Maintenance Business Development Manager

Ascent Aerospace – Inspiring the next generation of flight!

Ascent Aerospace is a world-renowned, single-source provider of production and automated assembly systems for the aerospace and defense industry. We provide high-precision advanced automated equipment as well as a full suite of both mold and assembly tooling required for the aerospace manufacturing market, including the largest Invar molds ever made, making us the largest tooling group in the industry. We work with our customers to develop their project and see it through, from process engineering to build and installation, to ensure it is an efficient and cost-effective solution. As a true, single-source integrator, we have proven tools to surpass our customer expectations. We have greater control of timing and schedules, which allows for 100% accountability, and avoids costly mark-ups, ultimately saving our customers money. The result: a group of businesses, each an industry leader within their own discipline, now acting as one truly integrated supply base.

SUMMARY OF POSITION

The Program Manager, Maintenance Services is responsible for building and growing Ascent's maintenance program and customer training businesses. This roles owns the maintenance offer roadmap and a sales and execution playbook that defines what Ascent offers customers, how each program is delivered, and the proof points that give customers confidence in selecting Ascent to maintain their tooling and automated equipment. The position leads the development of a functional training business, from the training structure and delivery model to the team required to support it, and supports the pursuit, launch, and growth of maintenance contracts. The business builds on our install base of tooling and automated equipment while actively pursuing new customers beyond it. This is an opportunity to help build a business within a business: shaping the offer, winning the first programs, and doing hands-on work to stand them up. The ideal candidate is an experience maintenance of field service leader who has managed maintenance teams at customer sites and is ready to help grow a program in a customer-facing, commercially minded role. 

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

This document in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying the position.

Maintenance program roadmap and playbook

Develop and maintain the maintenance offer roadmap, defining program tiers, service levels, and options for both Ascent's install base and new customers.

Create and own a sales and execution playbook covering how maintenance programs are positioned, scoped, priced, staffed, launched, and delivered.

Define the deliverables and proof points that give customers confidence in Ascent's programs, such as preventive maintenance plans, response commitments, performance reporting, and spares recommendations.

Build the support network needed to deliver programs, coordinating with field service, technical support, engineering, spares, and HQ functional groups.

Win and launch maintenance programs

Partner with service leadership and sales to identify, scope, and pursue new maintenance program opportunities, both with existing customers and with new customers.

Lead the technical and operational content of maintenance program proposals, working with service leadership, Finance, estimating, and the proposal team to confirm scope, staffing, and pricing assumptions.

Lead customer meetings to define program requirements, clarify expectations, and present Ascent's approach.

Plan and lead the launch of new programs, including staffing plans, onboarding, procedures, and handoff to the delivery team.

Monitor program performance against commitments and use lessons learned from existing contracts to improve the playbook.

Build the training business

Lead the development of a customer training business for operators, maintenance technicians, and engineers on Ascent equipment.

Define the training structure, including course catalog, formats, agendas, delivery model, and resourcing, and coordinate engineering and field service to develop course content.

Recommend the training offer, pricing structure, and delivery model for approval, and identify the team and resources required to support it.

May support training delivery, particularly during course launches.

General

Travel to customer sites to support program scoping, launches, training, and relationship management.

Report on program pipeline, performance, and growth to service leadership.

All other duties as required.

REQUIRED SKILLS, EDUCATION, AND EXPERIENCE

Experience: 8+ years in maintenance, field service, or aftermarket roles supporting automated production equipment, including managing on-site maintenance teams.

Experience managing maintenance teams at customer facilities (resident, contracted, or on-site maintenance programs).

Demonstrated experience developing preventive maintenance programs, maintenance plans, or reliability improvement initiatives.

Experience setting up or managing customer or technical training programs.

Able to organize engineering and field service input into structured maintenance procedures and training programs.

Strong written and verbal communication and presentation skills; ability to work effectively with internal teams and customers at all levels.

Proficient in Microsoft Office; experience with CMMS and CRM tools preferred.

Self-directed and organized, with the ability to build processes and programs from the ground up.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Possess Department of Defense Secret Security Clearance and maintain security clearance for the duration of employment.

Experience in aerospace manufacturing.

Experience with maintenance service contracts, including scoping, pricing, or managing program performance.

Established relationships with maintenance and operations leaders in aerospace or advanced manufacturing.

Familiarity with automation controls and precision mechanical systems.

Experience with equipment OEM or integrator aftermarket organizations.

Reliability certification (e.g., CMRP) or similar.

Technical degree or trade certification.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY 

None initially. The role may lead a small team of trainers or program staff as the maintenance and training businesses grow.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS

20–40%

WORKING CONDITIONS

Working conditions described here are representative of those that may be experienced by an employee on a daily basis while performing the functions of this job.

Typically sits for extended periods at a computer workstation

May access and work in the manufacturing plant and at customer production facilities

While performing the duties of this job, employee may be exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes and airborne particles

The employee may be exposed to vibration

The employee is occasionally exposed to caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate

May be required to travel to other site locations during the work day

May be required to work weekends to meet department and business demands

Work with safe manufacturing processes and understand that eyewear is mandatory in the manufacturing area

Knows that safety shoes are recommended in the manufacturing area

PHYSICAL DEMANDS 

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Must be able to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl.

Must be able to see, talk, hear, touch, feel and reach with hands and arms.

Must be able to frequently walk and stand for short periods of time.

Must be able to lift and move up to 35 lbs, occasionally lift and move objects up to 50 lbs.

BENEFITS

Medical Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Short- and Long-Term Disability Insurance

Life Insurance

AD&D Insurance

PTO

401k Match

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS 

Employment is contingent upon successfully passing an employee reference check, criminal background check, and drug screening.

This position requires use of information that is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). All applicants must be U.S. persons within the meaning of ITAR. ITAR defines a U.S. person as a U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (i.e. 'Green Card Holder').

Ascent Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws. If you have a disability and you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please call toll-free +1 586-726-0500. This phone number is created exclusively to assist disabled job seekers whose disability prevents them from being able to apply online. Only messages left for this purpose will be returned. Messages left for other purposes, such as following up on an application or technical issues not related to a disability, will not receive a response.

No Unauthorized Referrals from Recruiters & Vendors

Please note that Ascent Aerospace does not seek or accept unsolicited resumes or offers from third party recruiters or staffing agencies associated with any published or unpublished employment opportunities. Any unsolicited information sent to Ascent Aerospace will be considered as unencumbered and free from any fee or charge whatsoever. Only members of our Human Resources Team have the authority to engage or authorize recruiting services, which must be agreed upon before the unsolicited resume or offer is received.