Vice President of Operations

Eck Industries — Aluminum Foundry & Advanced Manufacturing

Position Summary

Eck Industries is seeking a transformative Vice President of Operations to lead all production, quality, maintenance, and operational support functions across our aluminum foundry. This executive will drive operational excellence while building a stronger, more engaged people culture rooted in accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

The VP of Operations will mentor and elevate the existing leadership team, strengthen cross-department alignment, and champion the adoption of Industry 4.0 technologies—including automation, robotics, data analytics, and digital process control—to position Eck for long-term growth in aerospace, defense, marine, and commercial markets.

Key ResponsibilitiesStrategic & Operational Leadership

Lead daily operations across melting, casting, finishing, machining, maintenance, and engineering to achieve performance targets in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
Translate Eck’s strategic goals into actionable operational plans and KPIs.
Identify and drive long-term capacity planning, technology roadmaps, and organizational development initiatives.
Serve as a core member of the Executive Team, helping shape strategic direction, investment decisions, and companywide priorities.

People & Culture Leadership

Build a positive, performance-driven people culture rooted in trust, accountability, and respect.
Mentor and develop supervisors, managers, and emerging leaders; strengthen leadership maturity, communication, and decision-making across operations.
Improve employee engagement at all levels of the foundry through visibility, communication, and consistency.
Reinforce Eck’s values in day-to-day operations—professionalism, safety, teamwork, and high standards of excellence.

Industry 4.0 & Continuous Improvement

Lead Eck’s evolution toward smart manufacturing by embracing automation, digital work instructions, real-time production data, robotics, and predictive analytics.
Partner with the Director of Technology & Security and Engineering teams to modernize processes, systems, and equipment.
Implement lean manufacturing principles, problem-solving frameworks, and structured continuous improvement programs.
Use data-driven insights to reduce waste, prevent defects, improve throughput, and enhance cost competitiveness.

Quality, Safety & Compliance

Drive a zero-incident safety culture through proactive training, risk reduction, and consistent enforcement.
Partner with Quality to maintain and improve NADCAP, aerospace, and customer-specific quality requirements.
Strengthen process reliability and defect prevention through disciplined root-cause analysis and corrective actions.
Ensure compliance with OSHA, DNR, EPA, DoD, and environmental regulations.

Financial & Business Management

Develop and manage the operations budget, including labor, overhead, and capital expenditures.
Optimize production costs and eliminate operational inefficiencies.
Support pricing, quoting, and business-case analysis for new programs and customer opportunities.
Lead major capital projects—including automation, facility upgrades, and capacity expansions.

Customer & Stakeholder Partnership

Collaborate with Sales & Engineering to support new program launches and ensure customer requirements are met.
Maintain strong relationships with key customers, auditors, and suppliers.
Represent Operations during customer visits, audits, and technical reviews.

QualificationsEducation & Experience

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, or related field required; MBA preferred.
10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations.
Prior leadership in a foundry, aluminum casting, or metals manufacturing environment strongly preferred.
Proven track record in people leadership, cultural transformation, and building strong operational teams.
Demonstrated experience implementing automation, robotics, data systems, and Industry 4.0 technologies.

Skills & Competencies

Inspirational leadership presence with the ability to influence, mentor, and elevate talent.
High emotional intelligence with the ability to resolve conflict, build trust, and strengthen team cohesion.
Data-driven mindset and proficiency with ERP, dashboards, KPIs, and performance analytics.
Ability to manage complex operations while prioritizing long-term strategic improvements.

Why This Role Matters at Eck Industries

Eck is entering a new chapter focused on operational excellence, technology advancement, and people development. The VP of Operations will be a hands-on, visible leader who helps modernize the foundry, strengthens team accountability, and ensures our people, processes, and systems support growth in high-performance markets. This role is central to shaping the future of Eck Industries for the next generation.

Eck Industries, Inc.

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