Vice President, Operations

Description

Vice President, Operations

The Vice President of Operations will provide strategic leadership across Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Plant Quality, with accountability for operational performance, quality, delivery, cost, and organizational capability.

This is a highly engaged operational leadership role. While the Plant Director is responsible for day-to-day plant execution, the VP will maintain close connection to the operation, regularly engage with plant leadership and production teams, and provide direction, support, and accountability to ensure performance aligns with the company's broader objectives.

Karma is a low-volume, high-mix luxury automotive manufacturer operating in a complex and evolving environment. The successful candidate will bring a strong understanding of this type of manufacturing model and the ability to balance hands-on operational leadership with strategic thinking, organizational development, and cross-functional partnership.

The VP of Operations will be a key member of the executive leadership team and will work closely with Engineering, Program Management, Sales, Finance, and other corporate functions to support the company's operational, financial, customer, and growth objectives.

Responsibilities (include, but are not limited to):

Operations & Manufacturing

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for manufacturing, ensuring safe, efficient, reliable, and cost-effective production.
• Establish and execute 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.
• Ensure production plans and schedules are achieved while maintaining appropriate standards for quality, cost, and delivery.
• Lead continuous-improvement efforts using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, standard work, root-cause problem solving, and other appropriate methodologies.
• Assess plant capacity, equipment, workforce, processes, and infrastructure to support current operations and future growth.
• Maintain regular engagement with plant leadership and production teams, creating visibility into operational performance and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure manufacturing operations and facilities comply with applicable safety, environmental, regulatory, and automotive requirements.

Supply Chain

• Develop and lead an integrated supply chain strategy encompassing material planning, production scheduling, inventory, logistics, warehousing, and supplier delivery.
• Improve material availability while maintaining appropriate working-capital and inventory levels.
• Identify and address supply chain risks, including shortages, capacity constraints, tariffs and trade policy, international sourcing, and logistics disruptions.
• Establish appropriate inventory strategies and supply chain performance measures.
• Partner with Purchasing, Manufacturing, Engineering, and suppliers to support uninterrupted production.
• Strengthen planning, forecasting, MRP/ERP utilization, and supply chain visibility.
• Develop contingency and business continuity plans for critical materials and suppliers.

Purchasing & Supplier Management

• Provide strategic leadership for Purchasing and develop sourcing strategies aligned with cost, quality, delivery, capacity, and long-term supply objectives.
• Lead key supplier negotiations and commercial strategies for direct and indirect materials.
• Develop strong, productive relationships with strategic suppliers, including international and parent-company-affiliated relationships.
• Identify opportunities for cost reduction, value engineering, and improved commercial performance.
• Establish supplier performance measures across quality, delivery, cost, responsiveness, and capacity.
• Partner with Engineering and Quality on supplier development, qualification, and product launches.
• Proactively identify and manage supplier risks, including financial, capacity, geopolitical, quality, and continuity considerations.
• Balance cost competitiveness with quality, reliability, flexibility, and long-term supply security.

Plant Quality

• Provide leadership for plant quality performance and customer quality objectives.
• Promote a culture of quality, accountability, and continuous improvement throughout the manufacturing organization.
• Ensure compliance with applicable automotive quality standards and customer-specific requirements.
• Partner with Quality leadership to strengthen quality systems, processes, audits, and performance measures.
• Lead effective root-cause analysis and corrective actions for internal and customer quality issues.
• Reduce scrap, rework, warranty exposure, customer complaints, and process variation.
• Support effective application of APQP, PPAP, PFMEA, Control Plans, SPC, MSA, and other relevant automotive quality methodologies.
• Work collaboratively with suppliers and internal teams to address recurring quality issues and strengthen prevention.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Lead, develop, and mentor leaders across Operations, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Quality.
• Build a strong, collaborative leadership team capable of supporting the company's growth and evolving operational needs.
• Establish clear organizational structures, responsibilities, objectives, and performance expectations.
• Develop succession plans and strengthen the operational leadership pipeline.
• Foster a culture of accountability, transparency, collaboration, problem solving, and continuous improvement.
• Promote effective communication across the plant, executive leadership, customers, suppliers, and employees.

Executive & Cross-Functional Leadership

• Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team and contribute to overall business strategy and decision-making.
• Partner with Finance on operating budgets, cost structure, capital expenditures, and working-capital objectives.
• Partner with Engineering and Program Management to support successful product launches, engineering changes, and manufacturing readiness.
• Support customer relationships and participate in discussions involving operational performance, quality, delivery, and capacity.
• Provide executive leadership with clear reporting on operational performance, risks, opportunities, and priorities, including information appropriate for board and parent-company (Wanxiang) stakeholders.
• Develop capital investment strategies that support capacity, productivity, quality, automation, and long-term competitiveness.

Qualifications:

Required Qualification

• Bachelor's degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Business, or a related field; advanced degree/MBA preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience within automotive manufacturing, including meaningful experience in low-volume, high-mix, specialty, or luxury vehicle production.
• Experience leading multiple operational functions, ideally including manufacturing, supply chain, purchasing, and quality.
• A demonstrated record of leading meaningful manufacturing initiatives, product launches, operational transformations, or plant performance improvements.
• Experience leading organizations appropriate to a low-volume, specialty manufacturing environment, with an understanding of the workforce, operating model, and plant infrastructure required.
• Strong knowledge of automotive manufacturing processes, supply chain management, purchasing, supplier development, and quality systems.
• Demonstrated success with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement, supported by measurable operational results.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including experience with operating budgets, cost structures, capital expenditures, and working capital.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and operational performance reporting.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, negotiation, and decision-making skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead through change, develop talent, and build high-performing teams.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the executive presence to work effectively across the organization and with customers, suppliers, and senior stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with complex, high-mix automotive production.
• Experience with new product launches and APQP/PPAP processes.
• Experience with supplier development and strategic sourcing, including international and cross-border supplier relationships.
• Experience implementing Lean, Six Sigma, automation, or advanced manufacturing initiatives.
• Experience managing significant capital projects, facility investments, or plant expansions.
• Experience working directly with major automotive OEM customers.
• Experience working with or reporting to an international parent company or joint-venture ownership structure.
• Lean Six Sigma certification or comparable continuous-improvement credentials.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

This role includes regular presence on the manufacturing floor in addition to office-based executive responsibilities.

• Ability to frequently walk extended distances across a manufacturing plant floor, including uneven or industrial surfaces.
• Ability to stand for extended periods while engaged on the production floor.
• Ability to wear and comply with required personal protective equipment (PPE) in manufacturing and plant environments.
• Ability to observe and assess surroundings in both office and manufacturing environments.
• Ability to occasionally bend, kneel, crouch, turn, and stoop to inspect equipment, tooling, or production processes.
• Ability to occasionally lift and/or push/pull up to 20 pounds.
• Ability to use a computer and other office productivity equipment for reporting, planning, and administrative responsibilities.
• Ability to travel regularly between Irvine HQ and the Moreno Valley (KICC) plant, as well as domestically and internationally as needed for supplier and customer engagements.

Work Environment The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing their job.

Total Rewards (Benefits, Perks & Compensation)

Benefits & Perks:

In addition to our competitive compensation, you will also be eligible for the following at Karma:

• Medical Plan
• Dental & Vision Plans
• Health Savings Account & Flexible Spending Account
• Employee Health & Well-Being Program Events
• Company Paid Basic Life & AD&D Insurance
• 401(k) with Employer Match
• Relocation Assistance (if applicable)
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Sick Time, Vacation time and Personal Floaters
• Paid Holidays including Company's Annual Year End Shutdown
• Karma Cares Program (Quarterly Lunch)
• Work life Balance (Flexible and Hybrid Work Schedule)
• Employee Driving Program
• Pre-taxed Commuter Benefits & much more!

Compensation:

$250,000 - $280,000 /annual salary. Compensation will vary DOE.

At Karma, our base pay is one part of our total rewards package.

Compensation offered may vary on multiple factors, including market location, education, skills and experience. The total compensation package for this position may also include other elements dependent on the position being offered.