Vice President, Operations

Role overview

The Vice President of Operations will serve as a key executive leader for National Signal’s manufacturing organization in La Mirada, California. This role is responsible for shaping the company’s operational direction, building the annual operations plan, and aligning manufacturing priorities with customer needs, service performance, cost control, and quality outcomes.

Reporting line

This position reports directly to the President and CEO. The Director of Facilities, Supply Chain Manager, and Shipping and Receiving Manager report into this role.

Core responsibilities

The VP of Operations will design and drive a company-wide, long-range operations strategy that strengthens manufacturing and supply chain capabilities. The role partners with business and corporate functions to develop, implement, refine, and modernize the operating environment while serving as a strategic advisor to the executive team.

• Build and oversee enterprise operations strategies tied to footprint, vertical integration, and technology improvements.
• Lead initiatives involving product consolidation, sourcing strategy, quality systems, manufacturing excellence, and employee safety and security.
• Direct operational due diligence and integration work connected to acquisitions.
• Own special projects aligned to changing business needs and additional priorities assigned by the CEO.

Leadership and team development

This leader will guide a high-performing operations organization and work closely with senior leaders to choose, develop, and improve the people, tools, and processes needed to strengthen performance across the business.

Operations planning

The role is accountable for balancing long-term manufacturing needs with short-term business priorities. It oversees growth-related planning across materials management, purchasing, logistics, production, quality assurance, manufacturing, scheduling, engineering, and facility maintenance in support of revenue goals. The position also plays an important role in capital expenditure planning and manufacturing planning.

Strategic sourcing and quality

The VP of Operations is responsible for ensuring monitoring and testing programs confirm that incoming parts and finished goods meet required specifications. The role also oversees systems that help both company-made products and outsourced supplier products meet standards for quality, consistency, and reliability. In addition, the position improves supplier and vendor management processes to drive scale, efficiency, synergy, and cost savings, while keeping supply chain programs resilient during disruption or crisis.

Compliance and safety

All manufacturing operations must remain aligned with applicable federal and state regulations as well as internal company policies. This role is accountable for compliance across scheduling, production, quality assurance, environmental matters, and all other operations areas. It also leads the development and rollout of safety policies and programs that support a zero-harm culture.

Continuous improvement

The VP of Operations is expected to champion ongoing improvement by strengthening process design, organizational structure, and data use to improve growth, efficiency, effectiveness, service delivery, and data quality. The role builds trusted relationships across business units to implement standardized methods, procedures, and best practices that support innovation and quality.

Performance expectations

Operational leaders must be equipped to work within or below budget while still delivering quality finished goods on time. This role helps identify and execute cost-reduction, productivity, process, and safety improvements. It is also responsible for maintaining manufacturing schedule attainment, supporting customer service expectations, contributing to working capital goals, and driving risk reduction, value creation, and cross-functional synergies.

Travel requirement

This position requires 15% to 25% travel for business meetings, trade shows, conferences, supplier reviews, and customer events, depending on organizational needs.

Experience and education

A bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, or another equivalent technical field is required. A master’s degree in business is preferred but not mandatory. The ideal candidate will bring 12 years of progressive operations experience, including at least 6 years in durable goods. Experience should include leadership of large-scale operations involving metal fabrication, assembly, and the integration of electronics and electrical systems. Candidates should also have experience building business cases and executing capital expenditure projects while meeting timing, cost, quality, and performance targets.

Competencies and leadership traits

The role calls for a leader who communicates clearly and authentically, collaborates well, and influences through trust rather than command-and-control methods. The successful candidate should be comfortable handling complex and uncertain situations, think strategically, lead change effectively, and deliver measurable results. Strong coaching ability, inclusiveness, innovation, long-term thinking, critical judgment, integrity, and solid business acumen are essential. Spanish and English communication skills are highly desirable, though not required.

Additional notes

Reporting expectations include direct oversight of facilities, supply chain, and shipping and receiving functions. The role may also involve protecting company assets with a strong sense of responsibility and stewardship.