Senior Director of Shipyard Operations

General Dynamics - Bath Iron Works•Bath, ME

2h•$235,000 - $275,000

About The Position

The Senior Director of Operations is an enterprise leader responsible for overseeing major shipyard operational functions that support the construction, testing, and delivery of Navy surface combatant vessels. Reporting to the Vice President of Operations, the role provides strategic, financial, and operational leadership to advance performance in safety, quality, schedule, cost, and workforce development. Within the BIW Business Operating System (BOS), the Senior Director drives execution excellence, modernizes operational practices, and develops leadership and workforce capabilities for long-term shipyard success.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in manufacturing, engineering, marine engineering, industrial operations, or a related technical field.
Must be a U.S. citizen and able to obtain a government security clearance, including an interim security clearance within the first 45 days of hire.
At least 15 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in shipbuilding, construction, industrial manufacturing, or heavy industry.
Demonstrated success overseeing large operational teams and complex production environments.
Proven experience managing multi-program schedules, budgets, and performance metrics.
Strong record of industrial safety leadership and regulatory compliance.
Experience leading unionized workforces and managing labor relations.
Demonstrated ability to lead enterprise-scale process improvements and Lean initiatives.
Strong communication skills, leadership presence, and ability to build relationships at all levels, including with executive and customer stakeholders.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree, such as an MBA or similar.
Familiarity with Navy programs, government contracting, or defense manufacturing.

Responsibilities

Shape and execute long-range operational strategies aligned with enterprise goals and the modernization roadmap.
Lead major operational departments, supporting cohesive planning, resource alignment, and performance accountability across programs and ship sections.
Provide executive-level operational insight and recommendations to senior leadership.
Champion a strong safety culture, ensure adherence to safety standards, drive safety improvements, evaluate safety trends, and lead corrective actions.
Oversee construction, testing, and production execution across areas of responsibility.
Manage schedule integrity, cost performance, and quality compliance, implementing recovery plans and risk mitigation as needed.
Coordinate with Engineering, Planning, Quality, Supply Chain, and Manufacturing Support to ensure operational readiness and alignment.
Direct multi-program budgets and resource strategies, including capacity planning and workforce forecasting.
Align operational resources with production needs, modernization priorities, and long-range capability development.
Present operational and financial updates to executive leadership and key stakeholders.
Lead Superintendents, Managers, and cross-functional operational teams, emphasizing performance, accountability, and continuous development.
Build leadership pipelines through coaching, mentoring, and structured development planning.
Ensure workforce training, qualifications, and readiness requirements are met and sustained.
Serve as a senior operational interface with Navy program leadership, communicating performance, readiness, and risk.
Maintain alignment with internal executive stakeholders across Production, Engineering, Planning, and Program Management.
Support enterprise cultural improvement and organizational change initiatives.
Lead strategic improvement efforts to enhance efficiency, reduce waste, and strengthen operational standards.
Drive implementation and sustainment of the BIW Business Operating System across assigned functions.
Identify modernization opportunities and champion adoption of new tools, processes, and technologies.