Burlington, NC

JTL Services, Inc.has been retained to find top candidates for this growing business.

Position Overview

The Vice President of Operations is a senior executive responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership across all four business verticals: Airframe, Engine Accessories, Landing Gear, and Distribution. This role owns the full scope of operations including manufacturing, quality assurance, supply chain, maintenance, safety, and continuous improvement. This leader is charged with driving operational excellence and margin expansion across the organization.

As a key member of the leadership team reporting directly to the President, the VP of Operations will align day-to-day execution with the company’s strategic vision, champion a culture of accountability and continuous improvement, and ensure the organization drives customer satisfaction increased profitability by exceeding expectations in the key operational metrics.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Operational Leadership

  • Enterprise Operations Strategy: Develop and execute a comprehensive operations strategy that supports the company’s growth objectives across the Airframe, Engine Accessories, Landing Gear, and Distribution verticals.
  • P&L Ownership: Drive operational performance and financial results, managing budgets, capital expenditures, and cost optimization initiatives across all verticals.
  • KPI Maturity & Accountability: Monitor and report on key performance indicators for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity across all sites and business units. Continuously mature the operational KPI framework, coaching and developing teams on effective use of metrics while connecting operational levers to financial performance.
  • Capacity & Growth Planning: Lead long-range capacity planning, facility optimization, and capital investment strategies to support current demand and future growth for the organization.
  • Best Practice Standardization: Identify and deploy best practices across verticals and sites, driving consistency and operational alignment throughout the organization.

Manufacturing

  • Production Oversight: Direct all manufacturing operations across the verticals, ensuring key metrics are being achieved (TRIR, Scrap, Rework, OTD, TAT, Fill Rate, Productivity, etc)
  • Continuous Improvement: Champion operational excellence methodologies including 3P, kaizen(s), value stream mapping, 5S, standard work, and root cause analysis to drive waste reduction and efficiency gains.
  • Technology & Process Innovation: Evaluate and implement advanced manufacturing technologies, automation, value streams, cellular manufacturing, and process improvements to maintain a competitive advantage and expand margins.

Quality

  • Quality Systems Ownership: Oversee the quality management system across all verticals, ensuring compliance with FAA regulations, AS9100, ISO 9001, and customer-specific requirements.
  • Audit & Certification Management: Ensure organizational readiness for FAA, customer, and third-party audits; maintain all required certifications and approvals.
  • Corrective & Preventive Action: Drive robust RCCA processes and foster a proactive quality culture that identifies and addresses non-conformances before they impact customers.

Supply Chain

  • End-to-End Supply Chain Management: Oversee procurement, inventory management, vendor relationships, and logistics to ensure uninterrupted material flow and cost-effective sourcing.
  • Supplier Quality & Development: Implement supplier qualification, performance monitoring, and development programs aligned with aerospace quality requirements.

Safety & Maintenance

  • Safety Leadership: Champion a zero-incident safety culture, ensuring compliance with OSHA and all applicable safety regulations, and driving proactive hazard identification and mitigation.
  • Asset Management & Reliability: Oversee maintenance operations and TPM programs to maximize equipment uptime, reliability, and lifespan across all production facilities.

Leadership & Organizational Development

  • Team Leadership: Build, lead, and develop a high-performing operations leadership team across all verticals, including Plant, Quality, Supply Chain, and Maintenance Leaders.
  • Talent Development: Identify and develop operational talent at all levels, establish succession plans, and foster a culture of coaching, accountability, and professional growth.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with all functional areas to align operations with broader business goals.
  • Change Management: Lead organizational change initiatives, including process redesign, structural realignment, and cultural transformation efforts.

Reporting & Communication

  • Executive Reporting: Present monthly, quarterly, and annual operational performance reports to the Victor-Sierra and TransDigm Executive Team.

Direct Reports & Organizational Scope

The VP of Operations will have direct and/or dotted-line oversight of the following functions across the four verticals:

  • Plant Leaders (Airframe, Engine Accessories, Landing Gear)
  • Quality Leaders
  • Supply Chain Leaders
  • Maintenance & Facilities Management
  • Operational Excellence / Continuous Improvement Leader(s)

Qualifications

Required

  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
  • 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations, with at least 5 years in a VP, Director, or senior operations leadership role.
  • Demonstrated experience in aerospace, aviation, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments; PMA manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
  • Strong knowledge of FAA regulations, AS9100, ISO 9001, and aerospace quality management systems.
  • Proven track record of managing multi-site, multi-product line operations and delivering measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
  • Strong financial acumen with experience managing operational P&Ls, budgets, and capital planning.
  • Expertise in Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies
  • Exceptional leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.

Preferred

  • Master’s degree (MBA or MS in Engineering, Operations, or related discipline).
  • Direct experience with PMA part development, manufacturing, and FAA certification processes.
  • Background in asset management, TPM, and reliability-centered maintenance programs.
  • Familiarity with ERP systems and data-driven decision-making in a manufacturing environment.

Personal Attributes

  • Strategic thinker with the ability to translate vision into actionable operational plans.
  • Decisive and results-oriented leader who thrives in fast-paced, complex environments.
  • Collaborative and approachable, with a natural ability to build trust and alignment across diverse teams and stakeholders.
  • High integrity and accountability, with a commitment to safety, quality, and regulatory excellence.
  • Adaptable and resilient, comfortable navigating ambiguity and driving change.
  • Analytical and data-driven, with strong structured problem-solving capabilities.

Working Conditions

  • Primary work location is Burlington, NC, with a combination of office and manufacturing floor environments.
  • Regular presence on the production floor across verticals is expected; exposure to production equipment, tooling, and inspection processes in clean or high-specification environments.
  • Up to 75% travel is required to visit operational sites, suppliers, and industry events as business needs dictate.
  • Ability to walk, stand, and move throughout manufacturing facilities; occasionally lift up to 25lbs.

Disclaimer: This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.

For more information send your updated resume to tara@jtlservices.com

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