Description

Summary

The Site Manufacturing Manager is an operational leader accountable for the full performance of a $4M aerospace and defense manufacturing facility, with expectations to drive 25% annual revenue growth. This role leads a multi-disciplinary operation supporting legacy aircraft parts fabrication, including tube bending, thermoforming, soft goods (e.g., parachutes, seating systems), and mechanical assembly.

This position is responsible for end-to-end site performance, including manufacturing, engineering, machining, technician operations, sewing/soft goods production, project management, and shipping/receiving. This role also provides dotted-line leadership to Quality (QE & Inspection) to ensure alignment with AS9100 and customer requirements.

Success in this role requires strong leadership across People, Process, and Systems, with a focus on operational excellence, scalable growth, customer satisfaction, and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Site Leadership & Business Performance:

• Own full site P&L performance, including revenue growth, cost control, margin expansion, and cash flow. 
• Assist operations director in developing and executing a strategic operating plan to achieve 25% annual growth, including      capacity planning, capability expansion, and workforce scaling. 
• Serve as the primary site leader interfacing with executive leadership, customers, and cross-functional stakeholders. 
• Prepare monthly slides deck for the business review.
• Drive a culture of accountability, performance, and engagement across all functions.

Operations & Production Management:

• Lead integrated operations across fabrication, machining, thermoforming, sewing/soft goods, and final assembly. 
• Ensure effective production planning, scheduling, and execution to meet on-time delivery (OTD), quality, and cost targets. 
• Optimize labor utilization, throughput, and facility capacity to support growth and customer demand. 
• Partner with Supply Chain to ensure material availability, supplier performance, and inventory optimization. 
• Oversee shipping, receiving, and logistics coordination to ensure accurate and timely deliveries.

Engineering & Program Execution:

• Partner with Engineering and Project Management to ensure successful execution of customer programs, especially legacy and low-volume/high-mix aerospace products. 
• Support process development, tooling, and manufacturability improvements. 
• Ensure alignment between engineering releases, production readiness, and customer expectations. 
• Drive accountability for schedule adherence, milestone execution, and risk mitigation.

Quality & Regulatory Compliance:

• Provide leadership and alignment for the Quality Management System (QMS) in compliance with AS9100 / ISO 9001. 
• Ensure effective execution of inspection, testing, and documentation requirements for aerospace products. 
• Support and drive root cause corrective actions (RCCA), CAPA, and continuous quality improvement. 
• Lead site readiness for customer, regulatory, and third-party audits. 
• Reinforce a “quality-first” culture across all operations.

Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement:

• Champion and sustain Lean Manufacturing principles, including 6S, visual management, standard work, and waste elimination. 
• Lead Kaizen events and process improvement initiatives focused on throughput, cost reduction, and lead-time improvements. 
• Implement data-driven KPIs (OTD, yield, scrap, labor efficiency, etc.) and ensure accountability at all levels. 
• Drive a culture of problem-solving using structured methodologies (A3, 5 Whys, DMAIC).

People Leadership & Organizational Development:

• Lead, coach, and develop a cross-functional team, including supervisors, engineers, machinists, technicians, sewing operators, and support staff. 
• Establish clear performance expectations, metrics, and accountability at all levels.      
• Build bench strength and succession plans to support growth. 
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on safety, quality, delivery, and continuous improvement. 
• Partner with HR to ensure compliance with labor laws, performance management, and employee relations.

EHS & Facility Management:

• Ensure compliance with OSHA and all environmental, health, and safety regulations. 
• Promote a zero-incident safety culture through proactive risk identification and mitigation. 
• Oversee facility operations, including equipment reliability, preventive maintenance, and capital investment planning. 
• Ensure infrastructure readiness to support scaling operations and new capabilities.

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Direct leadership of all site functions, including: 
  • Manufacturing & Production including lead or supervisor
  • Manufacturing Engineering
  • Project Management 
  • Machining & Fabrication 
  • Sewing / Soft Goods Operations 
  • Shipping & Receiving 
  • Inventory controls
• Dotted-line leadership of: 
  • Quality Engineering 
  • Inspection       
• Responsible for hiring, performance management, coaching, and organizational development.

Requirements

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, or related field required. 
• 10+ years of progressive experience in manufacturing, with 7+ years in leadership roles. 
• Experience in aerospace and defense manufacturing required; legacy/aftermarket programs strongly preferred. 
• Proven track record of scaling operations and driving revenue growth. 
• Strong experience with AS9100 / ISO 9001 quality systems. 
• Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt preferred.

Required Skills & Competencies

Leadership & Business Acumen:

• Strong P&L ownership mindset with the ability to connect operations to financial performance. 
• Ability to lead complex, multi-process manufacturing environments. 
• High level of accountability, ownership, and decision-making capability. 

Operational & Technical Expertise:

• Deep understanding of fabrication, machining, thermoforming, and/or soft goods manufacturing. 
• Experience with high-mix, low-volume production environments. 
• Proficiency in ERP/MRP systems, production planning, and inventory control. 
• Fluent in Microsoft applications (word, excel, power point, project, teams, and access)

Problem Solving & Execution:

• Data-driven decision-making with strong analytical and problem-solving skills. 
• Ability to manage competing priorities and operational complexity. 
• Strong execution mindset with a focus on results and continuous improvement. 

Communication:

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills. 
• Ability to effectively communicate with executives, customers, and shop floor teams. 

Work Environment:

The Site Manufacturing Manager reports to senior operations director and is responsible for maintaining a safe, organized, and compliant manufacturing environment, aligned with aerospace quality standards. This role requires regular presence on the production floor and active engagement with all team