Chief of staff, operations

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Chief of Staff, Operations based in the United States.

This high-impact role serves as a trusted strategic partner to the Head of Operations and a key driver of performance across a North American manufacturing network. You will help turn strategic priorities into measurable execution while strengthening consistency, accountability, and operational excellence across plants.

The position sits at the intersection of strategy, operations, data, finance, and people, requiring both strategic thinking and hands-on execution. You will use analytics, AI, dashboards, and visual management tools to enable better, faster, insight-driven decisions. The role also provides exposure to major strategic initiatives, including budgeting, performance management, operational improvement, and mergers and acquisitions. You will influence leaders and cross-functional teams without relying solely on direct authority, helping embed sustainable improvements and best practices. This is an ideal opportunity for an execution-oriented professional who thrives in complex industrial environments and is passionate about safety, continuous improvement, and business performance.

Accountabilities:

• Serve as a strategic partner and second-in-command to the Head of Operations, providing support across the North American manufacturing footprint.
• Backfill Plant Manager responsibilities when required, helping maintain operational continuity and performance.
• Drive financial and operational KPIs across plants and translate performance data into actionable priorities.
• Leverage AI, analytics, dashboards, and visual management tools to improve decision-making and operational visibility.
• Lead Operational Excellence initiatives using Lean, engineering, and project management methodologies.
• Analyze complex or ambiguous operational challenges, identify root causes, and translate them into practical, measurable solutions.
• Support budgeting activities, monthly performance reviews, forecasting, and variance mitigation.
• Coordinate strategic initiatives, including mergers and acquisitions and other enterprise-level operational projects.
• Facilitate the sharing of best practices across sites and influence cross-functional teams to implement sustainable improvements.
• Champion change management, accountability, continuous improvement, and a culture centered on a 100% Safe Everywhere mindset.
• Partner with operations, engineering, finance, and other functions to align strategic priorities with execution.
• Represent the North American operations organization in relevant internal and external forums.
• Monitor progress against strategic initiatives and help ensure projects deliver measurable operational and financial outcomes.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Operations, or a related field.
• 3+ years of professional experience in a manufacturing, industrial, or similarly operationally complex environment.
• Strong analytical, systems-thinking, and problem-solving capabilities, with the ability to turn complex information into actionable decisions.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior leaders, plant teams, and cross-functional stakeholders without relying on direct reporting authority.
• Strong financial acumen, including familiarity with budgets, capital expenditures, operational costs, and performance drivers.
• Experience with operational performance management, KPI development, and data-driven decision-making.
• Knowledge of Lean, Operational Excellence, engineering, or project management methodologies.
• Ability to work effectively across multiple sites, functions, and stakeholder groups in a complex manufacturing environment.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate strategic priorities into clear actions.
• Comfortable working in ambiguous, fast-paced environments and taking ownership of execution.
• Strong change management and relationship-building skills, with the ability to promote accountability and continuous improvement.
• Experience with AI-enabled analytics, dashboards, data visualization, or other digital tools for operational decision-making is an advantage.

Benefits:

• Opportunity to serve in a high-visibility strategic leadership role across a North American manufacturing network.
• Direct exposure to senior operations leadership and major business initiatives.
• Opportunities to lead Operational Excellence, transformation, and continuous improvement programs.
• Exposure to strategic initiatives including budgeting, performance management, and mergers and acquisitions.
• Opportunity to work with AI, analytics, dashboards, and modern operational decision-support tools.
• Collaborative, cross-functional environment with significant opportunities to influence business outcomes.
• Professional growth opportunities within a complex industrial and manufacturing organization.
• Opportunity to contribute to a strong safety culture and initiatives focused on continuous improvement.

How Jobgether works: We use an AI-powered matching process to ensure your application is reviewed quickly, objectively, and fairly against the role's core requirements. Our system identifies the top-fitting candidates, and this shortlist is then shared directly with the hiring company. The final decision and next steps (interviews, assessments) are managed by their internal team. We appreciate your interest and wish you the best!

Why Apply Through Jobgether? Data Privacy Notice: By submitting your application, you acknowledge that Jobgether will process your personal data to evaluate your candidacy and share relevant information with the hiring employer. This processing is based on legitimate interest and pre-contractual measures under applicable data protection laws (including GDPR). You may exercise your rights (access, rectification, erasure, objection) at any time.

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