Final Operations Manager - Aerospace

Position Summary

The Final Operations Manager is responsible for the leadership, execution, and performance of all Final Operations functions, including Processing, Paint, Assembly, and Shipping. This role owns daily, monthly, and annual results related to on-time delivery, labor productivity, quality, cost performance, schedule attainment, and operational compliance.

The position serves as a key business partner to the Director of Business Operations by providing operational planning, KPI reporting, capacity alignment, schedule and recovery execution, and strategic support to meet customer commitments and financial targets. This leader must drive disciplined execution through data, people, and process control while maintaining a strong culture of accountability, safety, and customer responsiveness.

This role is identified as requiring ITAR (International Traffic in Arms Regulations) compliance; therefore, qualified candidates must meet the definition of a U.S. Person (per EAR Part 772 and ITAR 120.15):

An individual who is granted U.S. citizenship, or

An individual who is granted U.S. permanent residence (i.e., a "Green Card" holder), or

An individual who is granted status as a "protected person"

Essential Functions

Lead daily Final Operations across Processing, Paint, Assembly, and Shipping to support production and delivery commitments

Execute production schedules and resolve day-to-day disruptions to maintain flow and throughput

Drive performance in safety, quality, delivery, and cost across assigned areas

Support on-time starts, completions, and shipment readiness; execute recovery actions as needed

Serve as a point of contact for customer communication related to order status, delivery updates, and issue resolution

Support customer escalations by providing timely updates, recovery plans, and operational visibility

Partner with Planning, Supply Chain, Quality, and Program Management to mitigate delivery riskTrack and report daily and weekly operational performance; support labor planning and cost control

Utilize ERP systems and customer backlog data to manage schedules, inventory, and performance metrics; ensure data accuracy

Monitor key metrics including on-time delivery, flow times, labor efficiency, overtime, rework/scrap, and shipping accuracy

Lead daily performance meetings to review results, priorities, and constraints

Ensure compliance with AS9100, ITAR, OSHA, NADCAP, and customer requirements

Support audits and drive corrective actions for quality or compliance issues

Communicate operational status, risks, and recovery plans to leadership and cross-functional partners

Support planning for labor, tooling, and capacity needs; assist with capital planning as needed

Lead, coach, and develop supervisors, leads, and team members

Ensure completion of required training and promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement

Work Experience

7–10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing operations, production management, or industrial operations

3–5+ years of leadership experience managing supervisors, leads, and hourly teams

Experience in aerospace, defense, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments (AS9100, ITAR, NADCAP) strongly preferred

Demonstrated success driving performance in safety, quality, delivery, labor efficiency, and cost

Hands-on experience with production scheduling, throughput optimization, and daily operations management

Experience supporting customer communication, escalations, and recovery planning

Strong background in ERP/MRP systems, operational KPIs, and data-driven decision-making

Experience supporting audits, corrective actions, and compliance with AS9100, ITAR, OSHA, and customer requirements

Proven ability to lead cross-functional collaboration with Planning, Supply Chain, Quality, and Program Management

Other Required Skills and Abilities

Strong leadership, coaching, and team-development capabilities

Excellent verbal, written, and technical communication skills

Ability to read and interpret blueprints and technical documentation

Proficiency with computers, ERP systems, and production-tracking tools

Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and continuous-improvement mindset

Ability to work in a fast-paced manufacturing environment and manage multiple priorities

Ability to communicate clearly in English (verbal and written)

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Industrial Technology, Business Administration, or a related field required, experience in lieu of degree will be considered.

Master’s degree in engineering management, Industrial Engineering, or an MBA (preferred)

High school diploma or GED required

Physical Demands and Work EnvironmentTo perform the essential functions of the role, employees must be able to perform the following activities with or without reasonable accommodations:

Regularly stand and walk throughout the facility, stand for long periods to perform job duties

Occasionally lift, carry (short distances), and push/pull up to 50 pounds using peer assistance and/or other lifting & material handling equipment

Occasionally reach overhead and reach out or down to floor level to perform job duties

Occasionally climb steps, stairs, or ladders

Occasionally bend, crawl, stoop, squat, or kneel

Accurately distinguish colors, letters, and numbers

Use hands and fingers to operate computer and peripherals and asses inventory items as needed

Working ConditionsWork is performed in a manufacturing environment where working conditions may vary significantly; the employee will be exposed to:

Excessive noise - hearing protection required (occasionally)

Dust, fumes/vapors (occasionally)

Extreme temperatures (occasionally)

Hazardous equipment, including forklifts, hand tools, cranes or other lifting devices, and other equipment used in a machine shop environment

The use of PPE, including hearing protection, eye protection, and safety footwear, is required; hand protection and other PPE may be required for some tasks