📍 Remote (USA) | 🔒 Confidential Client
We’re leading a retained executive search on behalf of a diversified holding company with a global portfolio of operating businesses. The organization is seeking a Vice President of Operational Excellence to evolve and further operationalize an enterprise lean business system across its portfolio. This executive will partner closely with senior leadership and play a central role in driving long-term value creation. This is an opportunity to strengthen and scale an existing lean business system across a decentralized, multi-industry enterprise.
🔧 Key Responsibilities:
• Evolve and deploy an enterprise Lean Business System (DBS/TPS-inspired) across a diverse portfolio of operating companies
• Partner with senior leadership and OpCo executives to embed operational excellence into strategy and daily management
• Drive alignment, governance, and accountability across a decentralized structure without direct authority
• Lead prioritization and execution of high-impact initiatives tied to profitability, cash flow, growth, and operational performance
• Build and scale OPEX capability – developing leaders, coaching executives, and embedding problem-solving behaviors at all levels
• Establish visibility, metrics, and sustainment mechanisms to ensure long-term adoption and measurable impact across businesses
🧩 Ideal Background:
• 15+ years of progressive experience in Lean, Operational Excellence, or Business System leadership roles
• Experience operating within complex, multi-site or multi-business environments (holding companies, private equity portfolios, or similarly decentralized organizations)
• Strong foundation in Lean methodologies including LDM, Kaizen, VSM, Standard Work, and Strategy Deployment
• Proven ability to influence across diverse leadership teams and drive change without direct ownership of P&L
• Experience extending Lean into both operational and transactional functions
• High executive presence, strong business acumen, and ability to connect operational initiatives to financial outcomes
• Track record of building capability and driving adoption in environments with varying levels of Lean maturity
🌟 Why This Role?
This is a high-impact, high-visibility opportunity to shape and scale an existing enterprise lean business system within a unique business model that emphasizes long-term value creation. You’ll work across a diverse set of Operating Companies and industries, partnering directly with senior leaders to drive meaningful operational and cultural transformation while rebuilding a system that becomes foundational to how the organization operates and grows over time.
🔒 Confidential Search Notice
This search is being led by Next Level Partners, LLC as a retained executive search partner. While NLP is the job poster, this opportunity is not within NLP directly. Specific company details will be shared with qualified candidates during the selection process.