How to hire a vice president of manufacturing

How to hire a vice president of manufacturing, step by step

Here's a step-by-step vice president of manufacturing hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a vice president of manufacturing job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new vice president of manufacturing
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

What does a vice president of manufacturing do?

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   First, determine the employments status of the vice president of manufacturing you need to hire. Certain vice president of manufacturing roles might require a full-time employee, whereas others can be done by part-time workers or contractors.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect vice president of manufacturing also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list presents vice president of manufacturing salaries for various positions.

   Type of Vice President Of Manufacturing	Description	Hourly rate
   Vice President Of Manufacturing	Industrial production managers oversee the daily operations of manufacturing and related plants. They coordinate, plan, and direct the activities used to create a wide range of goods, such as cars, computer equipment, or paper products.	$49-99
   Plant Superintendent	Plant superintendents must have skills in operations, productions, and management. They also need a 4-year degree in business or industrial management... Show more	$32-64
   Production Administrator	Production administrators support all artistic and production functions with expert administrative support to the entire production team. Part of their responsibilities includes maintaining the annual production expenses and production calendar, researching potential venues and maintaining a venue database, and preparing expense reports for artists and production staff... Show more	$12-28

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Continuous Improvement
   • R
   • Lean Manufacturing
   • Product Development
   • Production Facilities
   • Safety Program
   • Sigma
   • On-Time Delivery
   • GMP
   • ISO
   • Process Improvement
   • Logistics
   • Direct Reports
   • FDA

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Lead sigma program driving quality, productivity and delivery improvements.
   • Train employees in the ISO system and create the required procedures to maintain the ISO standard certification.
   • Initiate and co-le the implementation of the first fully integrate operating system (including MRP) in company history.
   • Make sure they meet the company's objectives, ISO, QA and RoHS standards for acceptance in international markets.
   • Oversee all operations, including production, accessories fulfillment, logistics, supply chain, engineering and facilities at both locations.
   • Help vice president of sales with forecasting and running MRP (material requirements planning) with production planner and purchasing manager.

   More vice president of manufacturing duties

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in the vice president of manufacturing job description is a good way to get more applicants. A vice president of manufacturing salary can be affected by several factors, such as the location of the job, the level of experience, education, certifications, and the employer's prestige.

   For example, the average salary for a vice president of manufacturing in West Virginia may be lower than in Alaska, and an entry-level engineer typically earns less than a senior-level vice president of manufacturing. Additionally, a vice president of manufacturing with lots of experience in the field may command a higher salary as a result.

   Average vice president of manufacturing salary

   $145,482yearly

   $69.94 hourly rate

   ---

   Entry-level vice president of manufacturing salary

   $102,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 15, 2025

   Average vice president of manufacturing salary by state

   Rank	State	Avg. salary	Hourly rate
   1	California	$158,406	$76
   2	New York	$146,115	$70
   3	Washington	$144,868	$70
   4	New Jersey	$143,600	$69
   5	Colorado	$142,330	$68
   6	Ohio	$141,211	$68
   7	Texas	$140,408	$68
   8	Massachusetts	$140,380	$67
   9	Arizona	$135,330	$65
   10	Maryland	$130,915	$63
   11	Delaware	$130,788	$63
   12	North Carolina	$126,875	$61
   13	Florida	$122,037	$59
   14	Pennsylvania	$120,759	$58
   15	Louisiana	$118,525	$57
   16	Kentucky	$116,082	$56

   Average vice president of manufacturing salary by company

   Company

   Rank	Company	Average salary	Hourly rate	Job openings
   1	AlixPartners	$171,030	$82.23	3
   2	Pompeian	$166,191	$79.90
   3	Zume Pizza, Inc.	$164,144	$78.92
   4	Steelscape	$163,161	$78.44
   5	Akouos	$160,768	$77.29
   6	Varel	$160,594	$77.21
   7	Sonoma Biotherapeutics	$160,527	$77.18
   8	Nextant	$159,970	$76.91
   9	SPM, LLC	$159,921	$76.89
   10	Autoliv	$156,834	$75.40
   11	Alight Solutions	$151,325	$72.75
   12	Oldcastle Infrastructure	$150,912	$72.55	72
   13	Hartzell Propeller	$150,770	$72.49	2
   14	Nabors Drilling USA, LP	$148,655	$71.47
   15	Darigold	$147,886	$71.10
   16	L'Oréal	$145,577	$69.99	4
   17	IDEX	$140,420	$67.51	30
   18	Siemens	$139,586	$67.11	15
   19	McCormick & Company	$135,947	$65.36	4
   20	The Judge Group	$134,168	$64.50	3

4. Writing a vice president of manufacturing job description

   A job description for a vice president of manufacturing role includes a summary of the job's main responsibilities, required skills, and preferred background experience. Including a salary range can also go a long way in attracting more candidates to apply, and showing the first name of the hiring manager can also make applicants more comfortable. As an example, here's a vice president of manufacturing job description:

   Vice president of manufacturing job description example

   We are an aerospace R&D company building experimental and certified airships. We are developing and manufacturing advanced technologies to dramatically increase the capabilities and lower the cost of 21st-century airships.
   
   LTA's airships will have the ability to complement and even accelerate humanitarian disaster response and relief efforts, especially in remote areas that cannot be easily accessed by plane and boat due to limited or destroyed infrastructure. We ultimately aim to create a family of aircraft with zero emissions that would substantially reduce the global carbon footprint of aviation when used for shipping goods and moving people.
   
   The successful candidate will be a strong and proven who centers safety and quality in everything they do. This position will partner with engineering and product development to define plans and standards for a production organization in a fast-growth environment. The individual should be both motivated by and capable of guiding the company through its next phase of growth and development.
   
   Responsibilities:Oversee production operations, manufacturing a safe aircraft smoothly, efficiently, and on budget.Understand the manufacturing liabilities and legal obligations of the company and its suppliers Provide Direction and enable the leaders of EHS, QA, Fabrication, Facilities, Logistics, Avionics, Flight Hardware, and Systems IntegrationPartner with Process, Industrial, Tooling, Quality, and R&D engineers to ensure manufacturing operational excellence and continuous development Role model best practices for documentation and control processes as we work towards our goal of possessing an FAA Production CertificateProvide mentorship, guidance, and career development to direct reports Identify and distribute Financial/Physical/Human resources and help conduct assessments on when to outsource Collaborate with fellow executives to represent manufacturing interests as well as help shape organizational strategy Take ownership of all operational development as the organization expands and work with external partners to bring excellence and innovation to all aspects of operations Foster sustainable relationships with technical stakeholders, suppliers, customers, and partners to identify industry trends, requirements, and areas of improvement Establish a culture that focuses on collaboration, leveraging mistakes, and ingenuity
   
   Qualifications:12 + years of experience in Manufacturing in a highly regulated industry (preferably in a leadership capacity in aerospace) Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (Engineering, Operations, Business, etc.) Experience as an operations architect, able to define and build scalable processes and workflows for a more efficient and effective manufacturing organization Operational mindset that can breakdown challenges and design clear adoption/implementation schedules Exceptional verbal and written communications skills as well as High EQWell-versed in new technologies and innovations within the Manufacturing industry Outstanding presentation skills to deliver presentations to technical audiences and the Board of Directors regarding progress, improvements, budgets, and obstacles Experience partnering and collaborating with C-level executives Knowledgeable in Aerospace Engineering practices and specifications The ability to travel to various R&D and Manufacturing sites
   
   Preferred Qualifications:Advanced degree in a relevant field Experience with International ManufacturingExperience working collaboratively and successfully with FAA or other regulatory bodies Experience with FAA Part 21 Certification Procedures for Products and Articles Experience with Six Sigma, Lean Manufacturing Familiarity with AS9100 and ISO 9001 standards Experience in Aerospace supplier negotiations and agreements
   
   Compliance Requirements:Criminal background check clearance Fully vaccinated against COVIDDrug test clearance wherever applicable
   
   What We Offer!Relocation assistance Excellent medical, dental, and vision insurance through a PPO plan (100% premium paid for individuals, ~70% for dependents) Company-paid life, AD&D, long-term disability, and short-term disability insurances Parental leave Generous PTO + 10 paid holidays 401(k) matching up to 6%Lunch and snacks provided every day, including accommodations for all dietary restrictions Monthly wellness stipend Monthly cell phone stipend Yearly education stipend to obtain certifications or take classes in your field Mental health benefit Fun events, swag, and the occasional airship ride An opportunity to change the world and work with some of the smartest and the most talented experts from different fields
   
   LTA Research & Exploration welcomes all candidates to apply including those with limited experience. We understand that candidates with a growth mindset and passion for working on the next chapter in aviation advancement can outweigh experience alone. We celebrate diverse origins and journeys and understand their importance in developing new technology. Rooted in our humanitarian mission, we want to serve the entire globe and have a team that represents those we wish to serve.
   Lighter Than Air is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants are considered without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, marital status, veteran status or any other discriminatory factors prohibited by law.

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5. Post your job

   To find vice president of manufacturings for your business, try out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important talent pools for any company is its current employees.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and your current work to ask if they know any vice president of manufacturings they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit entry-level vice president of manufacturings with the right educational background.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter have more than 3.5 billion users, and they're a great place for company branding and reaching potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your vice president of manufacturing job on Zippia to find and recruit vice president of manufacturing candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   During your first interview to recruit vice president of manufacturings, engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. During the following interview, you'll be able to go into more detail about the company, the position, and the responsibilities.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents. You can move on to the technical interview if a candidate is good enough for the next step.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new vice president of manufacturing

   Once you've found the vice president of manufacturing candidate you'd like to hire, it's time to write an offer letter. This should include an explicit job offer that includes the salary and the details of any other perks. Qualified candidates might be looking at multiple positions, so your offer must be competitive if you like the candidate. Also, be prepared for a negotiation stage, as candidates may way want to tweak the details of your initial offer. Once you've settled on these details, you can draft a contract to formalize your agreement.

   It's also important to follow up with applicants who do not get the job with an email letting them know that the position is filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new vice president of manufacturing. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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