Vice President of Operations

Venus Aerospace•Houston, TX

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Vice President of Operations will serve as a key enterprise leader responsible for driving largeâ€‘scale operational transformation and building the systems, teams, and processes that enable the company to transition from early-stage execution to a fully scaled, high-performing organization. In this role, you will own the synchronization of core company operations, lead business maturity initiatives, and architect operational capabilities that support rapid growth. You will oversee strategic planning for cross-company initiatives, guide company-wide operating rhythms, and lead teams responsible for security, facilities, environmental health and safety, and export control compliance. As a member of the executive leadership team, you will serve as a trusted advisor to the COO and senior leaders, effectively balancing long-term strategic vision with disciplined operational execution.

Requirements

Bachelorâ€™s degree in engineering or social sciences
15+ years of operational leadership, including experience leading managers and cross-functional teams
Exceptional executive-level communication and writing skills
Strong quantitative modeling and Excel proficiency
A track record of decisive leadership, structured problem solving, and building scalable processes
Proven success leading transformation within high-stakes, fast-paced environments
Strong judgment and risk management capability
Highly self-directed, resilient, and adaptable to ambiguity
Experience within aerospace, defense, national security, or deep tech
A mission-driven, collaborative, and humble leadership approach
Ability to serve in compliance with U.S. export controls (U.S. citizen, lawful permanent resident of the U.S., protected individual as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), or eligible to obtain the required authorizations from the U.S. Department of State).

Nice To Haves

MBA from a leading business school and experience in top-tier management consulting preferred
Demonstrated ability to lead organizations through rapid growth and change
A passion for developing exceptional teams and building strong operational cultures
2+ years at a top-tier management consulting firm
Experience with aerospace primes or growth-stage A&D companies

Responsibilities

Provide Enterprise-Wide Operational Leadership: Lead cross-functional planning and decision-making across all major company functions. Drive annual and multi-year strategic operating plans, ensuring alignment with financial goals, capital planning, and organizational priorities. Partner with Finance to build scalable budgeting, cost modeling, inventory accounting, and operational forecasting processes. Collaborate with Program Management on planning, schedules, staffing, and risk mitigation.
Drive Business Maturity and Scaling Initiatives: Develop the integrated operational strategy for scaling facilities, compliance, manufacturing, and support functions to meet growing customer demand. Build and optimize scalable processes for production readiness, delivery execution, and operational reporting. Establish and lead systems for measuring operational performance and creating accountability as the company moves into sustained delivery. Lead cross-functional supply and demand planning across prototype, LRIP, and full-rate production phases.
Lead Infrastructure, Security, and Compliance Functions: Lead and grow high-performing teams responsible for facilities operations, export control and security, and EHS compliance. Ensure compliance with relevant standards and regulations, including ITAR/EAR and OSHA. Guide long-range planning to position the company for rapid expansion while maintaining compliance and operational excellence. Champion a culture of ownership, speed, rigor, and accountability.
Support Customer Growth, Capture, and Program Success: Lead operational planning for all customer delivery commitments. Partner with Business Development and Product teams to produce operational inputs for proposals, pricing models, and delivery timelines. Guide onboarding and operational readiness for new customer programs.