Senior Vice President Operations

Job Description : SVP, Operations Location: Chicago, IL Search Partner: Lean Six Search Group (Confidential Executive Search – Exclusively Retained) We’ve been exclusively retained by a global organization based in Chicago to appoint a transformational SVP of Operations. This confidential mandate sits at the heart of a complex, consumer-driven business operating across the Americas, with a significant manufacturing and supply chain footprint. The successful candidate will lead a large-scale, multi-country operational network, spanning 50+ sites, including more than 20 Tier 1 manufacturing facilities across the U.S., Canada, and Latin America. The Opportunity This role is not for the faint of heart. It demands an execution-first, people-powered operator - someone who can translate strategy into frontline results across safety, quality, customer satisfaction, and cost control. Reporting directly to the Global Head of Operations & Supply Chain, this is a key enterprise leadership position. You will be tasked with building a “play-to-win” culture, driving continuous improvement, and ultimately delivering top-quartile performance across all key metrics. Beyond leading a high-performing team, you will also serve as a cultural architect - bringing urgency, humility, and clarity into every plant, process, and planning cycle. Scope & Responsibility Provide strategic and operational leadership across North & South America. Drive performance across Safety, Quality, Service, Volumes, and Cost. Oversight of Engineering, Procurement, Planning, and Regulatory Compliance across all operations. Develop the annual operating and inventory plan across a multi-region, multi-site network. Lead the execution of major transformation and capital improvement initiatives. Champion best practices and continuous improvement (Lean, Six Sigma, Kaizen). Build and mentor a world-class team; own succession planning for key leadership roles. Represent operations at the executive level with confidence, candor, and credibility. Ideal Candidate Profile We’re looking for a seasoned operator - an executive who has risen through the ranks of plant operations, supply chain, and manufacturing leadership, and who thrives in fast-moving, asset-heavy environments. This is not a role for someone who simply manages from behind a dashboard. You must be hands-on, strategic, and obsessed with execution. Qualifications & Experience: 20+ years in global or regional operations leadership roles. Experience in a multi-site, manufacturing-led organization with global standards and local nuance. Track record of leading large teams and complex operations across borders. Proven strength in capital projects, logistics, regulatory frameworks, and end-to-end supply chain. Background in structured continuous improvement environments (Lean/Six Sigma/TPS). High EQ leader, capable of influencing at the C-suite and inspiring at the plant level. A bachelor’s degree is required; an MBA or advanced degree is preferred. Willingness to travel up to 60%. Leadership DNA The right candidate will be: Strategically grounded, but action-oriented. Collaborative and humble, yet a decisive change agent. Respected by peers, but unafraid to challenge assumptions. Relentless in execution, with a deep commitment to people and performance.

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