Managing Director

Chicago, IL
Contracted to Full Time
Executive

Managing Director

Value Driven Solutions (VDS) is looking for a Managing Director to join our interim executive bench, with this engagement deploying on-site at our PE-backed middle-market manufacturing client in the [Location] region. The Managing Director will serve as the senior-most operating leader on the engagement, carry full executive authority on behalf of the sponsor or board, and own delivery of the value-creation plan from Day 1 through exit.

The ideal candidate will enjoy operating at the intersection of board, sponsor, and shop floor and have the ability to dig into a complex business, weigh strategic options across operations, commercial, and capital, and deliver the best possible exit outcome. The ideal candidate will apply their command of value-creation planning, M&A integration, and OpEx and communicate effectively with CEOs, lenders, customers, and investors.

Responsibilities:

  • Executive leadership – Serve as senior-most operating leader on the engagement, accountable to the CEO, board, or PE sponsor. Integrate and align the senior leadership team (COO, CFO, VPs of Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Commercial). Identify, recruit, and develop the permanent leadership team for transition at engagement close.
  • Value-creation plan – Own the value-creation plan and 100-day plan; lead its design, communication, and execution. Drive EBITDA, working capital, and margin programs end-to-end with full P&L authority. Lead M&A integration or carve-out execution including TSA management, Day-1 readiness, and synergy capture.
  • Stakeholder engagement – Represent the company in customer, investor, lender, and board interactions. Communicate performance, risks, and decisions clearly to all sponsor and management constituencies.

Requirements:

  • 25+ years of senior leadership including CEO, COO, or business unit GM roles
  • Multiple full-cycle interim or turnaround engagements with documented outcomes
  • Demonstrated experience leading PE-backed middle-market companies through transformation, growth, or sale
  • Excellent executive communication skills with boards, sponsors, lenders, and management teams
  • Bachelor's degree required; MBA strongly preferred
  • Prior CEO or division-president experience in a $100M–$1B middle-market manufacturer preferred
  • Lean / OpEx pedigree (Toyota, Danaher, Illinois Tool Works, Parker Hannifin, or similar) a plus


About Value Driven Solutions

Value Driven Solutions (VDS) is a management consulting firm dedicated to Operational Excellence for middle-market and private equity-backed manufacturers. Senior executives and PE investors worldwide rely on VDS to enhance enterprise value, expand margins, improve capital efficiency, reduce working capital, optimize supply chains, and prepare companies for sale. Our network of 10,000+ Interim Executives and Experts is fully vetted, with an average of 20–30 years of experience — the top 1% of operating talent globally.

Our experts enjoy a work culture that promotes hands-on impact, executive-level autonomy, and meaningful results. VDS engagement benefits include competitive contract rates commensurate with experience and seniority, structured engagement support through a dedicated VDS Engagement Partner, proven methodology and toolkits including the Value-Driven Approach® and Everything OpEx® frameworks, and continued business development between engagements.

Experts can also take advantage of access to our 360° Client Alignment® process, deployment within days of engagement start, exposure to diverse industries (aerospace, food, consumer goods, industrial products, medical device, semiconductor, and battery manufacturing), and a structured Contract-to-Hire path that lets both Expert and client validate fit before conversion. All positions are Contract-to-Hire engagements; VDS facilitates the transition to permanent employment if and when the client and Expert elect to convert.

Value Driven Solutions is an equal-opportunity employer.

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