Vice President of Operations

Cascade Engineering is a Family of Companies that invests in our triple bottom line philosophy - People, Planet and Profit. We have been in business for over 50 years in Grand Rapids, Michigan. We manufacture injection molding/plastic products for automotive, office furniture, polymer compounding, waste and recycling industries. We focus on driving organizational excellence through a people centered leadership culture based on the principles of 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Are you looking for a positive and encouraging environment? Are you seeking a position where you are included, recognized and celebrated? You belong here! Are you excited for what is ahead? We are too! Scope of Responsibility As Vice President of Operations, you'll lead enterprise-level manufacturing strategy and execution across multiple facilities, with full accountability for safety, quality, delivery, and cost. Reporting to the President, this role oversees manufacturing, engineering, program management, supply chain, and continuous improvement, driving both operational excellence and long-term transformation. What You'll Be Doing Executive Leadership Provide strategic direction and executive oversight across Manufacturing, Maintenance, Quality, Supply Chain, Product Engineering, and Program Management Partner with the President and executive team to shape and execute long-term operational strategy Build a high-performance culture grounded in safety, accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement Manufacturing & Operations Leadership Ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality manufacturing across all facilities Drive productivity, cost competitiveness, workforce engagement, and operational consistency Maintain world-class manufacturing standards for injection molding, extrusion and secondary processes Program Management Lead the Program Management function and ensure disciplined, predictable execution of all programs Establish governance, standards, and performance metrics that enable on-time, on-cost, and on-quality delivery Drive cross-functional alignment and accountability to meet customer and business commitments Develop program management talent and organizational capability Engineering & Innovation Partner with Product Engineering leadership to ensure engineering strategies, priorities, and standards align with operational capabilities, cost targets, and customer requirements Provide enterprise oversight for manufacturability, process readiness, and launch excellence, ensuring new products transition smoothly from development to production Collaborate with Engineering leadership on capital strategy, facility layouts, automation, and equipment selection to support long-term operational performance and scalability Serve as an escalation and integration point to resolve cross-functional tradeoffs impacting safety, quality, delivery, cost, or timing Ensure operational feedback loops inform product and process design to drive continuous improvement and innovation Integrated Supply Chain Partner with Supply Chain leadership to align sourcing, logistics, inventory, and supplier strategies with operational needs, cost targets, and customer commitments Provide operational input into make/buy, footprint, and capacity decisions to optimize total enterprise performance Ensure manufacturing, procurement, and logistics operate with aligned KPIs, planning rhythms, and escalation processes Collaborate on supplier development initiatives to improve quality, delivery, cost, and risk mitigation across the value stream Ensure warehouse and logistics strategies support current operations and future growth Drive Operational Excellence (Lean/TPM/CES) Champion Lean, TPM, and the Cascade Enterprise Lean System (CES) Ensure KPI alignment across all facilities Implement systems and processes that enhance transparency, efficiency, and performance Develop and execute the operational strategy and manufacturing footprint plan Establish and manage operational budgets and capital plans Own COGP performance and ensure Operations leaders have the tools to manage P&Ls Use financial data and KPIs to set priorities and drive improvement Compliance & Governance Ensure compliance with IATF 16949, ISO-14001 and all regulatory requirements Maintain world-class safety standards and environmental stewardship People & Culture Build, develop, and mentor a strong leadership team Ensure training and development programs support current and future operational needs Foster a culture that reflects our values of dignity, respect, inclusion, and continuous improvement Measures of Success Year-over-year improvement in safety, quality, delivery, and cost metrics Sustained Lean/TPM maturity improvements across all facilities Improved capital effectiveness (OEE, utilization, ROI) Bench strength and succession planning readiness Technological advancement (Industry 4.0, AI) On time and on budget product launches Culture Bearer Understands and supports the values of the Triple Bottom Line (TBL) Exhibits high moral and ethical standards and high integrity Values people regardless of their background Exhibits the traits of a servant leader Exhibit the principles of 7 Habits and Emotional Intelligence Encourages open dialogue and communication Develops high trust relationships within all levels of the organization Pursues Excellence At Cascade Engineering, we welcome and celebrate diversity and inclusion. We are committed to fostering an authentic workplace where everyone belongs and thrives, and we look forward to welcoming candidates who are enthusiastic about contributing to our community. If you are passionate about this role, we encourage you to apply. We recognize that women and people of color are often underrepresented in manufacturing and want to see this change. When making hiring decisions, we believe in considering the whole person and the life experiences they bring to our teams. Our diversity drives our innovation and has been integral to our success.