Senior Director, Operations

HANWHA AEROSPACE USA LLC•Cheshire, CT

3d•Onsite

About The Position

Hanwha Aerospace USA (HAU), part of Hanwha Aerospace’s Aero Business, supplies flight-critical aerospace and defense components and assemblies from four Connecticut facilities. The Senior Director of Operations leads day-to-day operations across five business units at four sites: Newington, Cheshire, Glastonbury, and East Windsor. The role oversees production, quality, supply chain, procurement, and production planning, and serves as the operational point of contact for customers on delivery, quality, and program execution. The Senior Director translates HAU strategy and turnaround priorities into site-level execution, is accountable for the operating results of all five business units—including revenue, cost, operating margin, and inventory—and establishes a common operating system executed by the site Directors of Operations. The position works closely with functional leaders at HAU and Hanwha Aerospace headquarters in Seoul. Regular travel among Connecticut sites is required, with up to 15% domestic and international travel.

Requirements

Must be a “US Person” as defined by the US Government and able to work without restriction with ITAR-related data.
Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
At least 15 years of progressive experience in aerospace/gas turbine or precision manufacturing operations, including at least 7 years leading multi-site operations or plant leaders.
Strong understanding of end-to-end operations, including production, quality, supply chain, procurement, and production planning.
Experience managing operating results—including revenue, cost, operating margin, and inventory—for multiple business units or plants.
Working knowledge of AS9100, NADCAP special processes, and ITAR/EAR compliance.
Demonstrated experience driving turnaround, operational excellence, and continuous improvement.
Excellent leadership and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively with customers, executives, and the shop floor.
Authorization to work in the United States prior to joining Hanwha Aerospace USA; the role will not sponsor or assist with work authorization sponsorship.

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree in Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field.
Experience with rotating parts, IBR/BLISK machining, or special processes such as EB welding and heat treat.
Six Sigma, Lean, or other continuous improvement certification.
Experience with ERP/MRP systems and S&OP processes.
Experience in a global manufacturing environment, including working with an overseas parent company.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end manufacturing and operations across five business units at four sites, executing turnaround priorities set by the Aero Business Group.
Translate HAU strategy into annual operating plans for each business unit, including capacity, capital investment needs, and staffing.
Establish a common operating system across sites, including tiered performance reviews, standard KPIs, and Lean and continuous improvement practices.
Resolve cross-site constraints involving capacity, shared equipment, special processes, and labor, and reallocate resources between business units as needed.
Sponsor improvement, automation, and ERP/digital initiatives spanning more than one site.
Lead SIOP and master production scheduling across all sites, aligning customer demand, capacity, and materials.
Direct procurement and supplier management, including sourcing strategy, supplier delivery and quality performance, purchase cost reduction, and supply risk mitigation for critical materials.
Manage inventory levels and inventory turnover days across business units to meet working capital targets.
Lead make-or-buy and outside processing decisions across the portfolio.
Manage operating results for the five business units, including revenue, cost, operating margin, and inventory.
Consolidate business unit budgets and forecasts, and present the operations plan to the person designated by the company.
Review monthly revenue, product cost, and margin performance by business unit, and direct recovery plans when results deviate from plan.
Drive cost reduction, productivity improvement, and reduction of cost of poor quality.
Serve as the primary operational point of contact for customers on delivery, quality, and program execution.
Own on-time delivery performance and customer scorecards, and lead recovery plans for at-risk deliveries.
Lead responses to quality escapes, customer corrective action requests, and customer audits.
Manage new product introduction and transition to production for new programs, and provide capacity, cost, and lead-time inputs to Commercial for quotations.
Escalate commercial matters such as pricing, contract terms, and new business to the Global Chief Commercial Officer.
Ensure all sites maintain compliance with AS9100, NADCAP, customer quality requirements, and applicable regulations.
Review cross-site quality trends and drive systemic corrective action beyond the scope of a single site.
Lead safety culture and EHS/OSHA performance across all sites.
Ensure operations comply with ITAR/EAR export control requirements and company policies.
Lead, coach, and evaluate the Directors of Operations; set measurable goals and conduct annual performance appraisals.
Propose the operations organizational structure and headcount plan, and hire site leaders within the approved plan.
Build leadership bench strength and succession plans for site leadership and critical roles in partnership with HR.
Communicate business direction through regular leadership forums and site meetings.
Perform other related duties or responsibilities as requested or required.