Head of Operations

About the Company

Podium Automation is building a software-enabled approach to industrial control panel manufacturing. The company is focused on redesigning the industrial supply chain so critical electrical equipment can move from long wait times measured in months to much faster turnaround measured in days. It has secured more than $23M in funding from investors such as Construct Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Transition Ventures, Sunflower Capital, Banter Capital, and SV Angel.

Role Overview

As the Head of Operations, you will take ownership of the full flow from panel design through fabrication and final delivery. This is a senior leadership position reporting to the Co-Founder and CEO, with responsibility for building the operating backbone of a rapidly growing hardware business. You will oversee manufacturing across existing and future facilities, lead supply chain and procurement, and help determine and execute site expansion as the company grows.

The position blends strategic thinking with hands-on execution. The ideal candidate brings strong manufacturing leadership, a deep understanding of production environments, and the ability to solve problems quickly while building reliable processes and teams.

Production and Manufacturing

• Manage end-to-end production operations across all current and future facilities, with complete accountability for output, quality, and throughput.
• Create, refine, and scale manufacturing workflows, process controls, and quality systems as operations move from early-stage production into higher-volume output.
• Hire, coach, and lead a high-performing operations organization that may include facility general managers, production supervisors, and technicians.
• Work closely with engineering to improve design for manufacturability and maintain a strong feedback loop between product development and production.

Supply Chain and Procurement

• Oversee sourcing and purchasing for components, materials, and equipment, including vendor selection and ongoing supplier management.
• Negotiate strategically with suppliers to improve cost structure, shorten lead times, and strengthen reliability as volumes increase.
• Design supply chain systems that can withstand disruptions and support fast product changes.
• Build approaches for inventory planning, demand forecasting, and material availability.

Facilities and Expansion

• Own the process for choosing and setting up new manufacturing sites as the company expands into new locations.
• Define the criteria, evaluation process, and implementation plan for launching additional production facilities.
• Coordinate with landlords, contractors, and local stakeholders across all operating locations.
• Ensure every site follows required safety, compliance, and operational standards.

Experience and Fit

The company is looking for someone with at least 10 years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing, industrial equipment, or a closely related area. You should have a proven record of scaling production operations, from early-stage activity to meaningful volume. Strong expertise in supply chain management, strategic sourcing, and vendor negotiation is important, especially in a hardware environment.

Applicants should also have experience selecting and launching new facilities, leading teams across both hourly and salaried workers, and thriving in ambiguous startup settings where the operating model still needs to be built. A data-driven mindset is important, including the ability to define KPIs, track performance, and make decisions based on metrics. Cross-functional collaboration with engineering, finance, and senior leadership is also essential. Background in lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, or similar continuous improvement methods is preferred.

Nice to Have

• Experience in electrical equipment, industrial automation, or control systems manufacturing.
• Familiarity with ERP systems such as Odoo or MES platforms in a manufacturing setting.