VP Global OPS: Lean Manufacturing + Supply Chain + Intl. Expansion 
$$ Multi-million E-Commerce & Supply Chain Platform Lean Startup

San Francisco & Cincinnati/ No. Kentucky Ops. + International

Pre-IPO Equity Ownership Incentive

Company Overview

Founded in 2012 in that proverbial college dorm room, our client has grown into a $$ multi-million global organization which is revolutionizing manufacturing and e-commerce with its disruptively new B2C and C2C order-to-cash cycle merchandising platform. This platform, created by the unique integration of digital technology and end-to-end physical-world supply chain system and processes, makes it easy for anyone to create and sell high-quality products people love, without investing capital or taking on the risk and complexity typically associated with small business manufacturing. Individual or small business users can easily bring their creativity and innovation to life with the support of this powerful design, production, supply chain, payments and customer service tool box, available on-demand and from any Web-enabled device, anywhere in the world.

The company, a Winter, 2013 class Y-Combinator graduate, is backed with venture capital from Andreessen Horowitz (Airbnb, Facebook, Groupon, Lyft…) and Khosla Ventures (Jawbone, Stripe, Square, Yammer…), two of today’s most respected Silicon Valley VC firms. Since 2012 our client has helped its users sell over 12 million individual products in more than 80 countries, delivering dramatic non-linear revenue growth during that time period. Because it’s not just about the products themselves; it’s about helping entrepreneurial folks bring their great ideas to market, build their brands and achieve what they’ve set out to do. Truly, it’s about the vision to empower individuals and democratize e-commerce world-wide.

The company is headquartered in San Francisco, CA and has its primary manufacturing and fulfillment operation in the Northern Kentucky (CVG) metro area. A recent international acquisition has added a European beach head, and the company also partners closely with numerous third-party manufacturing and fulfillment providers in the US and internationally.

Position – VP Global Operations 

The VP Global Operations reports SVP Finance & Operations and works closely with company’s co-founder and CEO. The VP Global Operations is a key member of the company’s top leadership team, and a critical force behind development and deployment of strategic and tactical operations, innovation and continuous improvement initiatives. The position is newly created.

The VP Global Operations will lead the day-to-day execution of all manufacturing, supply chain, fulfillment and customer service functions. Our client defines its supply chain expansively, meaning that this group comprises all activities necessary to invent, commercialize and deliver products and services to its customers. As such, these “supply chain” functions include technology, procurement, production planning, quality, logistics, and manufacturing and related support services and roles.

The VP Global Operations will demonstrate significant “value add” for team members, customers and investors alike by taking the lead in driving enterprise-wide, game changing operational innovation (inventing, deploying and standardizing new ways of doing the organization’s work) and infusing operational excellence (continuous improvement in daily execution) – into every aspect of the company’s business. A critical objective is to build a culture in which both continuous innovation and continuous improvement thrive and sustain for the long term. The VP Global Operations will have a major impact on simplifying and optimizing the company’s operations, thereby increasing productivity and improving margins, and ultimately, driving successful business growth with increased sales and profitability. Communication – consistently and clearly – up, down and across the board to and with all constituencies – will be critical to achieving these successes.

Major Operational Objectives

  • Build and lead teams which can execute in supply chain, manufacturing and customer service at a world-class level.
  • Provide direction and change management leadership, implementing Lean strategy across all functions, to deliver and sustain best-in-class safety, production, quality, productivity and cost-effective performance.
  • Develop, and then execute on, the operational roadmap necessary to support the company’s continuing rapid domestic and international growth – in line with the company’s strategic vision to dominate its market space.
    — Capacity/resource planning – ongoing assessment and balance (and financial impacts) between internal investment vs. third-party outsourcing.
    — Capital and technology planning and investment budgeting.
    — Supplier selection, development and relationship management.
    — Systems, process and metrics for improved operational performance.
  • Support leadership at all levels to track and meet business governance, operating, financial and continuous improvement metrics through the application of Lean principles, systems and tools.

At the end of our new VP’s first year onboard, his or her accomplishment will be measured against tangible results from these initiatives in key metric areas:

  • Optimize and streamline operations across the board in US manufacturing/fulfillment facility.
  • Design, test and implement roadmap for global expansion – production and fulfillment.
  • Deliver against aggressive goals to be the industry leading custom manufacturing and direct to consumer commerce company.

What You Bring to the Table

Professional Qualifications

  • Significant, proven record of successful leadership, combining strategic, operations and operational improvement expertise in challenging, rapid-change environments where direct customer contact and satisfaction are critical to the organization’s successful growth and profitability.
  • Experience in managing a complex, large (e.g. $500 million+) discrete manufacturing company.
  • Demonstrated, hands-on achievement in leading game-changing initiatives focused on delivering extraordinary levels of service and quality in all aspects of the enterprise including: infrastructure and capital investment; organizational structure; work design and accountability; measurement and reward systems; sustained continuous operational improvement.
  • Well-developed quantitative and qualitative analytical skills and critical thinking skills.
  • Expertise in implementing Lean (Toyota Productions System or derivatives), to simplify and optimize complicated processes across the end-to-end supply chain.
  • Bonus points:
    —  Industry background in apparel or custom, short-run discrete production.
    —  Startup, rapid scale-up company environment.
    —  Advanced degree.

Personal Attributes & Characteristics

  • Outstanding and proven leadership, interpersonal capabilities; outstanding pro-active communication skills.
  • Exceptional agility, required to lead effectively in this fast-paced, chaotic, and high-growth startup environment.
  • Self-motivated, ambitious, with an unusually high energy level, and hands-on passion for learning, innovation, and operational excellence.
  • Ability to persuasively drive change and promote company vision and core values through inspiration and influence rather than through direct authority – accomplish through others.
  • Ability to create followership; a trusted team member, collaborative, inclusive.
  • Comfortable in informal environments and likes to have fun while driving for results with a high sense of urgency.

Compensation

Compensation package includes competitive base salary and pre-IPO equity participation (stock options) and appropriate relocation assistance.

For more information, or to express your personal interest, please contact:

Adam Zak, the Lean Executive Recruiter
CEO, Adam Zak Executive Search
Tel. +1 847 304 5300
az@LeanRecruiter.com
www.LeanRecruiter.com