Vice President Of Operations

COMPANY BACKGROUND:

At Reading Truck, we have more than 65 years of industry leadership in the manufacture, distribution, and enhancement of work truck bodies. As the world's largest upfitter of work trucks, we continue to experience rapid growth through our expanding network of more than 20 locations across North America. For more information, visit https://www.readingtruck.com/.

J.B. Poindexter & Co., Inc. (JBPCO) is a privately held, diversified manufacturing company forecasting $2.4B in annual revenue and 9,000 team members in 2023. The nine operating subsidiaries, covering over 50 locations, are engaged in the production of commercial truck bodies, step-vans, utility trucks, funeral coaches, limousines, electric and alternative fuel vehicles, pickup truck bed enclosures, precision machining, and expandable foam plastic packaging. For more information, visit www.jbpco.com.

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Vice President of Operations holds leadership oversight for all Reading Truck Body's manufacturing operations and support functions while ensuring the meeting of objectives including Quality, Safety, Delivery, Cost and team member engagement. This position, a member of the Executive Management Team, reports to the President of Reading Truck Body.

KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop a clear vision to support the company's aggressive growth ambitions. Assess the company's current operational capability and execute on a recommended action plan.


• Initiate culture change including creation of a singular company culture across the entire manufacturing footprint.


• Assess the current talent landscape within the organization and address any gaps. Focus on ensuring the talent pipeline is developed to feed long-term needs of the operations. Ensure a growing, learning, and effective organization which attracts, develops, rewards, and retains talented people at all levels.


• Communicate regularly to drive a shared vision for operations and to sustain excitement about opportunities while being transparent and direct about the challenges.


• Regularly exercise financial discipline to evaluate new opportunities, allocate capital, achieve budgets, drive margins and maintain a healthy balance sheet.


• Ensure a work environment that fosters safety and compliance.

Manufacturing Responsibilities: 

1. Create consistency across Reading and Claremore facilities. Ensure best practices are known and implemented.


2. Drive a comprehensive and integrated manufacturing strategy across a dispersed network of sites with an emphasis on increased automation and lean practices.


3. Maintain and continuously improve high standards of manufacturing operations, product quality, delivery, safety and cost.


4. Lead efficiency improvements within the manufacturing processes. Continually drive improvements including scrap rate, labor productivity and spending controls.


5. Monitor and communicate to the Manufacturing Team all department metrics including on-time performance; safety; productivity and lead times, inventory turnover and materials inventory accuracy, and team member retention targets.


6. Manage investment and headcount to drive growth and value.


7. Set priorities, allocate capital, and interface with internal and external stakeholders.


8. Maintain a safe and organized work environment.


9. Work with Engineering, Sales and Marketing, and Risk Management and Warranty departments to ensure coordination of manufacturing activities.


10. Evaluate and match production capacity to customer demand (Sales, Inventory, & Operations Planning process).


11. Develop, motivate and develop an outstanding team and be a visible leader of continuous improvement and innovative operational excellence. Develop and implement team member training programs.

Operational Excellence Responsibilities: 

1. Assess existing facilities; manage upgrades and new layouts; develop and oversee capital projects (i.e., automation)


2. Manage inbound and outbound logistics.


3. Manage corporate materials group to meet inventory turn and inventory accuracy improvement goals.


4. Oversee maintenance programs to ensure a high level of equipment reliability and up-time. Constantly evaluate and develop maintenance team skills.


5. Support EHS programs to strive for zero-injury workplace and 100% regulatory compliance


6. Work across all functions to create and drive a world class safety culture, strong delivery (on time to customer request & past due) improvement, cycle time and inventory reductions, improved quality and year-over-year cost productivity.


7. Implement strategies to improve robustness of core processes.


8. Integrate Six Sigma/Lean Manufacturing tools to consistently improve flow, reduce waste and drive productivity.

EXPERTISE REQUIRED:

• Manufacturing Leader with 12+ years of management experience. Prefer professional with experience leading a multi-site manufacturing company or business unit with revenues in excess of $200 million.


• Fundamental understanding of factory automation, lean manufacturing techniques, continuous improvement methodologies, and supply chain operations. Prefer relevant experience in a predominantly mechanical/industrial environment.


• Must be an effective, hands-on leader of people, with strong interpersonal skills.


• Strong financial aptitude. Prefer past operational P&L responsibility.


• Proven success within transformational scenarios, driving productivity and performance, continuous improvement, and best practices in difficult environments.


• Demonstrated record of positive safety practices and improvements.


• Experience with integrating acquisition is a plus.


• Willingness to travel domestically approximately 25 - 30% of the time.