Director Operations

As the Director of Operations for the Centennial campus, you will lead a large‑scale aircraft integration and production organization responsible for delivering high‑performance, mission‑ready aircraft in support of Sierra Nevada Corporation’s Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (ISR) and aviation portfolio. You will oversee daily hangar execution, technical workforce leadership, cross‑hangar coordination, schedule performance, material readiness, and Environmental Health & Safety (EHS) across multiple aircraft programs in a fast‑paced, modification‑driven environment. This role requires deep experience managing production organizations, preferably within aviation, aerospace, defense, or complex integration environments. You will drive standardization, operational discipline, and proactive planning to support a highly technical workforce—over 85% of which consists of integration technicians and A&P/structures/avionics personnel—while ensuring predictable delivery, shop‑floor accountability, and strong communication across all hangars. The ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance), Aviation, and Security (IAS) business area is a leader in ISR and aviation, it is a leading prime manned and unmanned aircraft systems integrator for innovative, high-performance ISR and aviation systems. Its end-to-end Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities encompass design, integration, test, certification, ground/flight training and complete logistics support. IAS tailors solutions to customer cost, performance, and schedule requirements and designs to consistently exceed expectations – with an unrivaled record of on time and on (or under) budget deliveries. Responsibilities   Operational Leadership & Execution   Lead all   aircraft   production, integration, modification, and maintenance operations at Centennial, ensuring daily readiness and execution across structures, avionics, A&P, and engineering support teams.    Drive a unified “one ‑ team” operational culture across hangars, ensuring consistent expectations, cross ‑ program alignment, and rapid reprioritization when schedules, engineering changes, or customer demands shift.    Ensure production discipline,   accurate   status reporting, and risk management for all active builds and modifications.   Technical & Production Oversight   Oversee material readiness, kitting accuracy, BOM quality, and pre ‑ execution checks to reduce recurring constraints.    Partner with Engineering, Quality, Safety, Supply Chain, and Program Management to   maintain   stable workflow and remove barriers affecting production throughput.   Ensure technicians have clear direction, stable priorities, and effective floor leadership presence throughout the day.   People Leadership & Workforce Development   Lead and develop operations managers, production supervisors, and technicians through mentoring, accountability, coaching, and structured development plans.   Build leadership consistency across hangars, strengthening communication, decision ‑ making, and execution pressure handling.    Support succession planning, talent identification, and cross ‑ functional upskilling such as A&P mentoring, IPC training, and technical certification paths.    Safety, Quality & Compliance   Maintain strict adherence to EHS standards and Aviation Safety requirements, ensuring daily safe ‑ work practices and continuous improvement across the hangar floor.    Partner with Quality on escapes, MRB activity, CARs, and corrective actions.   Strategic Planning & Cross ‑ Functional Alignment   Drive operational strategy for new   aircraft   induction, stand ‑ up readiness, and future capacity planning.   Support Business Development with credible input on production planning, staff availability, technician skill match, facility readiness, and integration capabilities.    Align Centennial operations with enterprise schedule, cost, and performance   objectives .   Qualifications Required   Bachelor’s degree in Business , Supply Chain,   Aviation, Engineering , or related field (or equivalent experience).   Minimum   13+ years of relevant experience , with   6+ years   leading production operations teams ;   without a degree, 17+ years of relevant experience   required .  Higher level degree relevant degree may be substituted for up to 2 years of experience .     Aviation production or   aircraf t   integration leadership experience a must.   Proven experience running   aircraft   production, modification, integration organizations, including supervision of people leaders and   shop ‑ floor   accountability.   Proven leadership abilities   that   demonstrate   successful change management, mentoring, career development, training,   communication,   succession planning, holding people accountable and conducting annual reviews.    Proven experience and skills in team building, time management, conflict resolution, briefing ,   presentation   and strategic thinking.    Strong communication   skills, including the ability to clearly express concepts in verbal and written forms.    Demonstrated exceptional experience   in working with internal and external customers.   Strong understanding of structures, avionics, A&P operations, aerospace manufacturing, and integration workflows.   Demonstrated ability to interpret technical data ( schematics, wiring diagrams, engineering documents ,   manuals   and/or   publications ).   Experience with material readiness, kitting processes,   logistics , warehousing, and ERP systems.   Background in EHS compliance, aviation safety, and regulated environments.   Qualifications Preferred   Master’s degree or advanced technical/manufacturing education.   Professional certifications: CPIM, PMP, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt.   Experience in ISR, aviation, aerospace, defense, or Departme