Sales is bringing in the work. Production needs a leader who can deliver it.

A manufacturer in the Riverside area is hiring a Chief Operating Officer to oversee operations for 10 sites.

You’ll report to the President and present to the Board regularly. You’ll lead the managers over production, engineering, procurement, and R&D. Your job is to bring Lean and Six Sigma discipline to a floor that has run on experience and instinct.

Your first months will be about learning the operation before you change it. The hardest part of this job is that nothing repeats. Every contract is different, and a manufacturing process built for a hundred-million-dollar project still has to flex for an order of two million.

But if you lead by pulling people up, not pushing them, and want to own a turnaround with real backing, this one is worth a look.

What you’ll own

Leading 4 direct reports across Production, Engineering, Bill of Materials, and R&D
Ensuring projects are within bid hours and protecting the margins they were priced at
On-time delivery and designing a system to identify potential roadblocks before they happen
Closing the quality loop between field service, engineering, and the floor
Building the KPIs and reporting the operation doesn’t have yet
Scaling production behind one of the largest contracts in company history
Developing a homegrown leadership team into managers who run to a standard
Budgeting, forecasting, and cost management alongside the CFO
Presenting to the Board

What you bring

Senior operations leadership as a COO or VP of Operations within manufacturing
Lean Manufacturing and Six Sigma experience applied on a production floor, not just on a certificate
A turnaround track record with results you can measure
Experience leading multiple functions in a high-mix, low-volume environment
You’re as comfortable with the production night crew as you are in front of the Board
You build accountability without building fear
A bachelor’s degree in Business, Operations, Engineering, or a related field; an MBA is preferred

Why this one is worth a look

$220,000–$250,000 base, plus a 20% annual bonus target
Employee ownership: ESOP shares every year, plus a 401(k) with a 3% match
Real backing. The President wants this turnaround and has set a realistic 12–18 month window.
The work is already there. Sales has a strong pipeline, with 18 contracts close to signing.
Work that doesn’t repeat, with high-profile clients such as Disney, and exciting projects such as electrifying large fleets
Relocation candidates welcome

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled
To read our privacy policy, please go to optimrecruiting.com/privacy. We are committed to protecting and respecting your privacy.
We will consider qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records in accordance with federal, state, and local laws and/or security clearance requirements, including as applicable: The California Fair Chance Act, Los Angeles City Fair Chance Ordinance, and the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance.

2026 MBA Opportunities in Riverside, CA

Chief Operations Officer

Professional Services Solution Architect

Apply to jobs. Hear back every time.