Vice President, Operations

• Job Category Operations, Supply Chain, Manufacturing
• Employee Type Exempt
• Required Degree 4 Year Degree
• Manage Others Yes

The Vice President of Operations will provide strategic leadership across Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Purchasing, and Plant Quality, with accountability for operational performance, quality, delivery, cost, and organizational capability.

This is a highly engaged operational leadership role. While the Plant Director is responsible for day-to-day plant execution, the VP will maintain close connection to the operation, regularly engage with plant leadership and production teams, and provide direction, support, and accountability to ensure performance aligns with the company's broader objectives.

Karma is a low-volume, high-mix luxury automotive manufacturer operating in a complex and evolving environment. The successful candidate will bring a strong understanding of this type of manufacturing model and the ability to balance hands‑on operational leadership with strategic thinking, organizational development, and cross‑functional partnership.

The VP of Operations will be a key member of the executive leadership team and will work closely with Engineering, Program Management, Sales, Finance, and other corporate functions to support the company's operational, financial, customer, and growth objectives.

• Provide strategic and operational leadership for manufacturing, ensuring safe, efficient, reliable, and cost-effective production.
• Establish and execute annual and long-term operating strategies aligned with company objectives.
• Drive improvements in productivity, throughput, labor efficiency, OEE, capacity utilization, scrap, downtime, and overall manufacturing cost.
• Establish meaningful operating metrics, KPIs, and performance-management processes.
• Ensure production plans and schedules are achieved while maintaining appropriate standards for quality, cost, and delivery.
• Lead continuous‑improvement efforts using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, standard work, root‑cause problem solving, and other appropriate methodologies.
• Assess plant capacity, equipment, workforce, processes, and infrastructure to support current operations and future growth.
• Maintain regular engagement with plant leadership and production teams, creating visibility into operational performance and opportunities for improvement.
• Ensure manufacturing operations and facilities comply with applicable safety, environmental, regulatory, and automotive requirements.

• Develop and lead an integrated supply chain strategy encompassing material planning, production scheduling, inventory, logistics, warehousing, and supplier delivery.
• Improve material availability while maintaining appropriate working‑capital and inventory levels.
• Identify and address supply chain risks, including shortages, capacity constraints, tariffs and trade policy, international sourcing, and logistics disruptions.
• Establish appropriate inventory strategies and supply chain performance measures.
• Partner with Purchasing, Manufacturing, Engineering, and suppliers to support uninterrupted production.
• Strengthen planning, forecasting, MRP/ERP utilization, and supply chain visibility.
• Develop contingency and business continuity plans for critical materials and suppliers.
• Provide strategic leadership for Purchasing and develop sourcing strategies aligned with cost, quality, delivery, capacity, and long‑term supply objectives.
• Lead key supplier negotiations and commercial strategies for direct and indirect materials.
• Develop strong, productive relationships with strategic suppliers, including international and parent‑company‑affiliated relationships.
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