Directeur de production - Production director

AJ Walter Aviation•Montreal, QC

1d•Onsite

About The Position

AJW Group is a world-leading independent specialist in the supply, exchange, repair and lease of aircraft spare parts. With over 90 years of aviation experience, AJW supports over 1000 airlines across 100 countries. One of the main divisions of the AJW Group is AJW Technique, a state-of-the-art component Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility with over 160 experienced and passionate technicians in Montreal. Reporting to the CEO, the Director Production is the senior operations role on site, with full accountability for production execution, the operating budget and the delivery performance committed to customers. The Director Production is accountable for the safe, compliant and efficient execution of all production activity, from induction and work scope release through test, certification and shipping, and delivers committed turnaround time (TAT), quality, output and cost across all production departments. The Director leads two Production Managers and, through them, supervisors, sub-department leads, technicians and planners. This is a floor-based role in a unionized environment, working closely with Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Finance and Customer Service, and forms part of the site leadership team.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Aviation Technology, or a related field. An equivalent combination of a technical diploma and relevant experience will also be considered.
Minimum of 10 years of operations leadership experience, including: At least five years in the aviation, aerospace, or another regulated technical environment; and At least three years leading managers.
Experience in component Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO), heavy maintenance or overhaul, or in a regulated, high-mix, low-volume manufacturing environment with variable work scopes.
Demonstrated experience managing unionized teams, including grievance handling, disciplinary processes, and the application of collective agreements.
Experience managing an operating budget and reporting financial results to senior leadership.
Strong knowledge of aviation maintenance regulations and quality management systems, including: Transport Canada CARs 571/573; EASA Part-145; FAA Part 145; AS9110 or AS9100; Safety Management Systems (SMS); and Human Factors.
Demonstrated success in leading continuous improvement initiatives supported by measurable performance results.
Proficiency with ERP systems and standard Microsoft Office applications, with the ability to manage multiple competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
Proficiency in both French and English (spoken and written) is required to ensure effective communication with all internal and external stakeholders, including customers and suppliers. The incumbent will also interact daily with AJW Group colleagues located outside Quebec, foreign civil aviation authorities, and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and will be required to read and interpret technical documentation published in English.

Nice To Haves

An MBA or executive education in Operations Management is considered an asset.
Candidates with an equivalent combination of education, qualifications, and experience are encouraged to apply.
Transport Canada Aircraft Maintenance Engineer (AME) Licence (M1, M2, E or S), or FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) Licence.
Lean Six Sigma certification, preferably at the Black Belt level.
AS9110 or AS9100 Lead Auditor training, Human Factors training, or Safety Management System (SMS) training.
ASCM (APICS) CPIM or CSCP certification, Theory of Constraints training, Labour Relations training, Project Management Professional (PMP) certification, or a Professional Engineer (P.Eng.) designation.
Visible, floor-based leader who coaches and develops rather than directs
Clear and consistent communicator at every level, from technicians to executive leadership
Fact-based and decisive, with the managerial courage to make difficult decisions
Fair and consistent in applying standards, and effective in a unionized environment
Inclusive team builder who mobilizes people around continuous improvement and change

Responsibilities

Direct all production departments to meet turnaround time, output, quality and cost targets
Own capacity planning, workload levelling and resource allocation across departments, shifts and skill groups
Manage production constraints: test equipment availability, tooling and calibration, certifying staff, special processes and repair vendors
Reduce work in progress and control parts and quotation delays with Supply Chain, Engineering and Customer Service
Analyze key performance indicators, identify trends and implement corrective actions
Ensure production complies with component maintenance manuals and customer requirements
Maintain regulatory and customer audit readiness, and close corrective actions at root cause
Lead health, safety and environment performance, including hazard reporting, incident investigation and human factors
Exercise the authority to stop work whenever safety or airworthiness is at risk
Develop and manage the production operating budget, and report variances monthly
Improve labour recovery, utilization and cost per unit repaired without compromising quality or airworthiness
Support quoting, forecasting and capital investment cases with reliable production data
Lead, coach and develop two Production Managers, setting objectives, managing performance and building development and succession plans
Maintain a daily presence on the production floor and report risks to delivery, quality or safety promptly
Apply company policies and the collective agreement consistently and equitably, and maintain a constructive working relationship with union representatives
Own workforce planning: staffing levels and justifications, skills matrices, licences and authorities, training and retention of technical talent
Lead continuous improvement using Lean, 6S and structured problem solving, with measurable results
Lead change management for new processes, equipment, technologies and ways of working
Support capability expansion and the introduction of new part numbers, equipment and customer programs
Maintain accurate production data and reporting in the ERP