Vice President, Operations

Marmon Holdings•Charlotte, NC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Fontaine Modification Company, a part of the global industrial organization Marmon Holdings (backed by Berkshire Hathaway), is seeking a hands-on, strategic Vice President of Operations to lead operational performance across nine sites. This executive will have enterprise responsibility for production, procurement, continuous improvement, quality, warranty, and safety. The role will build scalable operating discipline, strengthen accountability, improve customer outcomes, and ensure the organization delivers safe, high-quality modified vehicles on time and at a competitive cost. The ideal candidate brings deep multi-site manufacturing leadership and direct experience in vehicle, specialty vehicle, heavy equipment, or similarly complex custom manufacturing. Success in a low-volume, high-mix environment is essential. Fontaine Modification designs and manufactures innovative solutions for truck manufacturers, dealers, and commercial truck users worldwide, filling the space between what OEM truck chassis builders can produce and what the market requires. For over forty years, the company has been a recognized industry leader due to its commitment to integrity, customer responsiveness, quality, and superior workmanship.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
Minimum of 15 years of progressive manufacturing operations leadership, including 5 to 7 years in a senior leadership role such as Vice President of Manufacturing or Director of Operations.
Proven responsibility for multiple manufacturing facilities and the ability to create consistent operating standards while responding to site-specific needs.
Direct experience in vehicle manufacturing or specialty vehicle manufacturing, particularly in a low-volume, high-mix production environment.
Relevant automotive, heavy equipment, or complex custom manufacturing experience may also be considered.
Demonstrated success leading production, procurement or supply chain, continuous improvement, quality, warranty, and safety functions.
Proven record of implementing lean manufacturing, Kaizen, Six Sigma, or related continuous improvement methods and converting them into measurable operating results.
Strong knowledge of procurement, supplier management, logistics, inventory control, quality management systems, root-cause problem solving, and corrective action.
Financial acumen, including operating budgets, forecasting, cost control, capital prioritization, and KPI management.
Experience evaluating and implementing ERP, manufacturing systems, technology, or automation solutions.
Exceptional leadership, communication, and change-management skills, with the credibility to work effectively from the shop floor to the executive team.
Ability to travel up to 50 percent to support nine operating sites.

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Set and execute the operating strategy for nine sites, aligning production, procurement, continuous improvement, quality, warranty, and safety with company growth and customer commitments.
Lead capacity planning, production scheduling, labor deployment, flow, dwell-time reduction, and on-time delivery across all facilities.
Develop sourcing and procurement strategies, strengthen supplier performance, negotiate key agreements, optimize inventory and logistics, and mitigate supply continuity risks.
Evolve and scale a practical operating system grounded in 80/20 business philosophy, lean manufacturing, Kaizen, Six Sigma, standard work, visual management, and disciplined problem solving.
Champion a culture of quality; strengthen quality systems, root-cause analysis, corrective actions, regulatory compliance, customer specifications, and the feedback loop from warranty to operations and engineering.
Create an uncompromising safety culture, establish consistent expectations across sites, and ensure compliance with applicable safety requirements.
Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing operations organization. Build accountability, succession depth, training discipline, employee engagement, and strong floor-level communication.
Own operating budgets and forecasts, improve cost performance, and use scorecards and KPIs to drive execution, transparency, and fact-based decisions.
Evaluate manufacturing technology, systems, and automation that improve capability, productivity, quality, and responsiveness in a high-mix environment.
Serve as a key member of the senior leadership team, contribute to enterprise strategy, and provide clear, regular reporting to the President.