Production Manager

Position Summary AV8 MRO is a leading FAA and EASA‑certified aircraft component repair station specializing in the overhaul, repair, modification, testing, and exchange of aircraft landing gear systems and related components. We are seeking an experienced Production Manager to provide operational leadership for our Houston, Texas facility and help drive the next phase of our company’s growth. Essential Responsibilities Production Operations Lead all daily production activities within the FAA and EASA Repair Station. Establish and communicate daily, weekly, and long‑range production priorities. Coordinate workflow across receiving, teardown, machining, cadmium plating, inspection, assembly, testing, painting, and shipping. Ensure production schedules support customer commitments while maximizing operational efficiency. Monitor Work‑in‑Process (WIP) and proactively identify and eliminate production bottlenecks. Drive schedule adherence and improve overall throughput. Balance workload, labor resources, equipment capacity, and material availability to optimize production performance. Ensure operational issues are resolved quickly through cross‑functional collaboration. Leadership & Team Development Provide leadership, coaching, mentoring, and performance management for production supervisors and employees. Build a positive, accountable, and highly engaged workforce. Promote teamwork, communication, respect, and employee development. Conduct daily production meetings and regular performance reviews. Identify training needs and develop employees for future leadership opportunities. Participate in recruiting, interviewing, hiring, onboarding, and employee retention initiatives. Foster a culture where safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement are core values. Production Planning & Resource Management Partner with Planning, Purchasing, and Supply Chain to ensure materials are available to support production schedules. Balance labor requirements with production demand. Coordinate outside processing activities and supplier support when required. Optimize workflow to reduce delays and improve turnaround time. Maintain visibility of production capacity and communicate potential risks to executive leadership. Regulatory Compliance & Quality Ensure all production activities comply with FAA Part 145 regulations, EASA Repair Station requirements, Company Repair Station Manual, Quality Management System, approved technical data, and customer specifications. Support FAA, EASA, customer, and internal audits. Promote a culture where safety and regulatory compliance are never compromised. Work closely with the Quality Department to ensure corrective actions are implemented effectively. Continuous Improvement Champion Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives throughout the operation. Identify opportunities to improve productivity, efficiency, and workflow. Reduce waste and improve resource utilization. Standardize processes and implement best practices. Lead root cause investigations and corrective action activities. Utilize operational metrics to drive continuous improvement and informed decision‑making. Performance Management Develop, monitor, and report key operational metrics including On‑Time Delivery, Turnaround Time (TAT), Schedule Attainment, Work‑in‑Process (WIP), Labor Efficiency, Productivity, First Pass Yield, Rework, Safety Performance, and Capacity Utilization. Provide regular performance updates to the VP of Operations/Site Leader and recommend corrective actions when operational objectives are not being achieved. Decision‑Making Authority Establish daily production priorities and labor assignments. Coordinate workflow across all production departments. Allocate personnel and production resources. Approve overtime within established company guidelines. Escalate production, quality, staffing, or material issues to executive leadership. Recommend equipment purchases and process improvements. Participate in hiring, employee development, promotions, corrective actions, and performance evaluations. Lead cross‑functional operational improvement initiatives. Required Qualifications Minimum of 10 years of manufacturing or aerospace operations experience, including at least 3 years in a production leadership role within aerospace manufacturing, aircraft component maintenance, MRO, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment. Demonstrated success leading production teams of 20 or more employees. Strong understanding of production planning, scheduling, workflow management, and capacity planning. Experience balancing customer priorities, labor resources, production schedules, and material availability. Working knowledge of precision machining operations; experience with cadmium plating or other aerospace surface finishing processes is strongly preferred. FAA Part 145 Repair Station experience preferred. EASA Repair Station experience preferred. Knowledge of aircraft landing gear overhaul or aircraft component repair is highly desirable. Strong leadership, organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills. Proven ability to motivate teams and lead organizational change. Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities. Experience using ERP/MRP systems; AvSight experience is preferred. Proficient with Microsoft Office applications. Must be able to work full‑time on‑site at AV8 MRO's Houston, Texas facility. This position requires daily interaction with production personnel and active leadership on the shop floor. Preferred Qualifications FAA Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) Certificate. Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, APICS, or Project Management certification. Experience managing aerospace machining operations. Experience with aircraft landing gear overhaul. Knowledge of Non‑Destructive Testing (NDT) processes. Experience supporting production in FAA and EASA‑certified repair stations. Core Competencies Operational Leadership Production Management Production Planning & Scheduling Capacity Planning Lean Manufacturing Continuous Improvement Regulatory Compliance Team Development Customer Focus Accountability Decision Making Collaboration Communication Process Improvement Problem Solving Results Orientation Success in This Role Lead a safe, compliant, and highly productive operation. Deliver exceptional on‑time performance and industry‑leading turnaround times. Improve production efficiency, labor utilization, and operational throughput. Build and develop a high‑performing production team. Create a culture of accountability, engagement, and continuous improvement. Partner effectively with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Customer Service to achieve company objectives. Support AV8 MRO's continued growth as a premier FAA and EASA‑certified aircraft landing gear overhaul and repair organization. #J-18808-Ljbffr