VP of Operations

The Opportunity

We are a privately held, family-owned medical device contract manufacturer with approximately 215 employees across three facilities in Minnesota and Puerto Rico. We are seeking a candidate to lead manufacturing performance across the organization and help build the operating capabilities required for our next stage of growth.

This role requires more than technical manufacturing expertise. We are looking for a leader who can create accountability and operational discipline while earning trust across culturally distinct facilities. The successful candidate will understand that one company does not always mean identical practices at every site. It also requires a strategic operations leader who can anticipate where the business needs to be 2–5 years from now and build the capacity, technology, workforce, site capabilities, and operating systems to get there. What You Will Lead * Operational performance across three manufacturing facilities.Safety, quality, delivery, productivity, cost, labor efficiency, capacity, and continuous improvement.Site and operations leadership development and accountability.Company-wide operating metrics, review routines, escalation, and problem solving.Capacity planning, labor strategy, equipment and capital recommendations.Multi-year operations strategy, including future site capabilities, technology, automation, manufacturing footprint, workforce needs, and capital priorities.Cross-functional execution with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, Finance, HR, and Commercial Operations.Operational readiness for new products, validations, transfers, customer requirements, and growth.Regular leadership presence in both Minnesota and Puerto Rico.

One Operations Team Across Different Cultures

Our facilities share common standards, customers, and goals while operating in different cultural and business environments. The VP of Operations must build alignment without creating a headquarters-versus-remote-site dynamic. We want a leader who listens before changing, learns the strengths of each facility, shares best practices, and establishes consistent expectations where consistency adds value. Candidate Profile

We welcome experienced operations executives and manufacturing leaders who are ready for enterprise-wide responsibility. Current titles may include Vice President of Operations, Senior Director of Operations, Multi-Site Director, General Manager, Site Leader, or comparable senior manufacturing roles.* Bachelor’s degree Administration, Engineering, Supply Chain, Finance * Significant progressive manufacturing leadership experience, 20+ plus year. * Senior responsibility for complex manufacturing operations, multiple sites, or significant business units. * Demonstrated experience leading geographically and/or culturally diverse teams. * Strong command of manufacturing KPIs, capacity, labor, productivity, cost, delivery, and continuous improvement. * Demonstrated strategic mindset and experience translating business growth plans into multi-year operations, capacity, capability, technology, workforce, and capital strategies. * Demonstrated ability to develop leaders and improve operating performance. * Strong cross-functional and executive communication skills. * Ability and willingness to travel regularly between Minnesota and Puerto Rico. * English/Spanish bilingual capability.

Highly Preferred

* Medical device or medical device contract manufacturing experience. * FDA-regulated or similarly regulated manufacturing experience. * Knowledge of ISO 13485, quality systems, and validation. * Knowledge of EPA and environmental compliance requirements applicable to manufacturing operations in Puerto Rico. * Precision manufacturing, machining, assembly, engineering, or automation experience. * Lean/continuous improvement leadership. * Multi-site capacity planning and capital investment experience. * Experience leading operations in Puerto Rico and the continental United States.

The Leader We Are Looking For

Fair and Consistent: Treats people fairly regardless of title, facility, background, language, tenure, or personal relationship.

Culturally Intelligent: Understands that Minnesota and Puerto Rico may have different communication styles and operating environments; seeks to understand before imposing change.

Visible and Approachable: Spends meaningful time on the production floor and builds relationships with employees at every level.

Humble and Confident: Makes difficult decisions while listening to people closest to the work and changing direction when better information is available.

Operationally Disciplined: Uses data, standard work, accountability, and follow-through while avoiding unnecessary bureaucracy.

Strategic and Forward-Thinking: Connects daily operations to long-term business strategy and anticipates future capacity, capability, workforce, technology, customer, and investment needs.

Collaborative: Builds strong partnerships with Quality, Engineering, Supply Chain, HR, Finance, Sales/Customer Service, and site leadership.

Decisive and Accountable: Addresses problems promptly, establishes ownership, and accepts responsibility for results.

People-Oriented and Performance-Driven: Develops people while maintaining high expectations for safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.

Ethical and Quality-Focused: Never allows schedule or financial pressure to override employee safety, product quality, compliance, or integrity. What Success Looks Like * Trust and credibility with employees and leaders in Minnesota and Puerto Rico. * Clear company-wide operational priorities and accountability. * Measurable improvement in safety, quality, delivery, productivity, capacity, and cost. * Stronger cross-site communication and sharing of best practices. * A stronger operations leadership bench and succession pipeline. * An actionable capacity and capital roadmap aligned with customer demand and company strategy. * Strong partnership with the President, CEO, Quality, Engineering, HR, Finance, and commercial teams.

Equal Employment Opportunity

* We are an equal opportunity employer committed to employment decisions based on qualifications, experience, performance, and legitimate business requirements. We are committed to a workplace where employees are treated with dignity and respect and where employment decisions are made without discrimination on the basis of any status protected by applicable law.