Sr. Vice President, Global Operations

TARGAN is seeking a strategically driven, highly experienced Sr. Vice President of Global Operations to lead and scale its global operational infrastructure. It is expected that the individual will be poised to eventually function as TARGAN’s Chief Operations Officer. The Sr. VP of Operations will play a critical role in scaling TARGAN’s operational capabilities to support rapid commercial growth across the Globe, with a strong focus on overseeing end-to-end operational functions, including capital equipment manufacturing, optimized supply chain, field service, global installations and commercial readiness across its markets, ensuring high-quality, reliability, and efficient delivery of TARGAN’s advanced automated systems globally.

Based in Raleigh, NC (relocation required within 3 months), the Sr. VP of Operations will lead initiatives to optimize operational processes, drive cost efficiencies, and ensure customer success as TARGAN transitions from its current to a commercially self-sustaining, scaled enterprise.

This role is ideal for a strategic, hands-on operations leader experienced in capital intensive businesses and high-growth, early-stage environments, with a demonstrated ability to build and lead high-performing teams.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Operations Leadership: Continue to expand, develop, oversee and manage our high-performing global operations team across manufacturing, supply chain, quality, field service, logistics, and facilities functions, ensuring alignment with TARGAN’s commercial goals.
• International Expansion Leadership: Serve as the executive operations lead for international expansion initiatives in LATAM and EU, ensuring commercial and operational readiness, commercialization strategies, operational capacity planning and execution.
• Manufacturing & Supply Chain: Lead scaling of manufacturing capabilities to support global system deployments while maintaining quality, cost, and delivery targets.
• Field Service Operations: Continue to build, expand and manage TARGAN’s and 3rd Party support field service and support teams across the globe to ensure high system uptime, rapid response, and exceptional customer experiences globally.
• Facilities Management: Oversee physical facilities to ensure safety, efficiency, and scalability for production and operations.
• Process Optimization: Implement and refine operational processes, lean manufacturing principles, and best practices to improve efficiency and reduce costs.
• Supplier & Partner Management: Establish and maintain strong relationships with key suppliers, manufacturing partners, and logistics providers to ensure supply chain resilience.
• Team Building & Development: Hire, train, and develop a high-performing operations team to support TARGAN’s growth trajectory. Establish and monitor operational KPIs to ensure high performance, quality, and cost efficiency.
• International Operations: Oversee and manage international operations and expansion, including 3rd party manufacturers, suppliers and partners engagement, with [~30% travel expected].
• Cross-functional Collaboration: Foster a culture of collaboration, agility, innovation, and operational excellence. Partner closely with engineering, product management, finance, regulatory, safety and commercial teams to ensure alignment across operational and business priorities and to ensure seamless transitions from development to full-scale commercialization roadmaps and go-to-market execution.
• Risk Management & Compliance: Ensure compliance with safety, regulatory, and quality standards in all operational activities.
• Budgeting & Resource Allocation: Lead and manage operational budgets, resources, and capital expenditures to align with company goals and ensure cost-effectiveness.
• Customer Focus: Maintain a strong focus on customer outcomes and operational excellence to drive customer satisfaction and support long-term relationships.

Key Competencies & Skills

• Deep experience with capital equipment manufacturing and operations; agriculture, biotech, or life sciences experience preferred.
  • Proven track record leading product commercialization and scaling of operational infrastructure in high-growth environments.
• Extensive knowledge of and experience operating in the U.S., Latin America & EU, including regulatory, supplier, and logistical nuances.
• Experience managing domestic and international manufacturing partners and suppliers.
• Strong cross-functional leadership skills with ability to collaborate across technical and commercial teams.
• Ability to lead teams across multiple functional areas in a company, ensuring a high performing, collaborative culture is built.
• Excellent analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills across all levels of the organization.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic, and entrepreneurial environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain, or a related field; advanced degree preferred.
• 20+ years of progressive leadership in global operations within hardware, robotics, industrial automation, or capital equipment manufacturing environments, including at least 5 years in a senior executive capacity.
• Experience with capital equipment manufacturing and international operations is highly preferred.
• Fluent in English; Spanish and/or Portuguese proficiency strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to build, scale, and lead operational teams to support global deployments.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally [~30%].

Working Conditions

Work is performed inside a flex space building consisting of offices, open desk space, laboratory, machine shop, and a manufacturing floor. Level of noise is usually quiet in the office environment and temperature controlled. Noise levels are elevated in the warehouse space where temperatures can vary depending on the outside elements and weather. Travel may be required, including up to 2-8 trips per year to visit suppliers, attend conferences, meetings (customer, investor, and business) and customer sites (hatcheries).

All the above duties and responsibilities are essential job functions for which reasonable accommodation will be made. All job requirements listed indicate the minimum level of knowledge, skills, and/or ability deemed necessary to perform the job proficiently. This job description is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties and responsibilities or requirements. Employees may be required to perform other job-related duties as requested by their supervisor. This document does not create an employment contract, implied or otherwise, other than an "at will" relationship.