Business Unit Leader

Chicago, IL
Contracted to Full Time
Manager/Supervisor

Business Unit Leader

Value Driven Solutions (VDS) is looking for a Business Unit Leader to join our interim executive bench, with this engagement deploying on-site at our PE-backed manufacturing client in the [Location] region. The Business Unit Leader will sit at the intersection of operations, commercial, and finance and be accountable for full P&L delivery of a product line, brand, or vertical within the client.

The ideal candidate will enjoy running a complete business and have the ability to dig into product, customer, and operational data, weigh portfolio and pricing decisions, and deliver the best possible margin and growth outcome. The ideal candidate will apply their command of P&L management, capital allocation, and cross-functional leadership and communicate effectively with sales teams, plant teams, and the board.

Responsibilities:

  • P&L ownership – Own end-to-end P&L for the business unit including revenue, gross margin, EBITDA, and working capital. Communicate BU performance to the CEO, board, and sponsor.
  • Strategy and growth – Set and execute the BU strategy aligned with the client's value-creation plan. Drive product portfolio, pricing, and customer mix decisions to expand margin. Lead capital allocation within the BU including capex, NPI, and footprint decisions.
  • Cross-functional leadership – Lead a cross-functional team across operations, engineering, supply chain, sales, and finance. Partner with corporate functions and the executive team on integration, divestiture, or growth initiatives.

Requirements:

  • 15+ years of progressive leadership with at least one prior P&L role
  • Documented experience driving revenue growth and margin expansion at the BU level
  • Comfortable leading both commercial and operational functions
  • Strong financial acumen; able to read and act on monthly financials
  • Bachelor's degree required; MBA strongly preferred
  • Prior division-president or General Manager experience in a middle-market manufacturer preferred
  • Carve-out, integration, or turnaround experience preferred; Lean / OpEx grounding 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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