VP of Operations

Company: This high-growth, science-led ingredients business develops and commercialises technically advanced products for international nutrition and health markets. The organisation has built a strong position through proprietary technology, specialist scientific expertise and collaboration with external manufacturing partners.

As the business continues to scale globally, there is a clear need to strengthen its operational structure, improve manufacturing control and establish a more resilient platform for future growth. The company is therefore looking to appoint a Vice President of Operations to lead its global manufacturing, supply chain, quality and engineering activities.

The successful individual will join the Senior Leadership Team and play a central role in shaping how the company develops from a research and innovation-led organisation into a more mature, commercially scalable manufacturing business.

Role: The Vice President of Operations will lead the development and execution of the company’s global operations strategy, with responsibility for manufacturing, supply chain, quality and engineering.

A key immediate priority will be strengthening the management of external Contract Manufacturing Organisations and strategic production partners. The successful individual will establish clearer accountability, improve operational performance and ensure that manufacturing capacity, quality and supply continuity support the company’s commercial growth.

This is not a role focused solely on maintaining an established operational structure. The Vice President of Operations will be expected to define what effective operational management should look like, introduce appropriate systems and processes, and help build capabilities that do not currently exist within the organisation.

The position requires a leader who can contribute strategically at Senior Leadership Team level while remaining practical, hands-on and close to operational detail. The individual will work closely with scientific, technical and commercial colleagues to improve the transition from product development into reliable commercial manufacturing.

Over time, the role will also contribute to the development of additional manufacturing capability, including potential investment in new facilities, internal assets and global capacity expansion.

This opportunity would suit an experienced operations executive who has gained strong foundations within a larger or highly structured manufacturing organisation and is now motivated by the opportunity to build, influence and deliver within a faster-moving, resource-conscious business.

Main Responsibilities

• Serve as a core member of the Senior Leadership Team, contributing to company strategy, business planning and cross-functional decision-making.
• Develop and lead the global operations strategy across manufacturing, supply chain, quality and engineering.
• Translate the company’s growth plans into a scalable operational roadmap with clear priorities, accountability and measurable outcomes.
• Lead relationships with external manufacturing partners and Contract Manufacturing Organisations.
• Establish appropriate performance measures, governance processes and operating standards across the external manufacturing network.
• Negotiate and manage manufacturing agreements, service expectations and long-term strategic partnerships.
• Improve manufacturing reliability, product availability, cost control and operational performance.
• Ensure that external partners have the capability, capacity and technical support required to meet current and future demand.
• Strengthen the company’s control and visibility across production planning, inventory, raw materials and finished-product supply.
• Lead the development and improvement of global supply chain processes, including planning, procurement, logistics and supply continuity.
• Introduce stronger Sales and Operations Planning processes and improve alignment between commercial demand and manufacturing capacity.
• Identify operational risks and develop appropriate contingency and supply-resilience plans.
• Oversee quality assurance and quality control activities to ensure compliance with regulatory, customer and internal standards.
• Work closely with technical and quality teams to improve manufacturing consistency, investigation processes and corrective actions.
• Lead the engineering function, supporting process optimisation, technical problem-solving and capacity expansion.
• Support the transfer of products and processes from research and development into commercial manufacturing.
• Ensure that operational considerations are incorporated earlier within product development and commercialisation decisions.
• Evaluate investment opportunities that could strengthen manufacturing control, capacity and long-term supply security.
• Lead or support greenfield, brownfield and manufacturing development projects where required.
• Contribute to the assessment and implementation of future internal manufacturing capability.
• Support operational due diligence and integration activity relating to potential investments, partnerships or acquisitions.
• Build and develop a high-performing global operations organisation with clear roles, responsibilities and accountability.
• Mentor and develop leaders across manufacturing, supply chain, quality and engineering.
• Establish a culture of continuous improvement, collaboration, pragmatism and operational discipline.
• Introduce processes and structure without creating unnecessary complexity or corporate bureaucracy.
• Work closely with scientific, technical, commercial and finance colleagues to ensure operational priorities remain aligned with wider business objectives.
• Provide clear reporting and insight to the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and other relevant stakeholders.
• Lead effectively through periods of pressure, changing priorities and rapid organisational growth.
• Travel internationally to manufacturing partners, operational sites and company locations when required.

Key Requirements

• A minimum of 15 years’ progressive leadership experience across operations, manufacturing and ideally supply chain.
• Relevant experience within biotechnology, fermentation, nutraceuticals, food or health ingredients, food manufacturing, speciality chemicals, pharmaceuticals or another technically complex manufacturing sector.
• Proven success leading manufacturing and operational activities across an international or multi-site environment.
• Strong experience managing Contract Manufacturing Organisations, external manufacturing partners or outsourced production networks.
• Demonstrable ability to improve operational performance, introduce accountability and strengthen supplier or manufacturing-partner relationships.
• Strong understanding of supply chain strategy, production planning, procurement, inventory and supply continuity.
• Experience leading or overseeing quality, engineering and manufacturing functions.
• Previous involvement in fermentation, refining, extraction, oils, technically complex ingredients or related manufacturing processes would be highly advantageous.
• Experience supporting product and process scale-up from research and development into commercial manufacturing.
• Exposure to greenfield or brownfield site development, capacity expansion or major capital projects.
• Experience with M&A-related operational due diligence or integration would be advantageous.
• Strong commercial understanding, including experience negotiating contracts and balancing quality, cost, capacity and customer requirements.
• Evidence of operating successfully as part of a senior leadership or executive team.
• Ability to combine strategic thinking with practical, hands-on execution.
• Comfortable working within a growing organisation where systems, resources and processes may still be developing.
• Demonstrable experience building structure, introducing processes and developing operational capabilities.
• Strong people leadership experience, including building teams, developing leaders and managing performance.
• Calm, resilient and pragmatic leadership style with the ability to operate effectively under pressure.
• Strong relationship-management, communication and influencing skills.
• Ability to challenge constructively, make decisions and build credibility across technical and non-technical functions.
• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Science or a related discipline.
• MBA, master’s degree or another relevant advanced qualification would be advantageous.