Vice President of Operations – Automotive Joint Venture (Mexico)
Location: Mexico
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer / Joint Venture Board
Industry: Automotive Manufacturing

About the Role
The Vice President of Operations will serve as the strategic and operational leader for a rapidly evolving automotive joint venture with five manufacturing plants across Mexico. This executive will drive operational excellence, lead major transformation initiatives, and ensure the organization delivers world-class performance in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and culture. The ideal candidate brings proven experience in operational turnaround, exceptional leadership, and the ability to communicate effectively across all levels of a global, matrixed organization.

Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership & Strategy

• Provide strategic direction and hands-on leadership across all five manufacturing plants, ensuring alignment with corporate objectives and JV governance.
• Develop and execute long-term operational strategies to improve productivity, quality, and cost competitiveness.
• Lead large-scale transformation and turnaround initiatives to stabilize underperforming operations and drive sustainable improvements.

Performance Management

• Establish and monitor KPIs across plants, ensuring consistent performance in safety, OEE, scrap reduction, on-time delivery, and customer satisfaction.
• Drive standardization of processes, systems, and best practices across all sites.
• Implement lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, TPM, and continuous improvement methodologies to enhance operational efficiency.

Leadership & Organizational Development

• Build and mentor a high-performance operations leadership team, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and innovation.
• Strengthen succession planning, workforce development, and talent management across the organization.
• Inspire and motivate plant leaders and teams through transparent communication, clear expectations, and a people-first leadership approach.

Communication & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as a strong communicator and liaison between JV partners, executive leadership, plant teams, and external stakeholders.
• Present operational results, risks, and improvement plans to the Board and senior leadership with clarity and confidence.
• Foster a culture of open communication, cross-functional alignment, and effective information flow across sites and corporate functions.

Operational Excellence & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with automotive industry standards (IATF 16949, ISO 14001, safety regulations, etc.).
• Oversee capital investment planning, capacity expansion, and technology deployment across plants.
• Reduce operational risks by strengthening safety culture, quality systems, and environmental compliance.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, or related field; MBA preferred.
• 15+ years of progressive experience in automotive manufacturing or related industries.
• Proven track record of leading multi-plant operations in Mexico or similar environments.
• Demonstrated success in operational turnaround, restructuring, and rapid performance improvement.
• Strong leadership presence, ability to inspire teams, and exceptional communication skills.
• Expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and world-class manufacturing methodologies.
• Bilingual English/Spanish strongly preferred.

Key Competencies

• Transformational Leadership – Capable of leading organizations through change and driving cultural and behavioral shifts.
• Strategic Communication – Clear, influential communicator able to engage shop floor employees and board-level executives.
• Results-Driven Execution – Strong ownership mindset and ability to deliver measurable improvements under tight deadlines.
• Problem Solving & Decision Making – Data-driven, analytical thinker with strong business judgment.
• Collaboration & Influence – Works effectively across diverse teams, cultures, and JV partner organizations.