Chief Operating Officer - Commercial Aircraft Services

Chief Operating Officer - Commercial Aircraft Services

Vale Group, a nationwide specialized recruitment firm, has partnered with a company based in Miami, FL , who is actively searching for a Chief Operating Officer (COO) . This is a transformational executive role with a growing FAA Part 145 repair station serving the commercial aviation sector. The ideal leader has taken a certificated, regulated repair operation from the $30-50 million revenue range and actively scaled it beyond ~$100 million, or similar, building the systems, processes, and leadership infrastructure needed to guide the organization into its next stage of expansion.

Requirements of the Chief Operating Officer:

• 15 or more years of progressive leadership within aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul environments
• At least 7 years in a senior operations capacity such as COO, VP of Operations, General Manager, or similar
• Proven success scaling a certificated, regulated operation (Part 145, AS9100, or similar) through a revenue-doubling phase, roughly $30-50 million grown to $100 million or more, not simply managing steady-state
• Hands-on capacity and throughput planning experience in a shop‑floor MRO or precision repair setting, including turn times, WIP, and SLA performance, as opposed to purely corporate operations
• Track record of implementing systems and processes such as ERP, MRP, and quality management platforms that mature a business past founder‑era informality
• Deep familiarity with commercial aircraft component overhaul, with landing gear exposure strongly valued
• OEM or airline customer‑facing experience is ideal
• Demonstrated ability to build leadership teams, org structures, and KPI‑driven management systems
• Solid financial acumen, including ownership of operational budgets and capital planning
• Lean, Six Sigma, or Operational Excellence credentials and an MBA or related degree are a plus

Responsibilities of the Chief Operating Officer:

• Direct all operational functions spanning production, planning, supply chain, engineering, facilities, and customer support
• Convert the company's strategic vision into measurable initiatives, dashboards, and performance targets
• Recruit, coach, and develop a high‑caliber operations leadership team with clear accountability
• Redesign workflows and remove bottlenecks using Lean principles to boost throughput, turnaround times, and labor utilization
• Drive capacity planning, WIP management, and turn time performance across all shops
• Implement and mature scalable business systems including ERP, MRP, and quality platforms
• Partner with the quality organization to uphold FAA, EASA, and CAA compliance at every level
• Strengthen customer relationships, including OEM and airline accounts, alongside sales and support teams
• Champion a culture rooted in ownership, safety, and continuous improvement
• Support as needed