Vice President, Operations

Essential job functions

US Operations Leadership

• Lead and optimize approximately 13 corrugated and converting facilities across the US.
• Own operational strategy aligned to growth, capacity planning, automation, and footprint optimization. Drive consistent performance across safety, quality, service, cost, and productivity metrics.

Financial Performance

• Accountability for operating budgets, capital planning, labor productivity, and cost of conversion performance.
• Identify and deliver cost-reduction initiatives through yield improvement, waste reduction, labor efficiency, and sourcing optimization.
• Partner with Finance and Supply Chain on forecasting, ROI analysis, and long-range planning.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Champion a zero-incident safety culture across all corrugated operations.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, environmental regulations, and internal quality standards. Lead quality systems to consistently meet or exceed customer specifications and service-level agreements.

Commercial & Customer Partnership

• Collaborate with Commercial team to support complex customer programs, new product introductions, and operational stability and scalability.
• Serve as executive sponsor for key corrugated customers, resolving escalations and strengthening long-term partnerships.
• Balance customer customization with operational standardization and efficiency.

Talent & Leadership Development

• Build and lead a high-performing leadership team across the network.
• Develop succession pipelines and elevate operational leadership capability.
• Partner with HR to develop talent planning and workforce strategies.

Continuous Improvement

• Embed Lean and Six Sigma disciplines to drive continuous improvement and standard work.
• Lead digital and automation initiatives. Drive cultural change focused on accountability and operational rigor.

Qualifications & Experience

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in business or related field; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive operations leadership experience with deep corrugated manufacturing expertise.
• Demonstrated success leading multi-site manufacturing network, preferrable corrugated packaging.
• Experience in custom or make-to-order manufacturing environments, preferably in corrugated, packaging, or CPG.
• Strong understanding of SIOP, lean practices, and SAP ERP/MRP systems.
• Proven change leader with strong communication and executive presence.

knowledge, skills, and abilities

Knowledge:

• Deep understanding of vertically integrated corrugated packaging and display.
• Strong working knowledge of SIOP processes and their role in aligning commercial, operational, and financial plans.
• Familiarity with SAP ERP, MRP, and planning systems.

Skills:

• Strategic planning and operational execution in corrugated packaging and display.
• Leadership and team development across large, multi-site manufacturing network.
• Cross-functional collaboration and influencing skills with Sales, Finance, Supply Chain, and Engineering.
• Communication and presentation skills to drive alignment across executive and operational levels.
• Project management and change leadership for system and process transformations.

Abilities:

• Ability to lead a large, integrated operations team through both daily execution and long-term transformation.
• Ability to architect and execute a process to stabilize output and improve service reliability.
• Ability to adapt supply chain strategies to dynamic customer demands, constrained capacity, and evolving market conditions.
• Ability to foster a culture of continuous improvement, ownership, and collaboration

Summary version:

• Strategic thinker with operational depth and strong execution bias
• Adept at navigating complexity and variability in supply and demand
• Collaborative, analytical, and action-oriented
• Passionate about building processes, systems, and people from the ground up
• Analytical and systems-oriented; comfortable with data-driven decision-making
• Ability to lead cross-functional transformation and continuous improvement
• Strong communicator who can align teams around shared goals
• Resilient and adaptive in a fast-paced, custom manufacturing environment

Physical requirements and work environment

• Primarily works in an office environment.
• Frequent travel required.
• Occasional lifting to 25 lbs.