Performance Center Director
About The Position
The Manufacturing General Manager (Performance Center Director) is a senior operations leader with full P&L responsibility for a complex aerospace structures manufacturing site. This role is designed for a leader who thrives in high-expectation, action-oriented environments and has a proven track record of improving performance, not maintaining it. The successful candidate will be accountable for driving measurable improvements in cost, delivery, quality, and working capital, while strengthening operational discipline and talent capability. This is not a steady-state leadership role. The General Manager is expected to actively engage in problem-solving, challenge existing processes, and move the organization forward at pace. Revenue: Approximately $60M Employees: Approximately 150 Who are we? Founded in 1849, Ducommun is the oldest company in California. Starting as a hardware supply store during the California Gold Rush and eventually assisted in the birth of the aerospace industry in Southern California by providing aircraft aluminum to early aerospace pioneers like Lindbergh, Douglas and Lockheed. Today Ducommun is a global provider of innovative manufacturing solutions for customers in the aerospace, defense and industrial markets. We specialize in electronic and structural systems, producing complex products and components for commercial aircraft platforms, mission-critical military and space programs, and sophisticated industrial applications. Our Facility in Parsons, Ks manufactures precision parts for passenger and military aircraft. Travelers around the world count on our employees for their commitment to quality.
Requirements
- Results-driven leader who is comfortable operating in environments with change, pressure, and competing priorities.
- Demonstrated ability to move an organization from acceptable performance to higher standards.
- Strong executive presence with the ability to challenge constructively and lead difficult conversations.
- Decisive, data-driven, and willing to act without perfect information.
- High energy, resilient, and visible on the manufacturing floor.
- Comfortable in fiscally disciplined organizations where leaders are expected to do more with less.
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Business required
- 10–15+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience with increasing scope and accountability.
- Prior Full P&L ownership of a manufacturing operation is required.
- Demonstrated success leading operational improvement, turnaround efforts, or step-change performance initiatives.
- Deep understanding of Lean manufacturing, process control, and continuous improvement in an aerospace or regulated manufacturing environment.
- Strong understanding of financial metrics
- Proven ability to develop leaders and strengthen bench capability while driving results.
Nice To Haves
- Master’s or MBA preferred.
- Experience in aerospace structures manufacturing strongly preferred.
Responsibilities
- Own full-site P&L with direct accountability for operating income, cash flow, cost structure, and productivity improvements.
- Translate strategic objectives into aggressive, achievable operating plans and execute with urgency.
- Identify underperforming areas quickly and implement corrective actions decisively.
- Lead manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, and support functions to deliver sustained improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives that result in tangible gains, not theoretical models.
- Actively remove barriers to execution, making timely decisions in imperfect conditions.
- Ensure operational readiness for new programs, volume changes, and evolving customer requirements.
- Set a clear performance standard and hold leaders accountable for results.
- Lead cultural change initiatives that reinforce ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement.
- Personally model Lean and Six Sigma behaviors through visible engagement and follow-through.
- Build a culture that rewards problem-solving, adaptability, and results over process preservation.
- Partner with program management, finance, engineering, and corporate functions to ensure alignment and execution.
- Support contract execution and customer commitments through hands-on operational leadership.
- Participate in bid/no-bid decisions and make/buy analysis with a focus on manufacturability and margin.
- Engage with customers and suppliers as needed
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Director
