Vice President, Business Operations
Dayton, Ohio, United States
Reports to: Founding Member & Sr. Technical Director and President
About Our Client
Our client is a growing strategic partner to leading organizations across the aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, engineering, and commercial industries, with expanding capabilities and several affiliated companies, including international operations.
Position Summary
This is a senior executive seat leading business operations across the enterprise and its affiliated companies, including operations executed through third-party providers. Reporting directly to the Founder and President, this role owns the organization's core business processes and operational functions.
You'll establish scalable operating systems, improve organizational efficiency, manage resources, strengthen internal controls, and align business operations with strategic objectives. You'll work across functional organizations to ensure the management, systems, process, and policy controls needed for effective operations are established, documented, consistently executed, and continuously improved.
You'll ensure significant business decisions are supported by appropriate research, documented requirements, and objective evidence, including interpreting contract language, regulations, standards, and accounting requirements and translating them into clear, executable direction.
Key ResponsibilitiesEnterprise Operations & Process Optimization
- Lead business operations across the organization and its affiliated companies.
- Translate executive strategy into measurable operational objectives and execution plans.
- Design, implement, and continuously improve scalable business systems and processes.
- Establish management, systems, process, and policy controls as the baseline for operations.
- Identify operational inefficiencies, control gaps, and bottlenecks, and lead corrective action.
- Coordinate business operations performed internally and through third-party providers.
Cross-Functional & Executive Leadership
- Work directly with the Founder and President, executive leadership, and functional leaders.
- Coordinate across Finance, Accounting, Audit, Contracting, Compliance, Program Management, Engineering, Manufacturing, HR, and Business Development.
- Lead resolution of cross-functional issues affecting organizational performance.
- Support executive leadership on organizational planning, staffing, and resource allocation.
Financial & Resource Management
- Partner with executive leadership and Finance on budgets, forecasts, and financial plans.
- Support strategic allocation of capital, personnel, and resources.
- Monitor operational expenditures, cost performance, and resource utilization.
- Ensure financial decisions are supported by appropriate approvals and documented analysis.
Performance Management & Analysis
- Establish KPIs, operational metrics, and management reporting.
- Analyze business, financial, and operational data to identify trends and risks.
- Provide executive leadership with data-driven analysis and recommendations.
Contracting, Compliance & Audit
- Provide executive oversight of contracts, subcontracts, teaming agreements, and purchase orders.
- Ensure business operations support applicable FAR, DFARS, DCAA, DCMA, GAAP, and regulatory requirements.
- Support proposal development, pricing, contract negotiations, and closeout.
- Coordinate operational support for DCAA, government, customer, and internal audits.
- Ensure business decisions and outcomes are audit-ready, with documentation and traceability.
Organizational & Affiliate Operations
- Support workforce planning, organizational structure, and succession planning.
- Support the establishment and ongoing operations of affiliated companies, domestic and international.
- Manage and evaluate third-party providers performing operational functions.
Requirements
- Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Operations Management, Engineering, or related field.
- 10+ years of progressive experience in business operations, program/project management, or organizational leadership.
- Demonstrated experience leading business operations across multiple functional areas.
- Demonstrated experience building business processes, operational systems, and internal controls.
- Demonstrated ability to research, analyze, and apply contractual, regulatory, accounting, and policy requirements.
- Understanding of audit readiness, compliance, internal controls, and evidence-based decision-making.
- Experience with budgeting, forecasting, cost management, and resource planning.
- Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and influence stakeholders at all levels.
- Strong executive-level communication, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
- Experience managing third-party service providers or outsourced business functions.
- Ability to travel as required.
Desired Qualifications
- Master's degree or MBA.
- Experience in aerospace, defense, advanced manufacturing, or another highly regulated industry.
- Experience with federal contracting, FAR/DFARS, and government compliance.
- Familiarity with DCAA/DCMA requirements and audit-ready documentation.
- Working knowledge of GAAP and financial controls.
- Lean, Six Sigma, PMP, or other relevant certification.
- Experience implementing ERP, financial, or compliance systems.
- Experience scaling organizations or integrating new business entities.
