Operations Manager

Company: AV8 Position Description: Operations Manager Location: Houston, TX Department: Operations Reports to: Site Leader ABOUT AV8 MRO AV8 MRO, a Victor Sierra Aviation company, 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 committed to delivering exceptional quality, service, and operational excellence to customers around the world. ABOUT VICTOR SIERRA AVIATION Victor Sierra Aviation (VSA) — a TransDigm Group company — is the parent of McFarlane Aviation, McFarlane Alaska, Tempest Aero Group®, AV8, and Aviation Products Systems. We acquire and build businesses that lead in engineering, manufacturing, and distribution of exceptional aerospace products, with 450 employees across Kansas, North Carolina, Illinois, Alaska, and Texas. THE OPPORTUNITY We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead day-to-day operations at our Houston facility and support the continued growth of our organization. The Operations Manager is responsible for leading all production activities within our repair station, ensuring work is planned, prioritized, and executed safely, efficiently, and in compliance with FAA, EASA, customer, and company requirements. This role provides leadership for our production and procurement teams and is responsible for balancing customer priorities, workforce capacity, production schedules, material availability, and operational performance to consistently achieve delivery commitments. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Production Operations Daily Operations: Lead daily production operations across receiving, teardown, machining, plating, inspection, assembly, testing, painting, and shipping Priorities & Scheduling: Establish and communicate production priorities, schedules, and performance expectations Workflow & WIP: Monitor workflow and work-in-process (WIP) to identify and remove production bottlenecks Planning & Capacity Capacity Planning: Lead workforce and production capacity planning efforts, partnering closely with Planning, Engineering, Quality, and Supply Chain teams to ensure labor and material resources align with customer demand and operational priorities Resource Balancing: Balance labor, equipment, materials, and capacity to optimize operational performance Procurement & Materials Procurement Leadership: Oversee the procurement team, including purchasing of parts, materials, and outside processing (e.g., plating, NDT) to support production schedules and customer commitments Material Availability: Ensure timely availability of parts and materials by managing lead times, expediting, and shortages to minimize production delays Supplier Performance: Monitor supplier on-time delivery, cost, and quality, partnering with Quality on the Approved Supplier/Vendor Program Cost & Inventory: Drive purchasing cost savings and inventory management to support operational and financial goals People & Culture Team Development: Coach, mentor, and develop supervisors and production personnel Culture: Promote a culture of safety, quality, accountability, and continuous improvement Compliance & Continuous Improvement Regulatory Compliance: Ensure compliance with FAA Part 145 regulations, EASA requirements, company procedures, and customer specifications Audit Support: Support internal, customer, FAA, and EASA audits Continuous Improvement: Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on productivity, efficiency, and turnaround time Performance Metrics: Track and report key performance metrics, including on-time delivery, labor efficiency, schedule attainment, safety, and throughput QUALIFICATIONS Required 10+ years of manufacturing or aerospace operations experience, including at least 3 years leading production teams in aerospace manufacturing, aircraft component repair, MRO, or another highly regulated environment Demonstrated success leading teams of 20 or more employees and improving safety, quality, delivery, and productivity Strong experience with production planning, scheduling, workflow management, capacity planning, and resource allocation, with the ability to balance customer priorities, labor, material availability, equipment capacity, and production schedules Experience leading or overseeing purchasing/procurement teams, including supplier management and material planning Experience operating within highly regulated environments and ensuring compliance with industry, customer, and quality requirements Hands‑on leadership style with strong communication, employee development, problem‑solving, and change‑management skills Experience utilizing ERP/MRP systems to support production planning, scheduling, and operational performance Preferred FAA Part 145 or EASA repair station experience Aircraft component or landing gear overhaul experience AvSight experience Certifications such as A&P, Lean, Six Sigma, APICS, or Project Management WHAT SUCCESS LOOKS LIKE Lead a safe, compliant, and high‑performing operation Improve productivity, labor utilization, and operational throughput Deliver exceptional on‑time performance and turnaround times Develop and mentor production leaders and employees Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, and continuous improvement Collaborate effectively across Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Customer Service teams Ensure reliable material availability and strong supplier performance to support production schedules WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR You're a visible, hands‑on leader who thrives in a fast‑paced aerospace manufacturing and MRO environment. You're passionate about developing teams, improving processes, and driving operational excellence. Why AV8? At AV8, you're part of a team dedicated to precision, quality, and continuous improvement. Whether you're manufacturing components, solving problems, or sharing new ideas, your work helps keep aircraft operating safely around the world. We believe in doing the right thing, delivering exceptional quality, and working together with integrity to build products our customers can depend on. We offer: A collaborative, hands‑on culture where ideas take flight and your voice matters. Competitive pay and benefits and room to grow. A supportive crew of aviation pros who are passionate about what they do. AV8 is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status. #J-18808-Ljbffr