Dir, Operations

Barnes•East Granby, CT

About The Position

The Director of Operations leads the site’s day-to-day and strategic production activities and manages production and maintenance supervisors to meet site goals. The role drives safety, quality, productivity, and delivery performance, while overseeing internal and external supply-chain requirements and supporting new process and product development and implementation. The Director develops an effective manufacturing organization through team selection, training, development, motivation, coaching, and recognition. The role fosters operational excellence by championing Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, and 6S initiatives; tracking daily performance; verifying countermeasures and recovery plans for missed targets; and ensuring cell communication boards are used daily. The position also collaborates with Human Resources to promote positive employee relations and employee involvement. The role requires a bachelor’s degree in engineering, business management, or a related field, and at least seven years of operations or manufacturing experience, including four years managing people. Experience in aerospace or related industries is preferred. A master’s degree or MBA and Six Sigma or Lean certification are highly desirable. The job may involve access to information or technology controlled by U.S. export laws; employment in such cases may be contingent on documentation review and export-license considerations.

Requirements

At least seven years of operations or manufacturing experience.
At least four years of experience managing people.
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business management, or a related field.
Demonstrated understanding of Lean Manufacturing concepts and proven implementation or integration of Lean principles and techniques in a manufacturing environment.
Ability to lead and facilitate change, balancing consistency with flexibility and adapting ideas when presented with new information.
Track record of promoting positive employee relations.
Strong leadership and people-engagement skills; leads by example and manages using leadership effectiveness and emotional intelligence.
Acts with integrity and the highest ethical behavior.
Understands the technical nature of manufactured products and can provide assistance as required.
Excellent communication skills and ability to communicate changes effectively.
Ability to influence others, build commitment, and overcome resistance.

Nice To Haves

Operations or manufacturing experience in the aerospace or a related industry.
Master’s degree or MBA.
Six Sigma or Lean certification.

Responsibilities

Lead the site’s day-to-day and strategic production activities.
Manage production and maintenance supervisors to meet site goals.
Champion Lean Manufacturing, Kaizen, and 6S initiatives to improve manufacturing efficiency and minimize costs.
Oversee internal and external supply-chain activities to meet customer quality and delivery requirements.
Develop and maintain an effective manufacturing organization through selection, training, development, and motivation of employees.
Drive operations to achieve safety, quality, productivity, and delivery goals.
Recognize and reward employees for their contributions and results.
Coach and encourage supervisors, leads, and associates to support the operations team’s growth and development.
Track daily performance and verify countermeasures and recovery plans for missed targets.
Ensure cell communication boards are used daily.
Prepare equipment specifications consistent with required product quality, quantity, delivery, and service levels.
Support the development and implementation of new processes and products.
Create an operational-excellence culture in which employees participate in Kaizen and 6S activities and contribute improvement suggestions.
Collaborate with Human Resources to promote positive employee relations through fair and consistent work-rule application, recognition, employee involvement, and communication.