Interim Chief Operating Officer / VP of Operatio

VDS Consulting Group•Chicago, IL

42d•Onsite

About The Position

A sponsor-backed manufacturer needs an operating leader on site now. The mandate is to take the chair and run the plant network while the permanent search runs in parallel or the transformation completes. Mandates vary by portfolio company, but common versions include modernizing plant layout and material flow, consolidating two or three sites into one, standing up a nearshore footprint to replace offshore capacity, or simply installing the daily management discipline that makes the rest of the plan possible.

Requirements

15+ years in manufacturing operations, with at least 5 in a plant manager, VP Ops, or COO seat
Direct experience carrying a P&L in a private-equity-owned or otherwise leveraged environment
At least one completed plant consolidation, relocation, or major footprint change
Fluency in lean operating systems — you can run a tiered daily management structure, not just describe one
Comfort operating without a full staff, a clean data set, or a long runway
Willingness to be on site five days a week

Nice To Haves

Prior interim work
Multi-site network experience
Nearshoring into Mexico or Central America
Union environment experience

Responsibilities

Full P&L and operational accountability across one or more manufacturing sites
Safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance against a sponsor-approved operating plan
Plant consolidation or footprint change: sequencing, equipment moves, customer qualification, downtime management
Layout and flow redesign to lift throughput without capital where possible
Offshore-to-nearshore transitions, including supplier qualification and dual-running periods
Stabilizing and developing the existing leadership team — you will likely be assessing your own successor
Weekly reporting cadence to the CEO, board, and sponsor operating partner
Establish a factual operating baseline within three weeks. Identify the constraint. Publish a ranked value-lever list with sizing, owner, and confidence level. Get the top three moving.