Vice President of Operations

Opportunity Profile

Location: Monroe, Wisconsin

Position Title: Vice President of Operations

The Opportunity:

This is a unique opportunity to lead one of the organization’s most strategically important and technically specialized manufacturing operations. The Vice President of Operations will assume leadership of a facility that combines specialty coating, adhesive formulation, and label manufacturing capabilities that support both internal business operations and external customers. Generating approximately $50 million to $60 million in annual revenue and employing roughly 85 team members, the facility occupies a distinctive position within the organization.

The successful leader will inherit a business with tremendous upside. The operation possesses highly differentiated capabilities, including proprietary linerless labeling technologies, specialty coating expertise, and emerging RFID-related growth initiatives. These technologies support major customers and create meaningful opportunities for expanding market penetration across industries focused on sustainability, logistics, and operational efficiency.

This role goes well beyond traditional plant leadership. The Vice President will be expected to serve as a transformational leader who can strengthen organizational capability, empower decision-making throughout the workforce, and create a culture where employees are encouraged to contribute, innovate, and take ownership. The operation is at an important inflection point, creating an opportunity for a new leader to leave a lasting impact on performance, scalability, employee engagement, and long-term growth.

The position also offers unusual exposure to commercial activities. Unlike many manufacturing leadership roles that remain focused primarily on operational execution, this opportunity includes engagement with sales teams, customers, and growth initiatives that directly influence the future direction of the business.

For an ambitious executive seeking both challenge and visibility, the opportunity is significant. As leadership succession needs increase throughout the organization, successful performance in this highly visible role can create meaningful opportunities for continued career advancement and broader operational leadership responsibilities.

The Company:

The company is a diversified manufacturing organization with a broad operational footprint and specialized capabilities across labels, packaging, printing, coatings, and related technologies. The Monroe facility represents one of the organization’s most unique operations due to its integrated coating and adhesive manufacturing capabilities, unmatched elsewhere within the company.

The company continues to invest in innovative technologies, including linerless labeling solutions and RFID applications that support major customers across logistics, shipping, retail, and food service sectors. These solutions address growing market demands for sustainability, efficiency, and waste reduction while positioning the business for future growth.

As an organization, the company offers scale, operational complexity, and multiple pathways for career progression. With experienced leaders approaching retirement across portions of the business, the company recognizes the importance of developing its next generation of operational leadership and creating opportunities for high-performing executives to expand their responsibilities over time.

The Boss:

The Vice President of Operations will report directly to the Regional Vice President of Operations, a leader with a diverse background in global manufacturing and supply chain leadership. Having relocated internationally to support the business and advanced through multiple operational leadership roles, he has successfully led high-profile manufacturing facilities and now oversees a geographically diverse portfolio of operations.

He brings a practical, people-centered leadership philosophy focused on developing talent, building strong cultures, and empowering employees to make decisions. He values leaders who can successfully balance operational discipline with team development and collaborative leadership. Rather than seeking managers who operate in isolation, he is focused on building organizations where leadership capability exists throughout the operation and employees are encouraged to contribute at every level.

His vision for the facility centers on unlocking the talent already present within the operation, strengthening accountability, developing future leaders, and creating a more scalable and sustainable operating model.

The Position:

The Vice President of Operations will provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the Monroe manufacturing facility. This executive will be responsible for all operational activities, including manufacturing, coating operations, adhesive production, maintenance, quality, safety, continuous improvement, capital planning, and organizational development.

The role requires a visible and engaged leader who can drive operational excellence while simultaneously developing people, improving organizational effectiveness, and supporting growth initiatives. The successful candidate will work cross-functionally with commercial teams, customer stakeholders, and corporate leadership to maximize both operational performance and business opportunities.

This position requires a leader who can navigate a complex manufacturing environment consisting of both legacy and modern equipment while creating long-term strategies that improve operational reliability, productivity, and scalability.

Essential Functions (Other duties may be assigned):

• Lead all aspects of plant operations for a manufacturing facility generating approximately $50 million to $60 million in annual revenue.
• Direct manufacturing, coating, adhesive production, maintenance, quality, safety, and operational performance activities.
• Develop and execute annual operating plans, budgets, and performance objectives.
• Build a culture of accountability, engagement, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Lead and develop approximately 85 employees across multiple functional areas.
• Drive Lean Manufacturing and operational excellence initiatives focused on productivity, quality, efficiency, and cost reduction.
• Empower employees and leadership teams by encouraging ownership and decentralized decision-making.
• Partner with commercial and sales organizations to identify and pursue growth opportunities.
• Participate in customer-facing discussions and support strategic business initiatives.
• Lead capital planning and equipment optimization efforts.
• Oversee operations that include multiple schedules and certain 24/7 manufacturing environments.
• Ensure compliance with all safety, environmental, regulatory, and corporate requirements.
• Lead organizational change initiatives that improve scalability, performance, and long-term competitiveness.

Qualifications:

• Proven track record leading large-scale manufacturing operations.
• Demonstrated ability to drive cultural transformation and organizational change.
• Strong experience developing leaders and building high-performing teams.
• Effective communicator with the ability to influence stakeholders across all levels of an organization.
• Strong business and financial acumen with experience managing budgets and performance metrics.
• Ability to operate successfully within complex manufacturing environments.
• Experience balancing operational execution with strategic business objectives.
• Customer-focused mindset with the ability to support commercial growth initiatives.

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Business, or a related discipline.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Minimum of 5 years in a senior manufacturing leadership role with multi-functional responsibilities.
• Previous experience with full plant leadership and P&L accountability.
• Experience implementing Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, Continuous Improvement, or similar methodologies.
• Preferred experience within labels, packaging, printing, specialty materials, coatings, adhesives, RFID technologies, or related manufacturing sectors.
• Experience supporting customer-facing business initiatives is preferred.
• Prior experience in multi-site manufacturing organizations is advantageous.

Competencies:

• Strategic Leadership
• Team Development
• Succession Planning
• Change Management
• Operational Excellence
• Financial Management
• Cross-Functional Collaboration
• Customer Focus
• Accountability
• Decision-Making
• Commercial Awareness
• Talent Development
• Continuous Improvement
• Organizational Agility
• Inclusive Leadership

Work Environment:

This position operates within a manufacturing environment that includes coating, adhesive production, and label manufacturing operations. The facility runs a combination of production schedules, including certain continuous manufacturing processes. The Vice President of Operations will maintain a significant presence on the production floor while also engaging with corporate leadership, customers, and commercial teams. The role requires hands-on leadership, visibility, and active participation in operational and strategic initiatives.

Compensation:

A competitive executive compensation package is offered, including performance-based incentives, comprehensive benefits, retirement programs, and long-term career advancement opportunities within a multi-site manufacturing organization.