General Manager

About Us:

As a global manufacturer of complex aircraft engine components, Pursuit Aerospace is founded on a commitment to relentless, continuous, operational improvement and extraordinary customer service. We pride ourselves on competitive cost structure, exceptional on-time delivery, and industry-leading quality.

The Pursuit family of companies has cultivated long-term relationships with our customers around the world through respect, teamwork, technology, and trust. We are driven to develop industry leading process innovations and manufacturing techniques on behalf of our customers. Our exceptional quality is driven by a deep investment in and the daily practice of continually improving our people, processes, and products.

About the Opportunity:

We are currently searching for a General Manager to join the Pursuit Aerospace organization and lead our ring-rolled dye forging operation. This is a key leadership role supporting approximately $40M+ in annual sales and 50+ employees, with significant opportunities for continued growth. The General Manager will have overall responsibility for safety, quality, delivery, sales, and financial performance while leading all site operations, including manufacturing, quality, engineering, account management, material management, production planning, and continuous improvement. The role will also be responsible for developing the business, strengthening customer relationships, identifying growth opportunities, and building the capabilities needed to support future expansion. Ultimately, the General Manager will balance customer needs and operational excellence with profitable growth while developing talent and driving employee engagement.

Location: Chicago, IL

Responsibilities:

• Provides ongoing leadership in the development and refinement of the business strategy and strategic plan. Establishes supporting goals for Operations and all supporting functions and ensures they are implemented. Responsible for the overall business performance.
• Serves as a visible leader for the business; models and communicates behavior/expectations that set the standard for ethics, quality, customer responsiveness and accountability, including ensuring all employees are trained in, aware of, and compliant with company, government, and customer policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Ensures all established safety, cost, quality, inventory and delivery commitments are met. Demonstrates a relentless commitment to prudent financial management and operational excellence.
• Oversees full range of direct and indirect functions of the business through a team of functional managers and supervisors. Empowers teams with a leadership/management style that is collaborative, inclusive and balanced in approach to drive and achieve results while embracing the company's servant leadership philosophy. Consistently achieves and executes the business plan the right way.
• Ensures the effective management of operating methods and manufacturing process plans, budget spending, manpower/resource utilization and labor efficiency, process capability and yield, material scheduling and capacity planning, facility needs, and tooling, dies, and equipment planning to achieve quality standards and on-time delivery goals for the customer.
• Develops a strong understanding of the technical and manufacturing processes associated with ring-rolled die forging and ensures the business has the capabilities, equipment, tooling, and technical resources required to support current and future customer requirements.
• Becomes immersed in production and operating processes and directs the resolution of operational, manufacturing, process, tooling, and maintenance problems to ensure minimum costs and prevent operational delays.
• Conducts business in a manner that is consistent with the Pursuit Vision, Mission, and Values, inclusive of leveraging the Pursuit Production System, a relentless approach to developing our people and processes using Kaizen and Moonshining that results in breakthroughs in technology and improved quality. The core of this methodology is quick process changes for the betterment of our customers and employees.
• Works collaboratively across the organization on policy deployment targets focused on cash generation and cost reduction.
• Oversees and, at times, directs the interface with customers and regulating bodies. Is deeply involved in building and maintaining relationships with these entities.
• Actively partners and engages Sales on customer management as the "voice-of-the-customer" (VOC). Seeks to expand product offerings with existing customers, help develop new customers and identify opportunities to grow the business and expand the division's presence as a strategic supplier.
• Operates as a strong team leader and team builder focused on generating results through collaboration, influence and relationship building as much as direct line authority. Builds a passionate and driven leadership team that possesses unmatched intensity and professionalism who desire and understands "how to win."
• Attracts, develops, and retains qualified, talented people, creating and sustaining a high-performance culture. Organizes the business to execute and deliver promised results on a consistent basis - the right way.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, technical field
• 15+ years of progressive experience in a complex, precision-driven manufacturing environment
• 5+ years of progressive experience in a leadership role, with direct reports
• 2+ years of site leadership experience, with P&L ownership
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis without sponsorship now or in the future. The Company cannot offer employment to visa holders who require employer sponsorship in the future or cannot work now on a full-time basis.
• Must be able to perform work subject to ITAR/EAR regulations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Aerospace experience preferred, with forging or other complex metal manufacturing experience strongly preferred.
• Experience with high-temperature material applications, including nickel- and cobalt-based superalloys, preferred.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Outstanding negotiation skills with a proven ability to create and maintain positive working relationships with vendors, suppliers, shippers, and internal and external customers.
• Must be a strategic, analytical, and results-oriented leader with sound judgment who empowers others to take ownership and pride in company operations.
• Detailed working knowledge and understanding of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement and their importance in driving cycle time, yield, quality, and cost improvements in manufacturing operations.
• Working knowledge and understanding of business support functions and their contributions, including human resources, information technology, accounting, finance, etc.
• Possesses the ability to apply logic to a wide range of abstract and practical problems faced in the context of business and to problem-solve possible resolutions and outcomes.
• Experience developing and managing operating and capital investment plans, including capacity expansion, equipment, tooling, and facility investments.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong track record of establishing and developing a company culture focused on positive employee relations, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated experience as an effective change leader with the ability to build trust, influence, and communicate at all levels of the organization. Balances consistency with flexibility, is willing to change ideas in the face of new information, and challenges the status quo with a sense of urgency to drive results.
• Proven ability to collaborate broadly across all levels of the organization and achieve results through accountability with cross-functional teams.
• Proven experience building dynamic, successful, high-performing teams, understanding how to motivate and inspire.
• A champion who builds strong customer and vendor relationships and identifies opportunities to grow the business.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate sales, operations, finance, logistics, and human resource disciplines to maximize site P&L performance. Develops and implements performance indicators to continually improve the efficiency, productivity, and capacity utilization of manufacturing operations.
• Impeccable integrity, superior interpersonal skills, and high emotional intelligence, with the ability to lead through influence, build strong relationships, and drive results.

Working Conditions

• Requires mobility in a manufacturing plant environment while using Personal Protective Equipment.
• Must be able to frequently sit, stand and walk.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Capable of being forklift, scissor lift, and boom lift certified
• Must be able to climb ladder, work on platforms, and climb stairs
• Personal protective equipment (e.g., safety glasses and safety shoes) is required on the shop floor
• Occasional weekend and evening work may be required to accommodate priorities, deadlines, and schedules.

Acknowledgements:

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.

Benefits:

Pursuit Aerospace also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements, among other things.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Pursuit Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.