Vice President Operations

NEXT LEVEL Partners®, LLC; Milwaukee (WI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Job summary

NEXT LEVEL Partners® is assisting a confidential automotive components client in Detroit, MI or Milwaukee, WI, seeking a senior VP Operations. The role partners with the CEO and investors to scale a fast-growing specialty business through relentless focus on Lean, process standardization, and capacity expansion.

The ideal candidate will lead production, engineering, quality, and supply chain, driving kaizen, daily management, and problem-solving culture while engaging with global OEMs and

Qualifications

• Senior operations leadership experience in automotive components or related high-mix/low-volume industries.
• Proven track record scaling organizations with Lean tools and daily management systems.
• Hands-on leadership style with ability to engage global OEMs and discerning customers.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic operations across production, engineering, quality, and supply chain.
• Transform to scalable production systems to support growth.
• Deploy Lean operating mechanisms to improve safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Build a culture of daily management, kaizen, and problem-solving.
• Prepare the business for exponential growth through process standardization, capacity expansion, and M&A integration.
• Represent the company with high-end customers and OEM executives.

Skills

Lean manufacturing

Kaizen

Executive leadership

Problem solving

Tools

VSM

Standard work

Policy deployment

Job description

Detroit, MI or Milwaukee, WI | Automotive Manufacturing | Confidential Client

We’re leading a retained VP Operations search on behalf of a recently acquired PE-backed Automotive component manufacturer. The VP will partner with the CEO and investors to scale a fast-growing specialty business.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead strategic operations across production, engineering, quality, and supply chain.
• Transform to scalable production systems.
• Deploy Lean operating mechanisms to drive improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Build a culture of daily management, kaizen, and problem-solving.
• Prepare the business for exponential growth through process standardization, capacity expansion, and M&A integration.
• Represent the company with high-end customers and OEM executives.

Ideal Background:

• Senior operations leader (COO, SVP Ops, GM) in automotive components or adjacent high‑mix, low‑volume industries (yachts, luxury vehicles, RV conversions, custom manufacturing).
• Proven success scaling organizations using Lean tools (VSM, kaizen, standard work, tiered daily management, policy deployment).
• Entrepreneurial, "business owner" mindset with hands‑on leadership style; comfortable engaging with global OEMs and discerning customers as well as shop floor operators.

Why this role:

Step into a VP role at a newly PE‑backed growing organization. This is a fantastic opportunity to scale an already successful business. You’ll partner with a CEO and Board who want a true player‑coach: someone who can think like an owner, execute with discipline, and scale a business.