VVater
Chief Operating Officer
Austin, TX · Exec
Sponsorship not specifiedDetected 26 days ago
Project ManagementOKRsForecastingSupply ChainLogisticsProcess ImprovementERPCadenceRoboticsPLCLeadershipCommunicationSCADAS&OPProcurement
About the role
- Unlike outdated chemical, filter, and membrane systems, VVater's electric-field breakthroughs eliminate PFAS, microplastics, microorganisms, and other contaminants with record retention times, without toxic byproducts or costly consumables.
- Reporting to the CEO, the COO will shape and execute the operational strategy across manufacturing, automation, supply chain, project delivery, service operations, quality, safety, and administrative functions.
Responsibilities
- Operate the company day-to-day: establish the weekly/monthly/quarterly operating cadence (OKRs, KPI dashboards, business reviews), drive accountability across functions, and ensure commitments on safety, quality, delivery, cost, and cash.
- Lead end-to-end operations: capacity planning, site selection and build-out, factory start-up/scale-up, line design and standard work, OEE/TPM, Lean/Six Sigma, and continuous improvement.
- Drive industrial automation and digital ops (PLC/SCADA, robotics, MES/IIoT) integrated with ERP/MRP, QMS, and CMMS for real-time visibility and traceability.
- Oversee project delivery from award to commissioning (FAT/SAT) and handover to service; own forecasting, budgets, risk registers, change control, and customer communications.
- Own service/O&M programs: preventive/predictive maintenance, spares/kitting, SLAs, technician training, and field quality-closing the loop to product and process updates.
- Partner with the CFO on operating plans, budgets, and cash; manage OpEx/CapEx, inventory turns, and cost-reduction roadmaps; present performance and investment cases to the CEO/board.
- Lead supply chain and S&OP: strategic sourcing, contracts, vendor development and scorecards, logistics/fulfillment, and risk mitigation across critical parts and equipment.
- Ensure quality and compliance: implement ISO-aligned QMS practices, manage nonconformance and corrective actions, and uphold applicable safety and environmental requirements.
- Coordinate G&A enablers: partner with HR on workforce planning and org design; with IT/Security on systems reliability and data protection; with Legal on contracts, risk, and compliance, maintaining policy, SOP, and audit readiness.
- Build, mentor, and scale high-performance teams and leaders; model a high-urgency, roll-up-your-sleeves culture that prizes ownership and bias to action.
Requirements
- The ideal candidate combines hands-on leadership, strategic program management, and a passion for operational excellence to thrive in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
Nice to have
- with IT/Security on systems reliability and data protection
- with Legal on contracts, risk, and compliance, maintaining policy, SOP, and audit readiness.
- model a high-urgency, roll-up-your-sleeves culture that prizes ownership and bias to action.
- Perform all other duties as instructed by the company Qualifications Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Business, or a related field
- advanced degree (e.g., MBA, MS) preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive operations leadership, including 5+ years managing large-scale manufacturing or multi-site operations, with a track record of successfully launching and scaling facilities or programs.
- Expertise in process optimization methodologies (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma, TPM) and program/project management, from strategy development to execution and commissioning.
- Familiarity with water/wastewater, process industries, or engineered product sectors, with strong knowledge of commissioning, field deployment, or service operations.
This listing is sourced directly from VVater's careers page and normalized into a canonical job model.