks a Vice President of Operations to unify and lead multi-site manufacturing, driving performance across composites and adhesives equipment production.

This executive role reports to the President & CEO, with full P&L responsibility, and a mandate to optimize delivery, quality, and profitability across sites while partnering with engineering, sales, and supply chain.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership in manufacturing or industrial operations, including senior/executive-level roles.
• Demonstrated success leading multi-site operations - ideally including facilities in multiple states or geographies
• Deep expertise in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or equivalent continuous improvement frameworks
• Experience in engineered products, fluid dispensing, composites equipment, or precision industrial equipment strongly preferred
• Proven track record of improving OTD (on-time delivery), reducing cost, and scaling production operations
• P&L ownership and capital project management experience

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations across Knoxville/Lenoir City facilities
• Align production capacity and scheduling with customer demand and growth targets
• Drive consistent operating standards, safety protocols, and quality systems across all sites
• Implement and advance lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies across composites and fluid dispensing equipment production
• Optimize machining, assembly, and test operations for pumping systems, spray guns, filament winders, and automated dispensing solutions
• Reduce lead times to improve customer delivery performance a strategic priority tied to East Coast expansion
• Partner with engineering on new product introductions, design-for-manufacturability, and custom engineered solutions
• Manage supplier relationships and procurement strategy for specialized components used in fluid movement and composites equipment
• Build supply chain resilience to support growing global distributor network across North America, South America, and international markets
• Oversee inventory management and warehouse operations
• Own operational P&L with accountability for COGS, labor efficiency, overhead, and capital expenditure
• Partner with President & CEO on strategic growth planning, facility investments, and capacity expansion
• Support global customer delivery expectations and after-sales service performance
• Build, develop, and mentor a high-performing operations leadership team aligned with family-owned, people-first culture
• Champion workforce development and retention in a region with strong composites and advanced manufacturing talent
• Model core values of integrity, excellence, and innovation
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 50% to support multi-site oversight and customer needs

Job description

Family-owned global manufacturer in Knoxville, Tennessee

About the Role

As production capacity and expands its East Tennessee footprint, the company seeks a high-impact Vice President of Operations to unify and lead multi-site manufacturing, drive operational excellence across composites and adhesives equipment production, and build the organizational infrastructure required for the next phase of growth. This is an executive-level role reporting to the President & CEO, with full P&L responsibility across manufacturing facilities. The VP of Operations will serve as player - coach and connective tissue between the plant floor and the boardroom partnering with engineering, sales, and supply chain to optimize delivery performance, quality, and profitability.

Responsibilities

Multi-Site Operations Leadership

• Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations across Knoxville/Lenoir City facilities
• Align production capacity and scheduling with customer demand and growth targets
• Drive consistent operating standards, safety protocols, and quality systems across all sites

Production & Process Excellence

• Implement and advance lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies across composites and fluid dispensing equipment production
• Optimize machining, assembly, and test operations for pumping systems, spray guns, filament winders, and automated dispensing solutions
• Reduce lead times to improve customer delivery performance a strategic priority tied to East Coast expansion
• Partner with engineering on new product introductions, design-for-manufacturability, and custom engineered solutions
• Manage supplier relationships and procurement strategy for specialized components used in fluid movement and composites equipment
• Build supply chain resilience to support growing global distributor network across North America, South America, and international markets
• Oversee inventory management and warehouse operations

Financial & Strategic Oversight

• Own operational P&L with accountability for COGS, labor efficiency, overhead, and capital expenditure
• Partner with President & CEO on strategic growth planning, facility investments, and capacity expansion
• Support global customer delivery expectations and after-sales service performance

People & Culture

• Build, develop, and mentor a high-performing operations leadership team aligned with family-owned, people-first culture
• Champion workforce development and retention in a region with strong composites and advanced manufacturing talent
• Model core values of integrity, excellence, and innovation

Qualifications

Required Experience

• 10+ years of progressive leadership in manufacturing or industrial operations, including senior/executive-level roles
• Demonstrated success leading multi-site operations - ideally including facilities in multiple states or geographies
• Deep expertise in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or equivalent continuous improvement frameworks
• Experience in engineered products, fluid dispensing, composites equipment, or precision industrial equipment strongly preferred
• Proven track record of improving OTD (on-time delivery), reducing cost, and scaling production operations
• P&L ownership and capital project management experience

Required Skills

Skills & Attributes

• Executive presence with the ability to communicate effectively across plant floor, C-suite, and customer-facing contexts
• Comfort operating in a family-owned, entrepreneurial environment where speed, ownership, and relationships matter
• Experience with ERP systems (Epicor preferred)
• Familiarity with global distributor networks and customer service expectations is a plus
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 50% to support multi-site oversight and customer needs

Preferred Skills

• Experience in engineered products, fluid dispensing, composites equipment, or precision industrial equipment strongly preferred
• Familiarity with global distributor networks and customer service expectations is a plus