Senior Vice President Operations

Robert Half is seeking a highly experienced Senior Vice President of Operations for a midsize manufacturing company located in Random Lake, WI. This executive role is crucial for leading and optimizing all facets of the company's operations. The ideal candidate will possess extensive on-the-floor plant leadership experience and a demonstrated history of successfully managing the entire manufacturing lifecycle, from initial planning and production through quality control, maintenance, continuous improvement, and delivery performance.

The successful candidate will be a strong operational leader with significant expertise in lean manufacturing principles, particularly those derived from the Toyota Production System (TPS). They must have a proven ability to cultivate high-performance cultures centered on safety, quality, delivery, cost-efficiency, and employee engagement. This position requires an individual comfortable operating at both strategic and tactical levels, capable of driving initiatives in the boardroom while remaining actively involved in daily plant operations.

• Oversee all manufacturing and operational departments, including production, supply chain, maintenance, engineering, quality, inventory, logistics, and distribution.
• Provide direct, visible leadership on the production floor to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality operations.
• Develop and implement operational strategies that align with the company's objectives for growth, profitability, customer satisfaction, and operational excellence.
• Champion lean manufacturing initiatives throughout the organization, focusing on waste reduction, standardized work, visual management, 5S, Kaizen events, root cause analysis, value stream mapping, and continuous flow improvements.
• Establish and maintain a TPS-inspired operational culture that emphasizes continuous improvement, effective problem-solving, accountability, and respect for all personnel.
• Manage all stages of the manufacturing process, encompassing production planning, scheduling, material flow, machining/fabrication/assembly, quality assurance, packaging, and shipping.
• Collaborate with finance and executive leadership on managing operational budgets, capital expenditures, margin enhancement, and cost control measures.
• Direct capacity planning and resource allocation to meet customer demand and support business growth.
• Ensure strict adherence to all safety, environmental, regulatory, and quality standards.
• Recruit, mentor, and develop plant leadership teams, supervisors, and functional managers.
• Lead efforts in operational scaling, process re-engineering, equipment optimization, and facility enhancement projects.
• Support the implementation and utilization of ERP systems, production reporting tools, and data-driven decision-making processes to improve operational visibility and accountability.

• A Bachelor’s degree in Operations, Engineering, Business, Supply Chain, or a closely related field.
• A minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations leadership, including senior plant or multi-site management roles.
• Previous experience within a midsize manufacturing setting, with a proven track record in all aspects of plant floor operations.
• Demonstrated success in implementing lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies, ideally with exposure to Toyota Production System (TPS) principles.
• A strong capacity to lead effectively through organizational change, enhance productivity, minimize waste, and boost operational efficiency.
• Experience in developing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), conducting operational analysis, and managing performance systems.
• Exceptional leadership, communication, coaching, and team-building capabilities.