Director Operations Management Jobs in Kentucky (NOW HIRING)

Description:

About MiddleGround Capital

MiddleGround Capital is a operationally-focused private equity firm with offices in the United States and Europe, investing in and transforming industrial manufacturing and B2B distribution businesses. We take a hands-on approach to value creation — our operations team works directly alongside portfolio company management to drive measurable, sustainable improvements in performance, efficiency, and enterprise value.

Our Amsterdam office anchors our European investment and operational platform, and this hire is central to how we scale that capability.

The Opportunity

We are looking for a Vice President, Operations to join our Amsterdam-based operations team. This is a high-impact role for someone who combines the analytical rigor of top-tier consulting or PE operations work with genuine hands-on operational leadership experience in industrial environments — the profile that can credibly advise a board on Monday and walk a factory floor on Tuesday.

You will report directly to the Managing Director, Operations, and work across our European portfolio to develop and execute value-creation plans, lead operational due diligence on new investments, and drive performance improvement at the plant and business level.

What You'll Do

Strategic Planning & Value Creation

• Build and execute EVCP-aligned value-creation plans across portfolio companies, from diagnosis through delivery
• Identify and size cost reduction, efficiency, and net working capital improvement opportunities
• Lead comprehensive organizational, financial, and operational assessments
• Oversee annual budgeting and Hoshin planning processes in partnership with portfolio management teams

Board & C-Suite Engagement

• Act as a trusted advisor to portfolio company executives and boards on value-creation strategy and execution
• Build strong working relationships with C-suite stakeholders to align on priorities, resource needs, and accountability
• Represent MGC's operational perspective in board-level discussions

Performance Improvement

• Design and implement operational excellence programs grounded in lean manufacturing principles and data-driven diagnostics
• Establish and monitor KPIs and performance tracking cadences; identify deviations early and redirect efforts as needed
• Benchmark operations against industry standards and implement best-practice playbooks

Change Management

• Lead change management efforts across culturally and operationally complex environments
• Develop stakeholder communication plans that build alignment and sustain momentum
• Foster cultures of continuous improvement that outlast direct involvement

Operational Due Diligence

• Lead operational diligence workstreams on acquisition targets, including pre- and post-LOI EVCP development
• Coordinate with deal teams and third-party advisors to deliver high-quality, investment-grade operational assessments

Who You Are

The ideal candidate brings a career that spans consulting, private equity operations, and hands-on industrial leadership. Examples of backgrounds we find compelling:

• Management consulting at top tier consulting firms, with an operational specialization (e.g., operations practice, interim management programs, PE portfolio teams)
• Operational roles within PE-backed industrial businesses or PE firm operations groups
• Hands-on interim or permanent operational leadership (COO, Plant Director, Operations Director) in automotive, industrial manufacturing, or B2B distribution environments

Requirements:

You bring:

• 10–15+ years of experience spanning at least two of the three: consulting / PE operational advisory, hands-on operational leadership, and value-creation execution in industrial settings
• Demonstrated ability to translate complex data and diagnostics into actionable, executable initiatives
• Strong financial acumen — fluent in P&L, working capital mechanics, restructuring economics, and investment returns
• Deep knowledge of lean manufacturing principles and operational excellence methodologies
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with boards and C-suite executives while maintaining operational credibility on the floor
• Experience leading through change in complex, multi-site European industrial environments
• Excellent communication skills — structured, concise, and effective across audiences from plant supervisors to investment committee
• Fluency in English required; additional European language proficiency is an advantage

What Makes MGC Different

We are operators first. Our operations team is embedded in our investments — not advisory from a distance — and that's reflected in how we work, what we value, and who thrives here.

• Collaboration over ego. The best ideas win, regardless of title. We succeed as one team.
• People-first culture. We take work-life balance seriously because sustainable performance starts with healthy people.
• Diversity of perspective. We believe better decisions come from diverse teams, and we actively build for it.