What are the responsibilities and job description for the Operations Director / VP of Operations Designate position at Novo Executive Search?
Operations Director/ VP of Operations Designate
The Company
Our client is the US subsidiary of a privately owned global market leader providing engineered and prefabricated metal products and systems to complex industrial markets.
The business specialises in technically engineered solutions incorporating steel and other metal components, supporting customers across data centres, life sciences, energy, chemicals, advanced manufacturing, infrastructure and other demanding industrial sectors.
Having achieved exceptional growth in recent years, the US operation is now entering a significant new phase of development. This will include relocation to a substantially larger facility, continued investment in its operational infrastructure and the development of domestic manufacturing, metal prefabrication and assembly capabilities.
The Role
This newly created position offers an exciting opportunity for an ambitious and experienced operations professional to play a central role in the continued growth and leadership of the US business.
Working closely with the existing executive leadership team, the successful candidate will assume responsibility for key operational activities, with a particular emphasis on the development and scaling of prefabrication, product assembly, supply chain and logistics capabilities.
Importantly, the position forms part of a structured succession plan, with the successful candidate expected to progress into the Vice President of Operations role over the next two years as they develop their knowledge of the business and assume broader strategic and leadership responsibilities.
Key responsibilities will include:
• Developing and improving operational processes supporting the prefabrication and assembly of engineered steel and metal products and systems
• Establishing and scaling domestic manufacturing, fabrication and assembly capabilities, including the development of appropriate manufacturing partnerships
• Managing and improving supply chain, warehousing, logistics, prefabrication and customer service operations
• Supporting the successful transition into a significantly larger facility during 2027
• Developing efficient production, assembly and material flow processes to improve quality, productivity, capacity and delivery performance
• Introducing effective operational KPIs, reporting systems and continuous improvement initiatives
• Building the operational infrastructure, systems and processes necessary to accommodate significant business growth
• Supporting operational budgeting, cost control, resource planning and profitability improvement
• Working closely with commercial, engineering and finance teams to ensure operational capability is aligned with customer requirements and business growth
• Gradually assuming wider strategic and leadership responsibilities as part of the planned succession into the Vice President of Operations position
The Candidate
Candidates should be able to demonstrate:
• Experience leading operations through significant business growth and organisational scale-up or transformation
• commercially aware and hands-on operational leader with experience gained within metal fabrication, prefabrication, engineered metal products, industrial assembly or a closely related manufacturing and project management environment
• Strong supply chain, warehouse and logistics leadership
• Experience of manufacturing, production implementation or greenfield operational development
• A track record of scaling customer service and operational teams
• Strong commercial and financial understanding
• Experience implementing ERP-led reporting, KPIs and continuous improvement
• The ability to combine strategic planning with close attention to operational detail