Vice President at Aerostar Detroit, Michigan

VP of Operations (Manufacturing)

Romulus, MI

We are seeking a VP of Operations to lead and scale our global manufacturing operations, driving performance across our U.S. and India facilities.

Position Summary

The VP of Operations (manufacturing) will be responsible for end-to-end operational leadership, including manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and production control. This role will drive execution, accountability, and scalability to support aggressive growth targets while maintaining world-class quality and delivery performance.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Lead global manufacturing operations across multiple sites (U.S. and India)
• Drive improvements in on-time delivery, quality, throughput, and cost structure
• Oversee S&OP, capacity planning, supply chain, and production control
• Build and enforce standard work, KPI dashboards, and accountability systems

Technical & Manufacturing Excellence

• Ensure strong execution in:
• CNC machining, tooling, and process capability
• IATF 16949, AS9100, ITAR, NADCAP, and customer audit readiness
• NPI, ECN/ECO processes, and engineering collaboration
• Optimize cost drivers including labor efficiency, scrap, rework, and utilization

Strategic Execution

• Translate business growth targets into:
• 3-year operational roadmap
• Capacity and capital investment plans
• Global organizational structure and talent strategy
• Partner with Sales/BD to ensure quotes and forecasts are operationally executable

Cross-Functional Integration

• Align Engineering, Quality, Operations, and Program Management
• Strengthen global supply chain and vendor performance
• Ensure seamless execution from RFQ to NPI to Production to Change Management

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• On-Time Delivery (OTD) 95%
• Year-over-year Quality PPM reduction
• Productivity improvement 5-8% annually
• Scrap and rework reduction
• Capacity utilization and throughput gains
• S&OP adherence and forecast accuracy
• Cost per unit and margin performance

Experience Requirements

• 15+ years in manufacturing operations
• 7+ years in multi-site or global leadership roles
• Experience in precision machining, aerospace/defense, or regulated environments
• Proven success scaling operations across U.S. and offshore (India experience strongly preferred)
• Demonstrated results improving delivery, quality, and cost simultaneously

Technical Expertise

• CNC machining and manufacturing process knowledge
• Deep understanding of AS9100, ITAR, and regulated environments
• Strong background in lean transformation and continuous improvement
• Experience with S&OP, forecasting, and capacity modeling
• Supply chain, vendor management, and risk mitigation expertise

Leadership Profile

• High accountability, disciplined, and execution-focused
• Builds and leads high-performing, cross-functional teams
• Strong global leadership with cultural awareness
• Data-driven decision maker who challenges underperformance
• Calm under pressure; decisive in ambiguity
• Transparent communicator with executive presence

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field
• MBA or Master's degree preferred
• Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (or equivalent) strongly preferred

Why Join Aerostar

• High-growth environment with strong leadership vision
• Opportunity to build and scale global operations
• Direct impact on strategy, performance, and organizational success
• Collaborative, values-driven culture focused on excellence and accountability

If you're a results-driven operations leader ready to build and scale a global manufacturing organization, we'd love to connect.