Director of Plant Operations

VDS Consulting Group • Cincinnati, OH

1d • Onsite

About The Position

Value Driven Solutions (VDS) is looking for a Director of Plant Operations to join our interim executive bench, with this engagement deploying on-site at our PE-backed manufacturing client in the [Location] region. The Director of Plant Operations will be the on-site executive accountable for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people — the operating system that turns the value-creation plan into shop-floor results.
The ideal candidate will enjoy running a daily management system from the floor up and have the ability to dig into operational gaps, weigh countermeasures, and deliver the best possible site performance. The ideal candidate will apply their command of Lean, TPM, and Six Sigma and communicate effectively with operators, supervisors, plant managers, and corporate leadership.

Requirements

• 15+ years of operations experience with 5+ years as a Plant Manager or Director
• Multi-site or large-site (300+ employees) leadership experience
• Strong command of Lean, TPS, Six Sigma, and modern operating systems
• Track record of delivering year-over-year cost reduction and productivity gains
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field

Nice To Haves

• Lean / Six Sigma Black Belt or Master Black Belt preferred
• Previous experience in a PE-backed or transformation environment a plus

Responsibilities

• Site operations leadership – Own site or multi-site operating performance across SQDC metrics. Lead Plant Managers and senior staff including Production, Maintenance, Materials, Quality, EHS, and Engineering. Represent the site to corporate, customers, and regulators.
• OpEx and improvement – Build and run the daily management system: tier meetings, gemba walks, problem-solving, and countermeasure tracking. Deploy Lean, TPM, and Six Sigma programs with measurable financial outcomes.
• Capital and talent – Drive the site capital plan including capacity expansion, automation, and reliability investment. Develop the site leadership pipeline and coach front-line supervisors and value-stream leaders.

Benefits

• competitive contract rates commensurate with experience and seniority
• structured engagement support through a dedicated VDS Engagement Partner
• proven methodology and toolkits including the Value-Driven Approach® and Everything OpEx® frameworks
• continued business development between engagements
• access to our 360° Client Alignment® process
• deployment within days of engagement start
• exposure to diverse industries (aerospace, food, consumer goods, industrial products, medical device, semiconductor, and battery manufacturing)
• a structured Contract-to-Hire path that lets both Expert and client validate fit before conversion

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director