Production Value Stream Manager - Aerospace Manufacturing Leadership Opportunity

Are you ready to lead a high-performing team in a fast-paced aerospace and defense environment? We’re seeking a Production Value Stream Manager (VSM) who thrives on driving results, developing talent, and delivering excellence. This is a critical leadership role that ensures on-time, high-quality production while fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

Job Title: Value Stream Manager
Reports to: Sr. Production Manager
Location: Kent, WA
Type: Exempt, Full-Time
Schedule: *100% Onsite: 1st Shift; Mon-Fri 6:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.; Working extended hours and weekend rotational shift may be required; On-call is <5%. Hytek production is open 24 hours Mon - Fri. All shifts are as follows: 1st shift (Monday – Friday, 6:00 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.), 2nd shift (Monday – Friday, 2:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.), 3rd shift (Sunday – Friday, 10:00 p.m. - 6:30 a.m.)

Full benefits package includes Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) matching, Performance Share incentive compensation (Profit Sharing Plan), 3-weeks paid time off to start, paid community service day, tuition reimbursement, parental leave, short term disability, long term disability, life insurance, long-term care plan options, 10 paid holidays, and onsite health services that includes access to a massage therapist.

Salary Range for position: $85,000 to $120,000 per year. The pay range and total compensation package listed above is the expected pay offered for this position at the start of employment. Your pay will be based on multiple factors, including and not limited to your relevant experience/level, experience level, and skillset while balancing internal equity relative to other employees. Hytek is committed to fair, unbiased compensation along with competitive benefits.

Role Overview
The Production Value Stream Manager (VSM) is a critical role within the organization, supporting the Senior Production Manager to meet and exceed production goals in their area of responsibility. The VSM is a leader who drives productivity and cost improvements, while focusing on department metrics, reporting, and employee development in their Value Stream to support production output necessary. The position will play a key role in ensuring on-time and quality delivery to our customers while meeting the critical demands for customer expedite needs. The role is responsible for managing the direction of the Production team across all shifts and the full breadth of the Value Stream utilizing support from Production Leads and shift Production Supervisors. This role has responsibility for hiring production level employees, development of shift supervisors, and supporting HR teams in all employees and hiring relations. This role is critical in driving productivity improvements within the Production teams.

What We Offer

• Mentorship by sr. leadership team members vested in your success in a key role in Operations
• Development of critical leadership and communications skills
• Technical support from very collaborative staff that have been in the industry for 20+ years
• True accountability and ownership of department performance and improvements
• Upward mobility potential to senior leadership roles for motivated individuals with the right critical thinking, judgement, drive, ethics, and communications skills
• Exposure to a broad range of business processes and opportunities
• Continuing education benefits up to $5,250 annually towards coursework and/or CPE relative to this role

The Ideal Candidate

• Has an entrepreneurial mindset, thinking and acting like an owner with a strong sense of urgency and bias for action
• Is skilled in monitoring and assessing the performance of self, other individuals, and teams to make improvements and take corrective action, creating a track record of successful leadership
• Is comfortable with ambiguity and change, nimble and responsive in the short-term while driving progress on longer-term initiatives and process improvements to achieve strategic goals
• Has emotional intelligence and is able to develop and foster a strong level of trust with leaders and employees of diverse backgrounds and situations
• Is an exceptional communicator in both written and verbal interactions; clear, concise, and courageous in giving tough but supportive feedback when needed

Responsibilities

• Manages production hourly employees across various departments
• Responsible for ensuring high levels of quality
• Direct the workforce in a way that promotes employee safety requirements at all times
• Sets production and operating metrics and identifies and solves operational problems, including meeting customer demand with on time delivery and quality
• Drives productivity projects shop wide to ensure real cost savings
• Responsible for ensuring production employees receive communication and support during all phases of their career. Working closely with HR to support recruiting, onboarding, career development and training, and end of employment processes
• Review and maintain a working knowledge of all company policies
• Provide audit support through the generation of timely, accurate schedules and documents
• Ensure all employees are properly trained including the company and department rules, policies, and safety procedures. This includes, but is not limited to, attendance, performance and disciplinary actions
• Partner with the Senior Production Manager to establish annual goals and objectives for direct reports; and monitor and advise team members regarding their progress against those goals to enhance the professional development of staff
• Conduct performance reviews and performance planning for production leadership and aide in calibrating reviews across their teams
• Lead succession planning efforts for production team members by developing leads and experts throughout their value stream
• Ensure development and maintenance of appropriate SWI (Standard Work Instructions) for production efficiencies
• Engage with stakeholders to evaluate customer needs and align business objectives
• Facilitate continuous improvement initiatives and drive cultural change within the organization.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

• ERP knowledge with a strong understanding of ERP functionality (Infor Syteline and Shop-Trak a plus)
• Computer proficiency with Microsoft Office suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook), with advanced Excel skills for data trend analysis
• High degree of integrity with the ability to work with confidential employee information
• Ability to document performance issues discreetly
• Strong time management skills with the ability to organize and manage multiple priorities
• Excellent analytical, critical thinking, decision making and intellectual prowess
• Must have a regular and dependable attendance record
• Read/Write/Communicate in English
• Must be able to pass a criminal background check
• Will be a supervisor within the FAA Repair Station, so must be able to pass random 5-panel pre-employment and drug tests
• This position requires access to export-controlled information and all applicants must satisfy U.S. export control regulations with authorization to work in the U.S. Non-U.S. persons would require an export license in order to work in our facility

Preferred Education/Previous Experience Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree preferred or equivalent years of experience
• Aerospace or manufacturing experience preferred but not required
• 5-7 years of management experience including ability to lead, develop, and retain employees

Essential Mental/Physical Demands
Standing/walking for long periods of time in a manufacturing environment. Extensive use of hands in writing, computer, and other office equipment. Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs. on an occasional basis. Occasionally exposed to moving mechanical parts, fumes, or airborne particles, and toxic or caustic chemicals. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate. Temperatures in the work environment can fluctuate with outside weather conditions. Due to the manufacturing environment, Personal Protection Equipment may be required including safety glasses, goggles, aprons, rubber boots, gloves, and respirator (provided by Company).

Application Process
Please apply at with an up-to-date resume and your current contact information. If you are a qualified candidate, we will set you up with a phone call with a recruiter to learn more about your experience and to tell you more about the job, compensation, and benefits. The recruiter will reach out should we move forward with the next steps.

Hytek Finishes is an equal opportunity employer. It is Hytek’s policy to make all employment decisions without regard to an individual’s sex, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, breast feeding, and related conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, race (including traits historically associated with race, including hair texture and protective hairstyles such as braids, locks and twists), creed, religion (including religious dress and grooming), color, national origin, ancestry (including association, affiliation, or participation with persons or activities related to national origin, English-proficiency or accent or immigration status), physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital or domestic partner status, age, veteran or military status, and any other categories protected by applicable state, local, or federal law. M/F/Disability/Protected Vet