Chief Operating Officer

Operational Leadership

• Lead day-to-day operations including manufacturing, supply chain, quality assurance, program management, and engineering.
• Ensure consistent execution across all programs, meeting cost, schedule, and performance requirements.
• Oversee production planning, inventory control, logistics, and resource management.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across operations, using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.

Strategic Execution

• Partner with the CEO and executive team to define and implement corporate strategy.
• Translate strategic goals into actionable operational plans and key performance metrics.
• Identify and mitigate operational risks, ensuring compliance with government regulations (e.g., FAR/DFARS, ITAR, AS9100, NIST).
• Support M&A integration efforts, if applicable.

Program and Contract Performance

• Ensure effective delivery and performance across multiple government and commercial contracts.
• Collaborate with program managers to proactively manage schedules, budgets, and customer expectations.
• Interface with key government and defense customers (e.g., DoD, prime contractors) to ensure alignment and satisfaction.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Build, mentor, and lead high-performing operational teams.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and operational excellence.
• Develop leadership talent and succession plans across the organization.

Financial and KPI Management

• Work closely with the CFO to develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and financial targets.
• Monitor performance metrics (e.g., OTD, quality, gross margin, cost of goods sold) and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Support capital planning and investments aligned with growth strategy.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field required.
• MBA or advanced technical degree preferred.

Experience

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, preferably within defense, aerospace, or a highly regulated manufacturing industry.
• Proven track record managing complex programs and teams in a $100M+ revenue environment.
• Deep knowledge of DoD contracting, DFARS/FAR, ITAR, ISO/AS9100, and cybersecurity (NIST 800-171, CMMC).

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic thinker with hands-on execution capability.
• Strong leadership, communication, and change management skills.
• Deep understanding of supply chain, manufacturing, and engineering processes.
• Experience with ERP systems, operational dashboards, and continuous improvement tools.