Vice President Operations

Position: Vice President of Operations Department: Operations Reports To: President of LEER Group Location: LEER Group – Corporate HQ – Elkhart, Indiana (Onsite Required) About LEER Group, LLC. COMPANY BACKGROUND: LEER GROUP is North America's largest manufacturer and supplier of fiberglass and aluminum truck caps and tonneaus for residential and commercial applications. The group is comprised of eight companies: LEER, Snugtop, Bedslide, Pace Edwards, Century, Raider, and StateWide Windows. Together, these companies have manufacturing plants in Pennsylvania, Indiana, Washington, and Oregon, and sell through more than 1,300 independent dealers to individuals, small businesses, exporters, new car and truck dealerships, and fleet operators. Founded in the late 1960s, LEER is the most widely recognized brand name in the truck cap industry, and the number-one selling brand of pickup truck caps and tonneau covers in the country. LEER truck caps are custom-manufactured in Indiana, and Pennsylvania and delivered to more than 800 independent LEER retailers. The industry leader in innovation, quality and customer service, LEER offers the industry's most complete selection of truck caps for consumer and commercial use, fiberglass tonneaus, retractable tonneau covers, and a soft roll-up cover. With its wide range of products, dozens of standard and optional features, and its partnerships with racking and storage solutions companies such as Thule, LEER offers products that appeal to a large and diverse customer base. Customized ordering ensures LEER can create a truck cap or tonneau for urban or rural use that appeals to families, hunters and fishermen, cyclists and boating enthusiasts or anyone who needs a stylish, well-built cargo solution. For its commercial and fleet customers, LEER offers truck caps customized with dozens of trade-related options and storage systems. A subsidiary of J.B. Poindexter, a privately held diversified manufacturing company, LEER Group offers a vast variety of career opportunities, internally as well as within the J.B. Poindexter family of companies. We offer competitive salaries and progressive benefits including health, dental, vision, life insurance, disability plans, 401K, paid time off, tuition reimbursement and more. We pride ourselves in team member development, performance, recognition, and a culture of diversity and respect. Whether you are taking the next step of your career or just beginning, joining LEER Group's winning team means being part of a magnificent home away from home. You will be challenged. You will be proud. Overall Responsibilities: The Vice President of Operations provides strategic and hands-on leadership for all LEER manufacturing operations across the United States. This position oversees Operations, Environmental Health & Safety (EHS), Supply Chain, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Transportation, and Mold Making, ensuring safe, efficient, and world-class performance across all facilities. The VP of Operations drives operational excellence through disciplined execution, continuous improvement, and cross-functional collaboration. This role requires a results-oriented leader capable of aligning people, systems, and processes to achieve LEER's strategic business objectives. Key Responsibilities: Strategic Leadership & Organizational Development Develop and execute operational strategies aligned with LEER's growth and profitability goals. Partner with the President and executive leadership team to translate corporate strategy into actionable operational plans. Lead organizational design and capability-building initiatives across the operations network. Collaborate with JBPCO business units to leverage best practices and operational synergies. Operations & Manufacturing Lead day-to-day manufacturing operations across all U.S. facilities to achieve safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives. Drive process standardization and continuous improvement in fiberglass and aluminum production environments. Ensure adequate capacity, tooling, and mold-making resources to meet production demands. Oversee plant optimization, equipment investments, and operational efficiency projects. Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) Champion a proactive, safety-first culture across all operations. Ensure compliance with OSHA, EPA, and all relevant local and federal regulations. Lead initiatives to reduce workplace risk, improve ergonomics, and drive environmental stewardship. Supply Chain & Logistics Oversee purchasing, materials management, and supplier performance to ensure cost-effective and reliable supply. Implement inventory optimization and demand planning strategies. Manage logistics and transportation to improve delivery performance and cost control. Manufacturing Engineering & Continuous Improvement Lead manufacturing engineering, process optimization, and plant layout improvement efforts. Drive Lean Manufacturing, 5S, and Kaizen initiatives to eliminate waste and improve throughput. Partner with Product Development and NPD teams to ensure manufacturability and smooth new product launches. Champion automation, digital tools, and data-driven performance management. Quality Assurance Oversee quality systems to ensure products meet or exceed LEER's market-leading standards. Lead root cause analysis, corrective and preventive action (CAPA), and continuous improvement programs. Drive a culture of "zero defects" and accountability across all plants. Sustainability, ESG & Innovation Integrate sustainability and environmental responsibility into operational strategies. Promote energy conservation, waste reduction, and recycling initiatives. Identify and implement innovative technologies, automation, and Industry 4.0 solutions. Customer & Market Alignment Ensure operations align with customer demand, product mix, and market conditions. Collaborate with Sales, Product Management, and Customer Service to improve responsiveness and delivery performance. Maintain LEER's reputation for industry-leading quality and on-time delivery. Cultural & Change Leadership Model LEER's core values integrity, respect, and teamwork. Lead change management and cultural transformation initiatives to foster accountability and engagement. Promote a high-performance environment that rewards continuous improvement and innovation. Financial & Business Performance Develop and manage budgets, capital expenditure plans, and cost-reduction initiatives. Deliver EBITDA improvement and cost-per-unit efficiency goals. Partner with Finance to ensure sound resource allocation and accurate financial forecasting. People Leadership Build and develop a high-performing leadership team across all operational functions. Coach, mentor, and engage team members to drive performance and accountability. Implement succession planning and leadership development programs across Operations. Reporting Structure: Direct Reports: Directors/Managers of Operations, EHS, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Transportation, and Mold Making. Indirect Reports: Plant Managers, Supervisors, and functional support teams across U.S. facilities. Qualifications: Education & Experience Bachelor's degree in engineering, Manufacturing, or Business (MBA preferred). 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in multi-site manufacturing operations. Proven success leading functions including Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, and EHS. Experience in fiberglass, aluminum, automotive, truck accessories, or durable goods manufacturing preferred. Expertise in Lean, Six Sigma, and ERP systems (Epicor, SAP, or JDE). Strong financial acumen with a track record of delivering measurable operational improvements. Skills & Competencies Hands-on, visible leadership with strong floor presence. Excellent communication, collaboration, and influencing skills. Strategic thinker with strong analytical and problem-solving capability. Demonstrated ability to lead change and drive continuous improvement. High integrity and commitment to organizational excellence. Code Of Ethics: LEER GROUP requires the highest standard of ethics in all business dealings, with customers, suppliers, advisors, employees, and authorities. The Team Member shall actively ensure that his/her own activities and those of all employees within the facility meet this obligation. LEER GROUP's critical standards and procedures related to expected conduct are detailed on the company website. The Team Member is expected to be familiar with these policies and ensure that they are implemented in all areas of control.