Operations Manager

Victor Sierra Aviation•Palmer, AK

12d•Onsite

About The Position

As Operations Manager, you'll play a pivotal role in shaping McFarlane Alaska's operations, leading a dedicated team of colleagues who are passionate about aviation and community. You'll own the entire value stream — from raw material intake through precision-machined components, assembly, and delivery — driving operational excellence, inspiring a cross-functional team, and ensuring the highest standards of safety, quality, and delivery in aviation manufacturing.

Requirements

Associate or bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or a related field — or equivalent hands-on experience in a complex, high-mix manufacturing environment
At least 3 years of leadership experience in manufacturing operations
Proven ability to optimize workforce planning — aligning labor, skills, and schedules to meet production goals
Demonstrated success in building and leading high-performing teams, managing shifting priorities, and delivering results under pressure
Strong analytical skills with a strategic mindset and attention to detail
A passion for building something meaningful, with a commitment to safety, quality craftsmanship, and doing things the right way
A growth mindset — eager to learn, improve, and take on new challenges
Flexibility to wear multiple hats in a dynamic, hands-on environment
A true team player — collaborative, communicative, and committed to collective success

Nice To Haves

Experience in rubber vulcanization, welding, CNC, or assembly
Experience in aviation or aerospace manufacturing environments
Familiarity with FAA regulations and customer-specific documentation standards
Hands-on experience in an operations environment and a solid understanding of machining workforce dynamics
Strong knowledge of blueprint reading and GD&T
Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems with the ability to use data for smart decision-making
Experience managing operational KPIs and departmental budgets to drive performance

Responsibilities

Lead day-to-day shop floor operations with a sharp focus on Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost in a high-mix machining environment
Oversee production teams — supervisors, engineers, planners, buyers, and operators — to achieve Value Stream goals
Use historical data, customer demand, and future projections to align the Value Stream, including resource planning, machine utilization, employee productivity, and machine uptime
Coordinate cross-functional efforts to launch new aviation products and integrate new technologies
Support development of Value Stream KPIs for Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost; track and refine to ensure business objectives are met
Ensure the Value Stream achieves budget through accountability, labor management, tooling & consumable spend, and material costs
Generate and communicate performance metrics
Troubleshoot and collaborate with technical experts to resolve operational issues and limit production downtime
Build, mentor, and empower a team of supervisors, leads, and individual contributors, developing skills that match our ambition
Be a visible leader on the floor — motivate, coach, celebrate wins, and correct course when needed
Set clear expectations, conduct performance reviews, and create upskilling and growth opportunities that enable career pathways for your team
Collaborate with Quality Assurance and Engineering to ensure every part meets or exceeds aviation standards and regulatory requirements
Ensure compliance with aerospace regulations and customer-specific requirements, including FAA standards
Proactively address non-conformances and ensure effective corrective actions
Support calibration, inspection, and programming to maintain top-tier accuracy and quality
Collaborate with planning teams to align production with demand and product milestones
Monitor schedules, adjust for constraints, and keep production agile and responsive
Forecast bottlenecks before they ground us — and solve them before they're even noticed