Director, Program Operations & NPI

Director, Program Operations And NPI

We are seeking a seasoned Director, Program Operations and NPI to lead our NPD and NPI aerospace program operations at a strategic level. This role requires a combination of deep aerospace manufacturing expertise, program management, leadership acumen, and the ability to drive operational excellence across multiple programs from development through to production readiness. The successful candidate will have a proven track record of delivering on program and product goals, budgets, schedules, optimizing product introduction, and directing large teams in transitioning products successfully into complex aerospace manufacturing environment.

Position Responsibilities:

• Provide strategic direction, vision, execution and leadership to the program operations, manufacturing, quality, test, tooling, supply chain, design and development teams, ensuring alignment with the organization's goals and objectives toward product development product launch. Develop and implement operational plans, policies, and procedures to enhance efficiency and productivity while maintaining the highest standards of safety and quality.
• Develop strategies to achieve operational objectives for daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual metrics while maintaining budgetary objectives
• Continuously evaluate operational processes for new product introduction, identify areas for improvement, and implement initiatives to streamline operations, reduce costs, and enhance overall performance. Drive a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence throughout the teams introducing new products
• Provide leadership, mentorship and guidance to the New Product Introduction team for introducing products successfully, fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment. Mentor and develop team members, identifying training needs and providing opportunities for growth and advancement.
• Accountable for successful operations strategy, planning and execution of all new products maturation and transition to production lifecycle.
• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to monitor operational performance. Regularly analyze performance data, identify trends, and take proactive measures to address any deviations from targets. Implement corrective actions as needed to drive operational efficiency and meet operational goals
• Identify operational risks and develop strategies to mitigate them. Ensure compliance with processes, standards, and industry best practices related to PoR development.
• Collaborate, build and maintain strong relationships with internal stakeholders, including executive management, engineering teams, product line management, and business development, to ensure operational alignment with organizational objectives.
• Maximizes customer satisfaction through on-time on cost delivery of future products which meet required all production readiness requirements, specifications and perfect out of the box quality
• Supports Business Development, PLGM and Program Management on the development of customer proposals and customer visits
• Other duties as assigned

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience):

• Bachelor's degree in Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Manufacturing Engineering, or a related field
• Minimum of 12 years of experience in aerospace manufacturing, operations or program management with 5 years experience in a people leadership role.
• In-depth knowledge of aerospace production processes, materials, and quality control standards.
• Proven leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and lead a large and diverse team.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to make quick, effective decisions.
• Experienced in planning and executing large, complex programs (5 or more concurrent projects) meeting both budget and schedule.
• Experienced in providing strategic leadership, guidance and mentorship to managers of complex programs.
• Excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
• Proficient in articulating financial condition on multiple programs, anticipating problems and implementing action to resolve them
• Proficiency in program and project management and experience with operations systems.
• A commitment to continuous learning and staying current with industry trends and best practices.

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies:

• Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths, and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances
• Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees
• Brings organizational values to life using personality, uniqueness and the creation of a shared vision
• Champions the process of change and promotes a culture of quick adaptation while helping others deal with the effects of change
• Demonstrates the ability to develop and maintain internal and external trusting, professional relationships
• Assesses the degree of risk and opportunity in plans or actions and takes appropriate action to mitigate them or makes plans to build on the opportunity

Physical Demands:

• Ability to work in an office or on the manufacturing floor environment (constant)
• Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent)

Special Requirements:

• U.S. Citizen, U.S. Permanent Resident (Green Card holder) or asylee/refugee status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) required.

The salary range for this role is: $153,308 - $217,140. AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate's work experience, education/training, and key skills.

ITAR Requirement: This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations ("ITAR") and/or the Export Administration Regulations ("EAR"). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment's determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment's business requirements. A "U.S. person" according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements.

Benefits: AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown.