Purpose of Role

The Senior Vice President of Operations (SVP) is a pivotal leader driving operational excellence, innovation, and a culture of belonging in a fast-paced injection molding plastics manufacturing environment. This role encompasses the entire operations value chain—engineering, production, quality, safety, and supply chain—while fostering a collaborative and people-centered culture aligned with the company’s mission, vision, and values. The SVP will lead strategic initiatives to achieve long-term growth, profitability, and industry leadership by integrating Lean principles, cutting-edge technologies, and sustainable practices.

Areas of Accountability

Model Core Values and Build a Collaborative Culture

• Champion the organization’s core values—Family, Service, Growth, Intrapreneurship, and Innovation—and celebrate these in others.
• Foster an inclusive culture of collaboration and belonging, ensuring all team members feel valued and empowered.
• Lead with empathy and fairness, promoting leadership accountability, fostering employee engagement, and creating an environment where employees thrive in alignment with organizational goals.

Drive Market Leadership and Operational Growth

• Establish the company as the market performance leader by achieving excellence from design to delivery.
• Expand operational capabilities to enhance market competitiveness, agility, and scalability.
• Partner with stakeholders to drive initiatives that position the company as a trusted advisor to our customers.

Talent Development and Succession Planning

• Collaborate with Human Capital to implement robust onboarding, coaching, and mentoring programs.
• Establish and maintain a structured feedback system, including quarterly and annual performance reviews.
• Develop a strong talent pipeline through proactive succession planning and leadership development initiatives.

Safety Practices and Risk Management

• Drive a zero-preventable-incident culture by embedding a safety-first mindset and practices into daily operations.
• Ensure compliance with safety protocols and regulatory standards across all facilities.
• Conduct site visits to reinforce safety-first principles, operational excellence, and team engagement.

Strategic Vision and Plan Alignment

• Lead the development and execution of the Operations Strategic Plan aligned with the company’s mission, vision, and values.
• Collaborate with Sales, Finance, and NPD to align operational strategies with company-wide objectives.
• Set actionable goals that enable growth and long-term strategic priorities while ensuring execution consistency.

Operational Excellence and Digital Transformation

• Implement and uphold the Rehrig Accountable Management System to enhance operational accountability.
• Drive Lean manufacturing, 5S, and continuous improvement initiatives to optimize efficiency and quality.
• Leverage digital tools and technologies like IoT, robotics, and AI to enhance business processes and manufacturing operations.

R&D and Innovation

• Partner with R&D to strike the right balance between incremental and transformational product innovation.
• Support efforts in circularity and advanced manufacturing to develop sustainable and cost-effective solutions.
• Foster a culture of innovation to enhance product offerings and meet evolving customer needs.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Human Capital, and NPD teams to ensure seamless operational alignment.
• Build strong relationships with customers, suppliers, and stakeholders to support business growth.
• Facilitate effective communication and collaboration across departments to enhance organizational agility.

Financial Oversight and Collaboration

• Collaborate with Finance to manage forecasts, budgets, and capital spending, ensuring alignment with operational goals.
• Use financial data and operational measurements to drive informed decision-making.
• Optimize resource allocation to balance cost efficiency with business growth.

Knowledge, Skills, and Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, or a related field; an MBA or advanced degree is preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations, preferably within plastics or injection molding industries.
• Proven track record in leading and implementing Lean principles, digital transformation, automation technologies, and sustainability initiatives.
• Strategic thinker who can translate vision into long-term strategies and actionable plans.
• Exceptional people-oriented leadership and interpersonal skills, fostering engagement and empowerment.
• Proficient in leveraging data for decision-making and driving operational focus.

• Exceptional team player and organizational influencer.
• A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt or equivalent certification is preferred.
• Willingness to travel up to 60-70% to support operational sites and customer relationships.

Rehrig Pacific is committed to fostering a culture that values inclusion and belonging, giving everyone a fair chance to join the team.