VP Operations

Solenis is a leading global provider of water and hygiene solutions. The company's product portfolio includes a broad array of water treatment chemistries, process aids, functional additives, cleaners, disinfectants, and state-of-the-art monitoring, control and delivery systems. These technologies are used by customers to improve operational efficiencies, enhance product quality, protect plant assets, minimize environmental impact, and create cleaner and safer environments. Headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, the company has 78 manufacturing facilities strategically located around the globe and employs a team of over ~23000 professionals in >160 countries across six continents. Solenis is a 2025 Best Managed Company Gold Standard honoree.

For additional information about Solenis, please visit www.solenis.comor follow us on social media.

As VP of Operations - Americas you are the architect and deployment leader of the Solenis Americas Operating System, responsible for building a sustainable culture of continuous improvement and disciplined execution across the manufacturing and supply chain network.

You will establish a scalable operating model that enables Solenis to improve SQDIP performance (Safety, Quality, Delivery, Inventory, Productivity), accelerate operational maturity from Manufacturing 1.0 to 4.0, and build repeatable leadership behaviors and performance governance across plants.

You are accountable for:

• designing the Americas OpEx strategy and roadmap
• governing the pipeline of improvement and transformation initiatives
• building the talent engine
• enabling network performance through a combination of site-based coaching, roving deployment, and structured program management / PMO rigor

Key Responsibilities:

Strategy & Operating System Leadership

Develop and deploy the Americas Operational Excellence strategy and Solenis Americas Operating System (SAOS) - including performance governance, SQDIP scorecards, leadership standard work, and common tools, while standardizing site practices to improve safety, reliability, and cost performance.

Multi-Site OpEx Deployment

Lead Lean/CI deployment across manufacturing and supply chain-supporting sites in VSM, Kaizen, A3/RCA, standard work, 5S, SMED, TPM, and visual management-while collaborating with leaders to embed standard work, layered audits, and accountability, and being responsible for sustaining behavioral change and strengthening problem-solving discipline.

Enterprise Governance, Benefits Realization & Transparency

Establish and lead a robust OpEx governance model, supporting the Americas continuous improvement portfolio-from intake, prioritization, KPI tracking, and risk management to performance dashboards-while collaborating with stakeholders to ensure transparency, executive visibility, and responsible, sustained results across SQDIP, initiatives, savings, and capability adoption.

Program / PMO Enablement

Provide PMO structure and governance for operational programs-including reliability, manufacturing stabilization, network optimization, CAPEX readiness, and supply chain performance-by deploying standards for charters, RAID logs, RACI, stage gates, cadence, and dashboards, and collaborating with project leaders to ensure responsible execution.

Talent Engine / Capability Building

Build the OpEx "capability machine" across the Americas by collaborating with sites to establish Belt certification pathways, develop CI leaders and practitioners, train supervisors in Lean fundamentals, create future Ops leader rotations, and support a network of site-based and roving resources-being responsible for accelerating adoption and sustaining results.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Industrial Technology or related discipline required; advanced degree a plus.
• 10+ years of experience in manufacturing/operations, continuous improvement, and business transformation.
• Proven track record leading multi-site operational excellence deployments and measurable performance improvement.
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt required; Master Black Belt strongly preferred.
• Strong executive presence; able to influence
• Ability to operate at both enterprise and site levels: strategic roadmap + hands-on coaching.
• Strong financial acumen in benefits validation, ROI tracking, and productivity improvement translation.
• Proficiency in project/program governance tools (Smartsheet, MS Project, Power BI/BI dashboards preferred).
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

Preferred Experience

• Background in various operating systems or other OpEx-driven environments.
• Experience building enterprise governance models and OpEx organizations at scale (enterprise transformation offices).
• Experience working in private equity operating cadence environments.

This role will be based in Wilmington, DE and will involve up to 60% travel.

We understand that candidates will not meet every single desired qualification. If your experience looks a little different from what we've identified and you think you can bring value to the role, we'd love to learn more about you.

At Solenis, we understand that our greatest asset is our people. That is why we offer competitive compensation, comprehensive benefits which include medical, dental, vision & 401K, and numerous opportunities for professional growth and development. So, if you are interested in working for a world-class company and enjoy solving complex challenges, whether in the lab or the field, consider joining our team.

Solenis is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Affirmative Action Employer, including Minorities / Women/ Veterans / Disabled.All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Should you require assistance in applying to this opportunity, please reach out to Solenis Talent Acquisition at talentacquisition@solenis.com