Vice President of Engineering

VP, Regional Engineering – North America

Location: Chicago, IL (Relocation Required)

A global manufacturing organization is seeking a transformational VP of Regional Engineering to lead engineering strategy, capital investment, and operational excellence across a large North American manufacturing network. This executive leadership role will play a critical part in modernizing operations through automation, digital transformation, AI, and sustainability initiatives while partnering closely with regional operations and global engineering leadership.

This is not a traditional corporate engineering role. We're looking for a hands-on executive who can balance strategic vision with operational execution—someone equally comfortable in the boardroom, on the manufacturing floor, and leading major capital projects from concept through commissioning.

What You'll Do

• Lead engineering strategy across a multi-site manufacturing network in North America.
• Drive large-scale capital projects ($50M+) from planning through execution and startup.
• Standardize engineering, maintenance, and project management best practices across multiple facilities.
• Partner with operations leadership to improve reliability, productivity, and manufacturing performance.
• Lead modernization efforts through automation, robotics, digital manufacturing, and AI-enabled technologies.
• Oversee maintenance and reliability strategies to maximize asset performance and uptime.
• Champion sustainability, utilities optimization, and energy efficiency initiatives.
• Build, mentor, and develop high-performing engineering teams while strengthening technical capabilities across the organization.
• Collaborate across a highly matrixed global organization to align engineering priorities with business objectives.

What We're Looking For

• Executive engineering leadership experience within food & beverage, ingredients, consumer packaged goods, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, or other process manufacturing environments.
• Proven success leading regional or multi-site engineering organizations.
• Extensive capital project leadership experience, including major manufacturing investments.
• Strong background in manufacturing operations, process engineering, maintenance, and reliability.
• Experience implementing automation, robotics, packaging systems, and digital manufacturing technologies.
• Knowledge of Industry 4.0, AI-enabled manufacturing, predictive maintenance, and operational digitalization.
• Strong financial acumen with experience evaluating CapEx investments and ROI.
• Demonstrated success influencing cross-functional teams in a matrixed global organization.
• Lean Manufacturing, Continuous Improvement, or Six Sigma experience is highly valued.

Why This Opportunity?

• Executive-level leadership role with broad organizational impact.
• Opportunity to shape engineering strategy across North America.
• Significant capital investment and manufacturing modernization initiatives already underway.
• Lead automation, AI, and digital transformation efforts at scale.
• High visibility with executive leadership and the ability to influence long-term business strategy.
• Build and develop the next generation of engineering leadership while driving operational excellence across a complex manufacturing network.

Location: Chicago, IL (Relocation Required)

If you're an engineering executive who thrives on building high-performing organizations, leading transformational capital programs, and modernizing manufacturing operations, we'd love to start a confidential conversation.