Operation Excellence Leader - Leadership Development Program

Victor Sierra Aviation•Baldwin City, KS

11h•Hybrid

About The Position

The Operational Excellence Leader plays a critical role in advancing operations across our businesses. This role is responsible for driving business process improvements that enhance safety, quality, delivery, and cost, while embedding a culture of continuous improvement. This is a 24-month developmental assignment across two VSA operating company: the Operational Excellence Leader embeds with the team, drives an OPEX transformation across the operating company (including all of its locations), and builds the track record and exposure the program is designed to set up, positioning for future operations and leadership opportunities across Victor Sierra Aviation.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field, with an aptitude for learning manufacturing and performance reporting tools
3–5 years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, or operations, ideally within aerospace or another highly regulated environment
Some leadership or informal team-lead experience, or a clear, demonstrated desire to grow into a leadership role
Working knowledge of, or willingness to quickly learn, aerospace quality standards and regulatory requirements (FAA, AS9100, ISO)
Demonstrated problem-solving ability, with examples of contributing to measurable improvements in a manufacturing or operations setting
Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills
Proficient in Microsoft Office, Visio, and project management tools
Willingness and ability to relocate for a 24-month assignment at an assigned VSA operating company (which may include travel across that operating company’s locations)

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree (MBA or MS in Industrial Engineering or Operations)
Lean/Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher; Black Belt or Master Black Belt a plus)
Experience in supply chain optimization and manufacturing flow within an aerospace context
Understanding of cost management and manufacturing KPIs, including trend analysis and standard costing

Responsibilities

Lead and facilitate OPEX initiatives, including kaizen events and continuous improvement projects, to reduce waste, improve flow, and increase efficiency across production lines.
Drive measurable improvements in safety, first-pass yield, productivity, and delivery performance.
Apply Lean and Six Sigma tools such as 3P, Value Stream Mapping, 5S, A3, SMED, Standard Work, Kanban, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and Visual Management.
Improve piece flow, capacity utilization, and productivity across the operating company’s facilities, identifying and eliminating bottlenecks end-to-end.
Coach and mentor employees at all levels, from operators to plant leadership, in OPEX practices and structured problem solving.
Develop OPEX capabilities across the organization, supporting certification programs and ongoing capability development.
Lead cultural transformation initiatives to build ownership, engagement, and discipline around continuous improvement.
Partner closely with the operating company's operations leader and leadership team to align OPEX priorities with day-to-day operating goals.
Partner with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Maintenance teams to align improvement activities with plant and vertical goals.
Standardize best practices across sites within the vertical(s), ensuring alignment with both operational and compliance requirements.
Provide regular updates and performance reporting to leadership using clear metrics and dashboards.
Ensure all OPEX initiatives are compliant with applicable aerospace regulatory standards including FAA, AS9100, ISO 9001, and customer-specific requirements.
Support or lead internal process audits to identify gaps in adherence to regulatory and internal standards.
Champion initiatives that improve workplace safety and compliance while maintaining or improving operational efficiency.