Director, Operations

Ensign-Bickford Industries, Inc. • Simsbury, CT

1d • Onsite

About The Position

This opportunity is located within our Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company business, a global leader of mission-critical hardware and systems solutions including precision energetics systems and innovative explosive solutions. EBAD is seeking a Director of Operations / Site Leader for our Simsbury, CT facility. This role carries full accountability for site performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and people within a complex, highly regulated aerospace and defense manufacturing environment. We are looking for a high-impact leader who can deliver operational results today while building the systems, team, and culture required to scale for future growth. EBAD is a leader in mission-critical energetic and electronic systems supporting major aerospace, missile, and space platforms. The Simsbury site is a key contributor to these programs and is positioned for continued growth. This role offers the opportunity to: Lead a critical manufacturing site with full ownership and accountability Operate in a high-mix, low-volume, engineer-to-order environment Establish and scale EBOS as the site’s operating system Drive measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost Build organizational capability to support growth and new program introduction Partner cross-functionally to support development, qualification, and production ramp of new products This is a high-visibility leadership role with both immediate impact and long-term growth potential.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required (Engineering or related field preferred); advanced degree a plus
• 15+ years of operational leadership experience in manufacturing
• Proven experience leading a site or large-scale operations organization
• Background in aerospace, defense, or other regulated manufacturing environments
• Experience in high-mix, low-volume or engineer-to-order production environments
• Strong leadership, coaching, and team development experience
• Deep experience with Lean / operating systems (EBOS, DBS, or equivalent)
• Financial acumen including budgeting, cost control, and capital planning
• Ability to analyze data across the value stream and drive systemic improvements
• Experience working in cross-functional, integrated product team environments

Nice To Haves

• Energetics experience is a plus

Responsibilities

• Lead the organization to achieve Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC) objectives
• Own execution of production across launch vehicle, missile, and defense programs
• Ensure adherence to program milestones and delivery commitments
• Drive on-time delivery (OTD), past due reduction, and revenue execution
• Establish and maintain a zero-incident safety culture
• Ensure compliance with aerospace, defense, and regulatory standards
• Establish and deploy EBOS as the site operating system
• Implement disciplined daily management, KPIs, and leader standard work
• Lead structured problem solving (RCCA) and continuous improvement initiatives
• Build scalable processes to support growth and operational excellence
• Build and lead a high-performing, accountable organization
• Develop leadership capability, succession depth, and team engagement
• Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Partner with Engineering and Program Management on development and production readiness
• Support Business Development in proposal reviews and new opportunity evaluation
• Align operations with customer requirements and business objectives
• Manage departmental budgets and cost performance
• Lead capital planning and facility/equipment investments
• Support long-term capacity planning and growth strategy
• Contribute to site and enterprise-level operational strategy

Benefits

• Base Salary: $175k – $225k plus annual bonus
• Executive Relocation: Comprehensive support for a seamless transition
• Additional Enhancements: Potential sign-on incentives and tailored rewards based on experience

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 501-1,000 employees