VP of Operations — Luxury Auto, Lean & Growth Leader

City of Lincoln; Irvine (CA); On-site; USD 250,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Plan

Health Savings Account

401(k) with Employer Match

Relocation Assistance

Hybrid Work Schedule

Paid Holidays

Employee Health & Well‑Being Program

Job summary

Karma Automotive, a luxury automotive manufacturer, seeks a Vice President of Operations in Irvine, CA to provide strategic leadership across Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Plant Quality. The role balances hands-on leadership with long-term planning, engaging with production teams and guiding cross-functional teams to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.

Travel between Irvine HQ and Moreno Valley may be required, with responsibilities across executive and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field; MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience within automotive manufacturing.
• Experience leading multiple operational functions: manufacturing, supply chain, purchasing, and quality.
• Strong Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement track record.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and operations reporting.
• Ability to lead through change and build high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for manufacturing, ensuring safe, efficient, reliable, and cost-effective production.
• Establish annual and long-term operating strategies aligned with company objectives.
• Drive improvements in productivity, throughput, labor efficiency, OEE, capacity utilization, scrap, downtime, and overall manufacturing cost.
• Establish meaningful operating metrics, KPIs, and performance-management processes.
• Lead continuous‑improvement efforts using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, standard work, root‑cause problem solving, and other methodologies.
• Develop supplier relationships and lead a comprehensive supply chain strategy.
• Partner with Purchasing, Manufacturing, Engineering, and suppliers to support uninterrupted production.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Operational excellence

Financial acumen

Lean Six Sigma

Change management

Executive communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

MBA preferred

Tools

ERP/MRP systems

Operational reporting

KPI analytics

Job description

Karma Automotive, a luxury automotive manufacturer, seeks a Vice President of Operations in Irvine, CA to provide strategic leadership across Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Plant Quality. The role balances hands-on leadership with long-term planning, engaging with production teams and guiding cross-functional teams to meet safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives.

Travel between Irvine HQ and Moreno Valley may be required, with responsibilities across executive and