VP Operations recruitment, for businesses that run on execution.
A Vice President of Operations, often titled VP Business Operations, turns strategy into daily output: plants, projects, service delivery and the systems behind them. We find leaders who make a business run better every quarter.
What the role owns
- Operating performance across sites, projects or delivery centres: cost, quality, safety and on time delivery.
- Supply chain, procurement and capacity planning.
- Operating systems: KPIs, reviews, digital tools and continuous improvement.
- Leading plant heads, project heads or delivery managers across locations.
Where we hire it: across 18+ industries, including manufacturing and engineering, pharma and CDMO, specialty chemicals, EPC and infrastructure, energy, automotive, water treatment, and Global Capability Centres, in India and abroad.
Where the search usually starts: output slipping just as the current leader moves on. A consolidation, automation or cost programme that needs a firmer hand. New sites, a new venture, or a region the operation has never served.
Operators are judged on results, and so are our shortlists. Every profile comes evaluated and validated; we do not talk anyone into the room.
Hiring challenges
- The title means different things in different companies, from multi plant manufacturing to business process operations, so a precise brief matters more than usual.
- Strong operators are kept close by their employers with retention pay and promotion paths.
- Multi site roles need leaders willing to travel constantly or relocate.
- Digital and automation skills are now expected alongside traditional operations depth.
How we assess fit
- Track record: cost, quality, safety and delivery results across sites, verified by referencing.
- Cultural fit: how they work with the CEO, finance and the sales team on commitments.
- Behavioural fit: discipline, problem solving on the floor, and how they develop managers.
- Aspiration and personal goals: path to COO or business head, travel, location and family needs.
Ownership and VP Operations fit
| Ownership type | What the VP Operations role looks like | What we test for |
|---|---|---|
| Indian family or promoter business | Brings structure to operations the founder once ran personally. | Promoter trust, building systems, change without disruption. |
| MNC subsidiary | Runs Indian operations to global standards and audits. | Process discipline, global reporting, compliance. |
| Large listed company | Multi site operations at scale with strict governance. | Scale, safety record, leadership depth. |
| PE-backed company | Margin and cash improvement on a fixed timeline. | Speed, cost takeout, measurable results. |
Our process: a brief with the CEO or COO, a mapped market of sitting operations leaders, discreet outreach, structured assessment and deep referencing. Typically 2 to 3 weeks (passive job seekers) from brief to offer, depending on location and how narrow the brief is.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as a COO?
Usually one level below. A VP Operations runs operations; a COO often also holds functions such as supply chain, IT or HR. See our COO page.
Do you hire for service and GCC operations as well as plants?
Yes. We brief to the exact type of operation.
Can you find leaders willing to relocate?
Yes. We test relocation early, before the client meets the candidate.
Is the search confidential?
Fully. The client is named only to the shortlist.
See every leadership role we search for on our CXO hiring page, or explore our industry practices.
Discuss a VP Operations mandate