Operations Program Management

Astronics Corporation • Waukegan, IL

3d • $80,000 - $95,000

About The Position

The Operations Program Manager serves as the primary customer contact through pre-production, production, and product end-of-life. The role manages and reports revenue and, with support from Operations, profit margins for assigned customers’ products and services. It coordinates work across Operations, including Supply Chain, Quality Control, and Repair Stations, to support customer satisfaction and profitability. The manager is the subject matter expert on commercial agreements for assigned customers and ensures commercial compliance by both the customers and Operations. Additional customer-facing duties may be assigned.

The position oversees customer engagement, financial management, forecasts, orders, schedules, and production documentation. It works with Supply Chain, Engineering, Quality, Compliance, and other teams to manage inventory, address shortages, maintain customer requirements, and identify and mitigate operational risks. It also manages production-related commercial agreements, coordinates customer requests and internal deliverables, leads customer and internal reviews, coordinates new opportunities with Business Development, supports required AS9145/APQP/EEPAP documentation, and contributes to continuous process improvement.

The role requires a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field, and at least five years of experience in operations program management or a related field. Two or more years of aviation/aerospace experience and relevant professional certifications are preferred. The stated base salary is $80,000–$95,000, with eligibility for quarterly incentive compensation. The position may involve access to items subject to U.S. export-control laws; employment is contingent on authorization to access such items where required. Astronics CSC describes its benefits package as available to full-time employees, with part-time employees potentially eligible on a prorated basis.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or a related field.
• Minimum five years of experience in operations program management or a related field.
• Ability to perform the essential duties satisfactorily.
• Employment is contingent on authorization to access items subject to U.S. export-control laws, if such authorization is required.

Nice To Haves

• Two or more years of experience in the aviation/aerospace industry.
• PMP, Six Sigma Black Belt, or other relevant professional certification.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary customer point of contact throughout pre-production, production, and product end-of-life.
• Manage revenue and, with assistance from Operations, profit margins for products and services in production.
• Work with the Program Administrator to ensure open BRMAs are accurate, including pricing, hardware part numbers, and revisions.
• Manage and communicate schedules for pre-production, special orders, and production deliveries.
• Oversee the BRMA process for assigned customers and facilitate cross-functional support to meet internal turnaround-time goals.
• Monitor the release and accuracy of production documentation with Operations to minimize production disruptions.
• Monitor and manage forecasts, open orders, and shipped reports against forecasts.
• Work with Supply Chain to review material shortages proactively and with Engineering to identify and qualify alternate components.
• Manage inventory levels with Supply Chain support to meet on-time delivery requirements while minimizing inventory exposure.
• Ensure product adherence to customer quality and compliance requirements and manage and maintain those standards with support from Quality and Compliance.
• Identify operational risks, assess their scope and potential impact, and develop and implement mitigation strategies and contingency plans.
• Manage production-related commercial agreements, including Basic Ordering Agreements, Product Support Agreements, Statements of Work, and Aftermarket Services Agreements.
• Work with customers to define scopes of work, generate requests for quotes, communicate commercial proposals, and secure purchase orders.
• Work with Operations throughout commercial agreement phases to ensure internal buy-in.
• Coordinate activities related to Production, Quality, and Repair Stations.
• Track and communicate customer requests, deliverables and deadlines, data requests, and project updates; coordinate Operations support in gathering information.
• Lead customer reviews, including Pre-production Readiness Reviews, Production Readiness Reviews, and Quarterly Business Reviews.
• Lead internal Production Readiness and Program Management Reviews.
• Coordinate new opportunities with the Business Development team.
• Lead the development and delivery of AS9145/APQP/EEPAP documents as required.
• Support continuous process improvement to enhance efficiency, quality, and productivity in production operations.

Benefits

• Quarterly incentive compensation bonus.
• Health, dental, vision, disability, and life insurance.
• Flexible spending account (FSA) and health savings account (HSA).
• Voluntary life/AD&D, voluntary critical illness, accident prevention, and hospital indemnity coverage.
• 401(k), profit sharing, and Employee Stock Purchase Plan; Astronics has committed to contribute 3% of eligible wages under the safe harbor plan, with the possibility of an annual discretionary additional contribution.
• Employee Assistance Program and Wellness Program.
• Paid time off, Volunteer Time Off Program, paid holidays, and paid parental leave.
• Tuition reimbursement program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level