Operations Leadership Search

Operations Leaders Who Make the Whole System Run

We place operations managers, directors, and VPs of operations who align production, supply chain, and people around throughput, margin, and on-time delivery.

50+
Years In Operations Search
25,000+
Total Placements
All 50
States Covered
Top 1%
Of Candidates Presented
Hire an Operations Leader Who Owns the Number
Tell us about the operations manager role you need to fill — we respond within one business day.

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The Search

Why this hire is hard — and how we get it right

The operations leader is where strategy meets the floor — the person accountable for whether production, supply chain, and people actually deliver margin instead of just activity. The title spans a huge range, from a hands-on ops manager running daily execution to a VP owning the operating P&L across multiple sites.

The common mistake is hiring for the last job instead of the next one. An operator who optimized a stable, single-site operation isn't automatically the person who can integrate an acquisition, stand up a second shift, or pull a struggling network back into control. The résumés look alike; the capability doesn't.

We screen for scope and slope: how big a P&L they've genuinely owned, and whether their results were a trend they drove or a wave they happened to ride. You get candidates matched to the size and complexity of what you're actually asking them to run.

What We Recruit

The Operations Leadership We Place

From the floor to the boardroom, we place operations leaders who own the numbers and build the teams that hit them.

Operations Managers

Front-line operations leaders accountable for daily production, scheduling, staffing, and shop-floor execution.

Directors & VPs of Operations

Senior leaders who own the operating P&L, set strategy, and drive margin across one or many sites.

Supply Chain & Materials

Leaders who connect planning, procurement, inventory, and logistics into a system that delivers on time.

Lean & Operational Excellence

Operations leaders who run on KPIs, standard work, and continuous improvement — not firefighting.

Distribution & Fulfillment

Operations and DC leaders who scale warehousing, fulfillment, and multi-site distribution networks.

People & Culture Builders

Operators who retain talent, develop supervisors, and build accountable, high-performing teams.

Our Bar

What we look for before we send you a candidate

Owned the operating number

Real accountability for cost, throughput, and margin across the function — not a single silo — and can explain the levers they pulled.

Scope that matches yours

Single-site vs multi-site, $20M vs $200M, stable vs turnaround — we match the operator to your actual scale and situation.

Systems thinker, floor-credible

Connects planning, procurement, production, and logistics into one system while still being respected on the floor.

Builds bench, not dependence

Develops the supervisors and managers under them so performance holds when they're not in the room.

Change without chaos

Has driven real operational change — lean, ERP, network moves — without breaking customer service or morale.

Market Reality

Operations manager and director roles we place generally run $110K–$190K base, with VP-of-operations leadership reaching $200K+ plus bonus and sometimes equity. The number tracks scope — sites, headcount, and P&L size — and we calibrate every search to yours.

Questions

Frequently asked

What's the difference between an operations manager and a plant manager?

Plant managers own a single site; operations managers and directors often span multiple value streams, sites, or the broader supply chain. We help you scope the role to what you actually need before we search.

How long does an operations leadership search take?

Typically 30–60 days for director-level and below; senior VP-of-operations searches can run longer given the smaller candidate pool. We give you a realistic timeline at kickoff.

What do operations leaders earn?

Roughly $110K–$190K base for managers and directors and $200K+ for VP-level, usually with a performance bonus. We benchmark to your scope and region.

Can you find someone for a turnaround or acquisition integration?

Yes. Turnarounds and post-acquisition integration are specific skill sets — we screen for operators who've actually done them, not just managed steady-state.

Do you cover supply chain and distribution leadership too?

Yes — supply chain, materials, planning, and distribution leadership are core to operations and well within our network.

Do you work retained or contingent?

Both, depending on how critical and confidential the role is. We'll recommend the right approach for your search.

Areas We Cover

We place talent across every specialization

Discrete ManufacturingProcess ManufacturingDistribution & LogisticsFood & BeverageAutomotive & MobilityIndustrial ProductsConsumer GoodsBuilding ProductsContract ManufacturingMulti-Site Operations

Ready to fill your operations manager role?

Whether you need a hands-on operations manager or a VP to build the whole function, tell us the mandate and we'll deliver leaders who have done it before.