Chief of Staff

About Helander

Helander Metal Spinning Company has spun, hydroformed, and machined precision metal components since 1933. We are an AS9100 aerospace and defense manufacturer, about 50 people in Lombard, IL. We are a lean, cross-trained team with direct access to decision-makers and a tight connection to the production floor.

The role

Be the right hand to the CEO and the operational backbone of the company. You own the systems, people processes, and administration that keep us running: HR, software and AI, training, compliance, and business support. 2027 is a big year of system change: Paylocity, ProShop, NetSuite, SharePoint, and CMMC Level 2 compliance. You will help lead all of it. You learn fast, take on anything, and turn what you learn into better ways of working. You report to the CEO.

What you’ll do

• Lead our 2027 system rollouts: Paylocity (payroll and HRIS), ProShop (ERP), NetSuite (finance), and the SharePoint transition, from configuration through training and adoption
• Drive CMMC Level 2 compliance in our GCC High environment
• Optimize and manage our other business systems (Power Automate and more) and bring AI into everyday work
• Train people from the floor to the office on systems, processes, and compliance, and help the team hold itself accountable to deliverables
• Spot process gaps, design practical fixes, and say plainly what is not working
• Run HR day to day: full-cycle recruiting, onboarding, employee relations, policies, and records, with an emphasis on clean documentation
• Administer payroll, benefits, the 401(k), and compensation, including the annual review cycle (in iSolved today, moving to Paylocity in 2027)
• Support our accounting functions, including accounts payable and payroll; a new Controller will take over some of this in the future
• Support the team on QMS and workflows and corrective actions, and help with financial and quality audits as well as CMMC compliance
• Support our new Business Development Manager with marketing collateral and administration, and manage marketing in the interim

What you bring

• A doer who learns, adapts, pivots, and implements. When a teammate is struggling, you step in to help; there is no “not my job”
• An eye for process gaps and a record of designing fixes that work
• Experience leading multiple system implementations, or one large one, through go-live and end-user training
• Enthusiasm for AI tools
• 5+ years of progressive operations, HR, project management, or systems implementation experience
• A love of working with people and teaching them
• Strong written communication, and comfort representing the company to counsel, auditors, and brokers

Nice to have

• Microsoft 365 or SharePoint administration; Power Automate, Power BI, or similar tools
• ProShop, NetSuite, or Paylocity implementation experience, or other ERP experience
• Aerospace, defense, or regulated manufacturing experience
• Familiarity with AS9100 / ISO 9001, CMMC / NIST 800-171, or ITAR / EAR
• MBA, PMP

You do not need a manufacturing or compliance background. If you have the traits above, we will teach you the rest.

Our work involves ITAR-controlled data. Candidates must be able to work with it as a U.S. person.

Our first interview step is a short AI-guided interview, which you can skip by asking for a live call instead.

Pay and benefits

Pay: $115K to $150K per year, based on experience. Salaried, exempt.

Benefits: medical, dental, and vision coverage beginning the first of the month following 30 days of employment; a 401(k) with a company match (dollar-for-dollar on the first 3% and $0.50 on the dollar on the next 2%, subject to plan terms); 9 paid holidays, 5 personal/sick days, and 13 vacation days annually, plus one more day per calendar year up to 28 days.

Helander Metal Spinning is an equal opportunity employer.