The VP of Operations runs the operational engine of a business day to day. Hiring one well means matching operational leadership to your specific operations and needs. Here is how.
Match to your operations
A VP of Operations leads operations, but operations differ enormously across businesses — manufacturing, service delivery, logistics, retail operations, or a mix. Before hiring, be clear about your specific operations and the challenge — running them reliably, improving efficiency, scaling, or fixing problems. Match the leader's experience to your operational context, because operational expertise is context-dependent and relevant experience matters more than generic operational credentials.
Proven operational delivery
Operations is about consistent, reliable execution, so look for a proven operator — someone with a genuine track record of running comparable operations well and delivering results. Evidence of actually delivering operational performance, efficiency, and reliability, not just describing operations, is what matters. Assessing real operational track record, at relevant scale and in a relevant context, is central, because the role lives or dies on delivering consistent execution.
Improvement and problem-solving
Businesses often hire a VP of Operations to improve operations — greater efficiency, quality, or scale — so the ability to drive improvement and solve operational problems is valuable. Look for a leader who not only runs operations but makes them better, bringing rigour, problem-solving, and continuous improvement. Where the need is fixing or scaling operations, assessing for this improvement and problem-solving capability, alongside steady running, matters.
Hands-on leadership and team
Operations is delivered through people and hands-on execution, so a VP of Operations needs strong team leadership and a genuinely hands-on capability — leading operational teams, being close to the detail, and driving execution. This is generally not a role for a purely strategic leader detached from operations; it rewards hands-on operational leadership. A retained search can match a VP of Operations to your specific operations and challenge.
Hiring an operations leader?
We recruit VPs of Operations and senior operations leaders across consumer and product businesses.
Explore Executive Search →Frequently asked questions
What should you look for when hiring a VP of Operations?
A proven operator with genuine operational expertise matched to your specific operations and challenge, the ability to deliver consistent execution and drive improvement, and the hands-on leadership and team capability the role demands.
Should a VP of Operations be strategic or hands-on?
Primarily hands-on — operations is delivered through people and execution, so the role rewards hands-on operational leadership close to the detail, alongside the ability to improve operations. It's generally not a role for a purely strategic leader detached from operations.
Related: What Does a VP of Operations Do? · How to Hire a COO · What Does a COO Do?
Ready to talk?
Whether you're planning a leadership search or simply exploring, we'd be glad to have a confidential, no-obligation conversation.
Get in touch
