Vice President, Global Operations

Role Overview

NU Advisory Partners is conducting a search for a Vice President of Global Operations on behalf of a market-leading manufacturer of highly engineered electrical and infrastructure solutions. The business serves commercial and industrial markets, including data centers, healthcare, and automotive. In this senior leadership role, you will be accountable for the full scope of global operations across a complex, multi-site manufacturing network and will play a central role in enabling the company’s next stage of expansion.

This position calls for a hands-on, execution-oriented leader who can thrive in a fast-moving manufacturing environment where quality, responsiveness, customization, and operational discipline are critical. The right candidate will strengthen the systems, processes, and capabilities needed to support growth while sustaining strong customer performance.

Location: East Coast, United States.

About the Search Firm

NU Advisory Partners is an AI-native executive search and advisory firm focused on senior executive, operating, and board-level placements, with strong experience in private capital-backed organizations. The firm combines experienced advisors with technology, data, and AI to create a more effective and modern search process. With more than 2,000 searches completed, the team provides high-touch support and leadership talent designed to create lasting business impact.

What You Will Lead

• Set and own the global operations direction for a growing, technology-led manufacturing company, and establish the roadmap needed to sustain expansion.
• Create long-range and annual operating plans that support scalable and adaptable manufacturing across a broad product mix.
• Ensure operational capabilities are aligned with commercial goals so the organization can meet changing customer needs without compromising service quality.
• Advance manufacturing performance across several sites by improving efficiency while still meeting customer-specific requirements.
• Standardize workflows, optimize processes, and implement scalable manufacturing practices that raise quality, throughput, and responsiveness.
• Work closely with engineering and product teams to support new product introductions and improve manufacturability.
• Own annual operating plan delivery and drive results across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and inventory.
• Promote Lean thinking and continuous improvement programs that shorten lead times, raise productivity, and increase flexibility.
• Introduce KPI-based management systems that support fact-based decision-making across the business.
• Build a resilient and responsive global supply chain that can support growth, demand swings, and shifting customer requirements.
• Design sourcing strategies that preserve supply continuity, improve cost competitiveness, and reduce risk.
• Lead integrated planning efforts to align demand, capacity, inventory, and production across the enterprise.
• Develop and oversee operating budgets and capital plans that support strategic growth priorities.
• Improve productivity, optimize costs, and strengthen working capital performance.
• Guide capacity planning and capital deployment to prepare the business for future growth.
• Build and lead strong global teams in a high-growth, fast-paced environment.
• Create a culture centered on accountability, collaboration, innovation, and ongoing improvement.
• Develop leadership capability through coaching, succession planning, and talent development.
• Partner closely with commercial, engineering, finance, and corporate leaders.
• Ensure operations are ready to support growth initiatives, product launches, and customer commitments.
• Maintain strong Environmental, Health & Safety performance across all operations.
• Support sustainability and corporate responsibility efforts aligned with company values and stakeholder expectations.

Qualifications

• Experience in dynamic markets such as data centers, critical power, or mission-critical infrastructure is required.
• A bachelor’s degree in a related discipline is required.
• An MBA is strongly preferred.
• 12–15+ years of progressive leadership experience in global manufacturing operations is required.
• Demonstrated success leading large-scale, multi-site global operations, ideally at the $1B+ level, preferably in data center, electrical infrastructure, or other fast-growing technical markets.
• Background in high-mix, low-to-medium volume, or highly customized manufacturing environments.
• Strong financial understanding, including experience managing large budgets and improving profitability.
• Deep knowledge of global supply chain management, manufacturing operations, and logistics.
• Advanced command of Lean methods such as VSM, Kaizen, TPM, 5S, pull systems, takt time, and standard work.
• Ability to scale operations while balancing customization, speed, and cost efficiency.
• Excellent cross-functional leadership and stakeholder management capability.
• Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% domestically and internationally.

Application Process

• Submit your resume for consideration.
• The team will review the application.
• If the background matches the role, candidates will be contacted to discuss next steps.
• Applicants who are not an exact fit may still be considered for future opportunities through the talent network.

Additional Information

This opportunity is being handled by NU Advisory Partners on behalf of the hiring organization. The role is focused on driving operational excellence, building scalable infrastructure, and supporting long-term growth in a complex manufacturing environment.