Vice President of Operations - Rigid Plastic Packaging Manufacturer

George Thomas has partnered with a global rigid plastic packaging manufacturer who is seeking to hire a Vice President of Operations to lead their North American operations team.

Remote with travel required. You will need to reside within close proximity to a major U.S. airport hub.

The primary focus is to drive operational excellence, improve productivity, and meet key performance targets for safety, quality, and profitability across all facilities.

The successful candidate will be a hands‑on leader with a strong background in multi‑site operations and a solid track record of implementing Lean methodologies. The role will champion best practices, support plant managers, and drive a culture of continuous improvement while leading organizational change.

• Lead deployment of Lean principles and best practices across multiple North American manufacturing locations.
• Update and maintain the company’s manufacturing system and guidelines, emphasizing key performance indicators and governance to support plant leadership development and operational focus.
• Collaborate with site managers to define and execute automation and efficiency strategies.
• Identify and launch targeted initiatives to enhance asset performance and manufacturing output.
• Build, motivate, and mentor high‑performing teams, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Work cross‑functionally to address challenges, anticipate needs, and implement effective solutions.
• Manage change initiatives and adapt readily to evolving business requirements.
• Contribute to global benchmarking efforts, defining best practices and multi‑year targets to elevate performance standards.
• Drive talent development at every level across each facility to build organizational strength and enable career progression.
• Leverage strong communication and relationship‑building skills to ensure alignment and teamwork across locations, particularly in demanding situations.

• 10–15 years of progressive experience in manufacturing, including significant multi‑site leadership experience and at least three to five years at the Operations or Plant Manager level.
• Demonstrated financial acumen, with previous P&L responsibility.
• Hands‑on experience with manufacturing processes such as design, assembly, testing, and especially high‑volume production environments.
• Background in polymer processing (e.g., extrusion, blow molding, injection molding) is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to mentor, coach, and lead diverse teams.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Please apply or reach out to me directly sa