Director, Manufacturing Ops

Textron•Slidell, LA

22h•Onsite

About The Position

This role is in Textron System’s Marine & Land Systems business area. The Director of Manufacturing is responsible for all aspects of managing daily operations at the Crewed Land Systems Production site in Slidell, LA. They will report directly to the VP, Programs, and will provide leadership and accountability for, but not limited to, maintaining appropriate staffing and headcount levels; production schedules; profit and loss/budgeting and compliance with Textron policies, procedures, environmental health and safety, and other requirements. This role requires a leader who can design and execute scalable manufacturing systems that support complex defense programs and adapt to dynamic production schedules. The Director of Manufacturing champions a culture of continuous improvement that elevates safety, quality, productivity and employee relations for the manufacturing function. This position is responsible for establishing the vision, goals and metrics across the manufacturing organization that supports the larger programs. The Director, Manufacturing Operations will report directly to the Vice President of Programs and will provide leadership and accountability for overall strategic and tactical activities of the end-to-end manufacturing engineering, material planning, receiving, warehouse, and shipping functions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s Degree, preferably in a discipline related to Supply Chain Management, Operations, or Engineering
Typically requires 7-10 years of experience in manufacturing/operations roles
Previous management/leadership experience required
Cross‑functional leadership experience (e.g., Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management) and exposure to heavy/complex manufacturing or marine systems is preferred.
Successful track record of Talent Development and problem solving
Competencies: Strategic Mindset; Plans & Aligns; Optimizes Work Processes; Ensures Accountability; Manages Complexity; Balances Stakeholders; Financial Acumen; Communicates Effectively; Cultivates Innovation; Drives Vision & Purpose; Customer Focus.
Skills: Planning and Organizing, Managing Change, Policy and Procedures
Traits: Tolerance of Ambiguity, Adaptability, Being Resilient, Need for Achievement, Influence

Nice To Haves

Cross‑functional leadership experience (e.g., Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management) and exposure to heavy/complex manufacturing or marine systems is preferred.

Responsibilities

Plan, organize and direct day‑to‑day operations to exceed customer expectations and meet Annual Operating Plan (AOP) objectives.
Champion a Continuous Improvement culture that measurably improves safety, quality, cost, schedule adherence/on‑time delivery, and regulatory compliance.
Champion positive employee relations and partner in local workforce development efforts.
Drive manufacturing methods/process development to prepare for transition to production (TTP) and increase production capacity, asset utilization, and operational flexibility while minimizing unnecessary costs and maintaining quality standards.
Establish and maintain an effective organizational structure to ensure the development and continuity of managerial, leadership, and specialized skills necessary to accomplish company objectives. Recommend organizational changes as business needs evolve.
Ensure appropriate training and development opportunities are available to support an effective, productive work environment.
Partner cross‑functionally (e.g. HR, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Program Management, Finance) to align capacity, methods, and budgets with program needs.
Implement strategies aligned with business line initiatives and provide a clear sense of direction and focus to support business growth.
Establish an operating rhythm (e.g. tiered daily/weekly reviews, scorecards, and KPIs for safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people) and ensure transparent/effective communication internally and with external affiliates and customers.
Design practices, processes, and procedures that enable effective leadership and management from a distance.
Create shared objectives where appropriate and define success in terms of all stakeholders.
Manage departmental budgets and engage with capital planning strategy to prioritize investments and optimize return on assets.
Support in the development and response to proposals for future work
Establishes long term manufacturing roadmaps covering facilities plans, capital needs, future staffing needs considering advancements in manufacturing techniques and technologies
Ensure compliance in all aspects of manufacturing operations to internal procedures, the Quality Management System and ISO 9001/AS9100
Promotes a culture of safety first in daily operations