Director, Operations

About the Role

Vanguard Soap is seeking a strategic and hands-on Director of Operations (Plant Manager) to lead end-to-end manufacturing operations across liquid and solid soap production. This role is responsible for delivering operational excellence at scale, ensuring world-class quality, cost efficiency, production reliability, and safety performance. The ideal candidate combines deep technical expertise, operational rigor, and a builder's mindset, capable of scaling a high-growth, entrepreneurial manufacturing environment into a best-in-class operation. The Vanguard manufacturing campus is a 14-acre site producing 40-50 million pounds of product annually with over 100 employees.

Responsibilities

• Ensure Quality (Product Integrity & Compliance)
  • Establish and enforce world-class quality standards across all production lines, ensuring consistent product integrity and customer satisfaction
  • Partner closely with Quality and Regulatory teams to ensure compliance with GMP, ISO, FDA, and customer-specific standards
  • Implement robust quality systems, including in-process controls, root cause analysis, and corrective/preventive actions (CAPA)
  • Drive a culture of "quality at the source," embedding accountability at every level of the organization
  • Lead continuous improvement initiatives to reduce defects, waste, and rework
• Standardize Costs (Operational Efficiency & Margin Expansion)
  • Own plant-level cost structure, including labor, materials, yield, and overhead performance
  • Identify and execute cost optimization initiatives through lean manufacturing, process engineering, and waste elimination
  • Improve production yields, line efficiencies, and asset utilization across all manufacturing processes
  • Develop and implement standardized operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure repeatability and cost discipline
  • Partner with Finance and Supply Chain to align production planning with cost targets and margin goals
• Achieve Schedule (Delivery & Throughput Reliability)
  • Ensure on-time, in-full (OTIF) production performance aligned with customer commitments and business priorities
  • Lead integrated production planning in partnership with Supply Chain, Procurement, and Customer teams
  • Optimize production scheduling, capacity planning, and labor allocation across multiple product lines and shifts
  • Proactively identify and resolve bottlenecks, downtime risks, and supply constraints
  • Establish performance metrics and dashboards to drive accountability for throughput, uptime, and delivery performance
• Ensure Safety (People & Environmental Safety)
  • Champion a zero-incident safety culture, ensuring compliance with all OSHA and environmental regulations
  • Establish and enforce safety policies, procedures, and training programs across the plant
  • Lead safety audits, risk assessments, and incident investigations with a focus on prevention
  • Ensure safe operation of all equipment, processes, and facility infrastructure
  • Build a culture where safety is a core value and embedded in daily behaviors
• Enterprise & Leadership Responsibilities
  • Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing operations team, including Production, Maintenance, Engineering, and Supervisory leadership
  • Build organizational capability to scale with company growth, including succession planning and talent development
  • Drive a culture of accountability, performance management, and continuous improvement
  • Lead capital investment planning, including equipment upgrades, automation, and facility expansion
  • Serve as a key member of the leadership team, contributing to overall business strategy and execution
  • Ensure alignment across Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, and Commercial teams

Key Capabilities

• Operational Leadership at Scale: Proven ability to lead full plant operations with accountability for safety, quality, cost, and delivery
• Continuous Improvement Mindset: Deep expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and manufacturing excellence methodologies
• Technical & Engineering Acumen: Strong understanding of process engineering, equipment optimization, and manufacturing systems
• People Leadership & Team Building: Ability to attract, develop, and retain top talent while building a high-performance culture
• Execution Discipline: Translates strategy into clear priorities, metrics, and results
• Managing Complexity: Effectively balances multiple product lines, customer demands, and operational constraints
• Business & Financial Acumen: Understands cost drivers, margin levers, and operational impact on P&L performance

Qualifications

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations
• Prior experience as a Plant Manager, Director of Operations, or Director of Manufacturing
• Experience in personal care, chemical, CPG, or contract manufacturing strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success driving improvements in safety, quality, cost, and delivery metrics
• Experience leading multi-shift operations and scaling manufacturing capabilities in a growth environment
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering (Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial, or related field required)
• Advanced degree (MBA or Master's in Engineering/Operations) preferred

Additional Requirements

• Strong knowledge of GMP, FDA, OSHA, and relevant regulatory standards
• Proven track record of implementing lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives
• Excellent leadership, communication, and cross-functional collaboration skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment with evolving priorities