VP of Operations

About Us:

Headquartered in St. Louis, MO, USA, Afinitas is the global market leader for pipe and precast concrete equipment, forming systems and concrete accessories used to build the world’s critical transportation, water and utility infrastructure systems. Afinitas is known for the innovative technologies and services it provides through its trusted HawkeyePedershaab, BFS, New Hampton Metal Fab and other well-known brands, which customers have relied upon for decades. Afinitas is a part of BW Forsyth Partners, LLC, the investment arm of Barry-Wehmiller, a $3 billion organization with nearly 12,000 team members united by a common belief: to use the power of business to build a better world.

 

 

Job Description:

The VP, Operations – Equipment & Automation (E&A), is responsible for leading Afinitas’s global Equipment & Automation (E&A) operations, providing strategic leadership for all global manufacturing locations. The VP, Operations – E&A, will work with senior leadership to guide the business and improve operations, drive direct margin performance and level loading, across all sites.

 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop a strategy for level loading across the E&A platform, with a focus on operational efficiency and margin optimization.

• Drive engagement and accountability for Safety, passionately pursuing genuine leadership and individual ownership for the safety and wellbeing of team members in your span of care. Ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations issued by federal, state, and local regulatory agencies.

• Create, manage, and control global operational budgets, monitor expenditures, and drive initiatives to reduce costs and maximize profitability.

• Direct and measure global manufacturing processes, ensuring finished goods meet required quality standards, delivery targets, and customer expectations.

• Implement robust quality assurance and control systems to maintain high product quality and foster a culture of continuous improvement.

• Lead, mentor, and develop global manufacturing site leaders and teams, fostering a productive, inclusive, and high-performing work environment.

• Identify opportunities for operational improvements, implementing best practices to enhance efficiency, productivity, and scalability.

• Able to build strong partnerships within the division, and drive accountability for operations, business development and profitability.

• Build strong partnerships within the division, especially with the VP, Engineering – E&A to ensure Engineering standards are driven through to production and overall divisional objectives are achieved.

• Influence internal teams to rise to the challenge of meeting customer needs/wants and help galvanize teams to meet critical objectives; ensuring all customer expectations (both internal and external) are met.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

• A successful blend of entrepreneurial disposition and established business experience to effectively lead the division through operational improvement and growth.

• A minimum of a Bachelor’s degree with 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in business leadership.

• Progressive leadership experience in global operations and cost accounting, with multi-site/entity and multi-currency environment preferred.

• Executive presence and dynamic interpersonal skills, with the ability to navigate complexity with diplomacy and integrity.

• Excellent team building and change management skills, with the leadership skillset to recruit, train, coach, and mentor top-quality team members at both Division and operating site level. Be a team player and foster teamwork across sites and teams.

• Strong problem-solving and strategic thinking skills for assessing needs and recommending changes.

• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, that conveys a message that is clear, concise and compelling, with proper direction.

• Frequent domestic and periodic international travel will be required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This is an office po