VP, Operations - U.S. Lubricants

U.S. Lubricants; Appleton (WI); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

U.S. Lubricants seeks a VP of Operations to lead all Lubricants manufacturing, packaging, distribution, and financial performance across the division. The role emphasizes safety, quality, and sustainability while driving innovation and customer satisfaction.

Ideal locations include Appleton, WI or Baltimore, MD with travel across US facilities. The VP will shape strategic plans, mentor leaders, and partner with sales to optimize capabilities and market expansion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, supply chain, or related field.
• Demonstrated expertise in packaging operations, supply chain management, and quality systems across multiple sites.
• Strong financial acumen with P&L management and cost control in manufacturing.
• Proven track record of driving growth and operational excellence at scale.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership for all Lubricants facilities, ensuring standards and performance.
• Develop and execute strategic plans for growth, market expansion, and financial objectives division-wide.
• Forecast resources and budgets and manage operations against targets.
• Oversee P&L performance and ensure alignment with strategic plans and budgets.
• Foster continuous improvement and collaboration across sites and functions.
• Collaborate with sales/BD to ensure inventory, delivery optimization, and service excellence.

Skills

Leadership

Packaging operations

P&L management

Supply chain

Cross-site leadership

Regulatory compliance

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business or engineering

MBA preferred

Job description

Position Summary

The VP, Operations-is responsible for the overall leadership, operational strategic direction and execution, and operational excellence of the US Lubricants business across the entire divisional footprint. This role oversees lubricant manufacturing, packaging operations, distribution, and financial performance at all sites and facilities, ensuring the business meets and exceeds profitability, growth, and market penetration goals. The VP, Operations drives innovation, operational efficiency, and customer satisfaction, while championing safety, quality, and sustainability in all packaging activities throughout the division.

Ideal locations for this role are Appleton or Waukesha, WI or Baltimore, MD. Travel to various locations throughout the US will also be required.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide operational leadership and oversight for all Lubricants operations facilities, ensuring consistent standards, best practices, and performance across all locations.
• Develop and execute strategic plans to achieve business growth, market expansion, and financial objectives division-wide for US Lubricants Operational capabilities.
• Forecast resource and other budgetary needs and manage operations against those budget targets
• Oversee the performance of the operational P&Ls, ensuring alignment with the strategic plan and annual budget for all sites.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and operational excellence in operational systems across the division.
• Partner with sales and business development teams to ensure inventory availability, optimized delivery routes, and exceptional customer service standards.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers, suppliers, strategic partners, and regulatory agencies throughout all regions.
• Identify and prioritize opportunities for expansion of capabilities or right sizing locations as well as devising and overseeing different methods of supplying product to customers (direct, and indirect via strategic partners) considering the entire divisional footprint.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, environmental, and regulatory requirements relevant to packaging and lubricants at every facility.
• Mentor and develop direct reports, including site Operations Managers and other key leaders, with a focus on cross-site collaboration and talent development.
• Motivate and lead a high performing team; attract, recruit and retain key talent; provide mentoring and succession planning as a cornerstone to career development by communicating values, strategies, objectives, and accountabilities to ensure cooperation and teamwork
• Collaborate with Marketing, R&D, and other business units to drive product innovation and enhance customer value across the division.
• Champion sustainability initiatives and quality improvement efforts across all packaging operations and locations.
• Communicate organizational vision, strategies, and objectives clearly, promoting alignment, collaboration, and shared accountability across all levels.
• Represent the Lubricants business and Lubricants operations team in executive leadership forums and cross-functional projects, advocating for the needs and priorities of all sites.
• This role is critical to the success and growth of the Lubricants business and our operational sites and requires a strategic, hands-on leader with a passion for operational excellence and customer satisfaction across the entire divisional footprint.
• The VP, Operations will play a key role in shaping the future of the business through innovation, market expansion, and continuous improvement at all sites.
• Cultivate U.S. Venture’s values while inspiring, empowering, recognizing, and guiding team members
• Live our values of High Performance, Caring Relationships, Strategic Foresight, and Entrepreneurial Spirit
• Find A Better Way by championing continuous improvement and quality control efforts to identify opportunities to innovate and improve efficiency, accuracy, and standardization
• Continuously learn and develop self professionally
• Support corporate efforts for safety, government compliance, and all other company policies & procedures
• Perform other related duties as required and assigned

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, supply chain, or related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in business management, with at least 5 years in packaging, manufacturing, or the lubricants industry.
• Demonstrated expertise in packaging operations, supply chain management, and quality systems across multiple sites or a divisional footprint.
• Strong financial acumen, including P&L management and cost control in a manufacturing or packaging environment.
• Proven track record of driving growth, operational excellence, and innovation at scale.
• Experience with regulatory and safety requirements in packaging and lubricants.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, and team development skills, with experience managing geographically dispersed teams.
• Ability to work in both office and production environments as needed, with travel to all divisional facilities.
• Occasional travel to packaging facilities, customer sites, and industry events.
• Compliance with all PPE and safety protocols in production areas.

DIVISION

U.S. Lubricants

U.S. Venture will not offer sponsorship for employment status (including, but not limited to, H-1B, TN, E-3, F1, CPT, OPT, STEM OPT, visa status and other employment-based nonimmigrant visas) for this position. Accordingly, all applicants must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis and must not require U.S. Venture’s sponsorship to continue to work legally in the United States. In general, U.S. Venture does not sponsor candidates for nonimmigrant visas or permanent residency except when there is a specific business need.

U.S. Venture will not accept unsolicited resumes from recruiters or employment agencies. In the absence of an executed recruitment Master Service Agreement, there will be no obligation to any referral compensation or recruiter fee. In the event a recruiter or agency submits a resume or candidate without an agreement, U.S. Venture shall reserve the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) without any financial obligation to the recruiter or agency. Any unsolicited resumes, including those submitted to hiring managers, shall be deemed the property of U.S. Venture.

U.S. Venture, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to inclusion and diversity. We ensure equal opportunity for all applicants without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, marital status, age, national origin, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or other protected characteristic.

If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, you may call Human Resources at [phone].

40-45-800-8450