Vice President of OperationsEck Industries — Aluminum Foundry & Advanced Manufacturing
Position SummaryEck 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 IndustriesEck 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.
