Chief Operating Officer

Overview

Chief Operating Officer Jobs in Dearborn, MI at Confidential

Title: Chief Operating Officer

Company: Confidential

Location: Dearborn, MI

We are seeking a highly-experienced global Chief Operating Officer ("COO") for a private equity-backed, Tier 2/3 manufacturer of performance-critical, specialty elastomer-coated metals that offer damping and sealing solutions for the automotive brake NVH and sealing application. The COO will be a key member of the executive leadership team, acting as the CEO’s right-hand leader with end-to-end responsibility for global operations. The COO will oversee all manufacturing, quality, maintenance, supply chain, and operations. Through a constructive and energetic style, the COO will provide the leadership and long-term vision necessary to improve the Company’s global growth within the automotive brake and sealing industries.

Key Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership & Global Execution

 Lead and scale global operations across U.S., Germany, and China, ensuring consistent execution, delivery, and quality performance.

 Partner closely with the CEO to drive an operations roadmap aligned to strategic goals (e.g., safety, quality, cost, delivery, capability).

 Standardize manufacturing processes, technologies, and procedures across multiple sites.

 Improve visibility and use of KPIs, leveraging the global KPI infrastructure recently implemented.

Quality & Continuous Improvement

 Drive systemic quality improvements that directly impact customer satisfaction (e.g., scratches, discoloration).

 Lead root cause analysis and problem-solving methodologies; preference for Shainin/Red X, though familiarity with Six Sigma, Lean, etc., is beneficial.

 Build and maintain a strong culture of continuous improvement, including TPM and other maintenance best practices.

Strategic Growth & M&A Integration

 Support business diversification by preparing operations for expansion into non-automotive sectors (construction, appliances, etc.).

 Collaborate on M&A activities: due diligence, post-merger integration of operations, systems (ERP), processes, and teams.

 Work cross-functionally to ensure scalability as top-line revenue grows.

Safety, Regulatory & Environmental Compliance

 Champion a culture of safety across all operations, building on a strong safety record.

 Oversee compliance with emerging environmental regulations, in coordination with EHS experts.

Leadership & Culture

 Serve as a trusted advisor and operational counterpart to the CEO.

 Build high-performing teams; mentor plant leaders and operational staff.

 Influence across a matrixed, global environment to drive alignment and execution.

Candidate Requirements.

To achieve success in this dynamic environment, the COO will bring deep experience in manufacturing operations and a proven ability to scale systems, teams, and processes globally—particularly in preparation for M&A integration and global standardization. This is a high-impact, hands-on role that requires strong analytical and leadership capabilities and a passion for continuous improvement.

Additionally, ideal candidates will possess:

 Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering (Mechanical or Electrical); Master’s degree is highly desirable.

 15+ years of progressive leadership in global manufacturing operations, preferably with exposure to metal processing, coatings, or industrial materials.

 Exposure to both U.S.-based and international operations, ideally having lived/worked in multiple countries.

 Previous M&A integration experience is a strong plus.

 Proven success in scaling global manufacturing organizations and driving performance improvements through metrics.

 Demonstrated experience driving operational scale-up efforts and/or leading operational transformations.

 Exceptional problem solver with a systems mindset; preference for Shainin/Red X or similar analytical approaches.

 Strong financial acumen with experience improving operational EBITDA.

 Excellent communicator and team builder with the ability to influence across cultures and organizational levels.

 Ability to exercise sound judgement and make decisions based on accurate and timely analysis.

 Self-aware and open to feedback.

 High integrity, low ego, and a passion for operational excellence and customer satisfaction.