Sr Director, Global Operations Leader

Curtiss-Wright•Ashburn, VA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Curtiss-Wright is seeking a highly experienced Global Operations Leader to oversee and drive excellence within our Defense Electronics segment across Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Planning and New Product Introduction functions. This Leadership role is pivotal to ensuring the integrity, efficiency, and compliance of our mission-critical manufacturing and delivery processes on a global scale. This is a high-impact, mission-critical role with the opportunity to shape the operational backbone of a global leader in the Aerospace & Defense industry. You will drive the long-range strategic planning process for operations in a global organization in excess of $500m revenue as part of a shared services/center of excellence model. Directs the management of all manufacturing operations, including manufacturing itself, production control, product engineering, manufacturing engineering, equipment engineering, inventory control, potential materials functions, such as purchasing, and shipping/receiving activities.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or related field.
15+ years of progressive leadership experience in global operations within the Aerospace & Defense industry.
Understanding of defense acquisition frameworks and export compliance (e.g., ITAR, EAR).
Proven track record in managing complex supply chains, regulated production environments, and large-scale transformation initiatives.
Experience in ERP and business systems integration (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Deltek Costpoint, Teamcenter).
Strong familiarity with FAA, DoD, NASA, or other regulatory agency standards and expectations.
Security clearance (or ability to obtain) may be required depending on business unit focus.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree or MBA preferred.
PMP or Program Management credentials
APICS CPIM/CSCP
Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt

Responsibilities

Build and lead a high-performing global operations team, within a matrix structure of business units, with a focus on technical excellence, accountability, and continuous development.
Lead global production, logistics, and facility operations to ensure delivery of complex aerospace and defense systems on time, within budget, and to spec.
Drive operational strategies that align with program execution and customer requirements, including government and military contracts.
Champion a culture of integrity, safety, compliance, and innovation.
Direct global supply chain activities including strategic sourcing, supplier risk management, logistics, and lifecycle sustainment planning.
Develop and maintain supplier relationships with a focus on long-term partnerships, resilience, cost containment, and technology readiness.
Ensure compliance with industry and regulatory standards such as AS9100, ISO 9001, ITAR, and DFARS.
Lead and oversee quality management systems to maintain product reliability and customer trust.
Embed a culture of continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, and root cause analysis tools.
Develop and implement scalable manufacturing strategies to support rapid and successful ramp-up of new products across global sites.
Partner closely with R&D, engineering, supply chain, quality, and regional operations teams to ensure seamless product transitions from development to volume production.
Manage risk assessment and mitigation plans related to NPI, including supply chain constraints, capacity planning, and quality controls.
Partner with engineering, program management, contracts, and finance teams to ensure alignment of operational capabilities with customer and program needs.
Support the capture and execution of new business by contributing to proposal development, capacity planning, and capability presentations.
Define and manage KPIs related to quality, delivery, cost, compliance, and efficiency.
Identify and mitigate operational risks, including geopolitical, cybersecurity, and supply chain disruptions.