VP of Operations

Title: VP of Operations

Location: Salt Lake City, UT

Reports To: Chief Operations Officer
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent

Position Summary

Our client is seeking a strategic, hands-on Director of Operations to oversee and optimize manufacturing operations across three U.S.-based production facilities.

This leader will provide operational direction across engineering, procurement, production planning, project management, and fabrication through a team of national functional leaders.

The organization operates in a highly customized Engineer-to-Order (ETO) manufacturing environment, utilizing Microsoft Dynamics 365 ERP. Each project requires coordination across technical estimating, structural and mechanical engineering, electrical design, procurement, fabrication, and project execution.

The Director of Operations will oversee the entire project lifecycle, from estimating and engineering through manufacturing, delivery, and revenue realization. This individual will focus on improving operational efficiency, standardizing processes, driving profitability, and ensuring consistent execution across all facilities.

The ideal candidate brings strong technical manufacturing knowledge, multi-site leadership experience, financial acumen, and a proven ability to build scalable operations within a growing industrial organization.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Operations Leadership

• Develop and execute operational strategies supporting growth, profitability, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence.
• Lead national functional managers across engineering, procurement, production planning, project management, and fabrication.
• Establish and monitor KPIs focused on safety, quality, delivery, productivity, inventory, and profitability.
• Drive accountability, process standardization, and operational alignment across multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Oversee workforce planning, capital investments, production capacity, and resource allocation.
• Partner with executive leadership on strategic planning, operational performance, and business growth initiatives.

Engineer-to-Order Manufacturing

• Oversee complex, custom-engineered manufacturing projects requiring coordination across engineering, procurement, fabrication, and project management.
• Ensure seamless execution from estimating and design through production, delivery, and project completion.
• Improve engineering-to-production workflows, throughput, and quote-to-cash performance.
• Develop scalable processes while maintaining flexibility to support customized customer requirements.
• Strengthen collaboration between commercial, engineering, manufacturing, and project execution teams.

Multi-Site Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

• Provide operational oversight across three manufacturing facilities throughout the United States.
• Implement standardized operating procedures, performance metrics, and best practices across locations.
• Champion Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Improve manufacturing productivity, production scheduling, quality, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure facilities have the staffing, equipment, and capacity necessary to meet production and customer commitments.

Project Execution & Financial Performance

• Oversee project execution, production schedules, backlog management, and capacity planning.
• Drive improvements in operational profitability, margins, working capital, and cash flow.
• Monitor project performance, revenue forecasting, and operational financial results.
• Identify opportunities for cost reductions, inventory optimization, and process improvements.
• Partner with Finance and executive leadership to ensure operational execution aligns with business objectives.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Promote a strong culture of workplace safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure compliance with applicable industry regulations, customer requirements, and quality standards.
• Support internal and external audits, quality certifications, and corrective action initiatives.
• Develop high-performing teams through coaching, leadership development, and succession planning.

Organizational Structure

• The Director of Operations will provide leadership and oversight to the following direct reports:
  • Chief Engineer
  • National Procurement Manager
  • Master Scheduler
  • National Manager of Project Management
  • National Fabrication Manager
    Required Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressive operations leadership experience within industrial manufacturing, engineered equipment, heavy fabrication, or similar industries.
• Proven experience leading operations across multiple manufacturing facilities.
• Strong background in Engineer-to-Order (ETO), custom-engineered products, and project-based manufacturing environments.
• Experience managing senior functional leaders across engineering, manufacturing, procurement, planning, and project management.
• Demonstrated success implementing Lean Manufacturing, continuous improvement, and operational transformation initiatives.
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, cost management, forecasting, and operational profitability.
• Experience working with ERP systems, preferably Microsoft Dynamics 365.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, communication, and change management capabilities.
  Preferred Qualifications
• MBA or advanced engineering degree.
• Experience in overhead cranes, industrial material handling equipment, structural steel fabrication, heavy equipment, or custom-engineered industrial products.
• Lean Six Sigma certification.
• PMP certification or equivalent project management experience.
• Experience supporting business growth, operational integration, and process standardization across multiple facilities.