Senior Director of Operations

Founded in 1918, Kearfott Corporation, a global Aerospace and Defense supplier for over 100 years, is a leader in the design and manufacture of precision motion control products and inertial navigation components. Kearfott has a very long history of innovation and excellence and is the go-to brand for many of our global clients.  Kearfott is trusted, respected and plays a vital role in the success of America’s aerospace and defense industries. With over a century of expertise & experience, Kearfott is dedicated to providing quality, reliability, and cutting-edge technology to customers worldwide to meet their sea, land, air, and space navigation and guidance requirements.

Kearfott offers a comprehensive benefits package including a 401K, and Tuition Reimbursement. We offer a 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off. 

We are looking for talented individuals who want to be part of a world-class work force. Join Kearfott and become part of a company that is recognized for technical expertise and respected world-wide as a ‘full service’ provider.

For more information, visit our website at www.kearfott.com

Sr. Director of Operations, Black Mountain, NC

The Sr. Director of Operations is responsible for leading multiple operational sites.  The Sr. Director is responsible for leading all manufacturing functions for all of Kearfott Corporation, Motion Systems Division (MSD) operational sites (Asheville NC, Brownsville TX, and Matamoros Mexico).  This includes Machine Shop Production, Lower Assembly and Winding, Final Assembly and Test, Maintenance, and Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S).  The Sr. Director of Operations is required to be a leader/mentor who leverages their knowledge/experience to develop an operations department that is prepared for double digit growth.  The Sr. Director of Operations must also be a Lean Manufacturing change agent to drive lean throughout the organization.

• Management of Operations team across multiple sites to meet key customer and business performance metrics.
• Setting and achieving goals and metrics for areas of responsibility in support of overall MSD business goals.
• Providing leadership to ensure on time delivery that meet customer requirements and expectations for quality and performance.
• As a member of the Division Leadership Team, ensure continuity across functional areas, support divisional initiatives, and provide regular information and guidance regarding shipments, plant efficiency, and improvements.
• Lead the organization in the development of manufacturing standards, methods, metrics, and processes to continuously improve quality and delivery.
• Support and contribute to Root Cause/Corrective action initiatives, the Six Sigma Council, Green and Yellow Belt programs, Lean, and other manufacturing programs.
• Provide leadership and coaching to all Operations associates to ensure understanding and attainment of performance objectives.
• Lead, analyze, design, and improve processes by enlisting and influencing teams focused on reducing waste, inventory, and lead times.
• Foster a continuous improvement lean manufacturing culture assuring buy-in and ownership at all levels of the organization.
• Identify and implement best practices across the site.
• Ensure compliance with company policies and procedures, especially those pertaining to safety. Must take an active role in safety awareness and accident prevention.
• Lead talent management process for operations – develop a plan to cross-train technicians for multiple processes.

Critical Competencies

• Deep, hands-on understanding of aerospace and defense manufacturing operations developed through progressive manufacturing leadership experience.
• Strong working knowledge of precision machining and machine shop operations, including CNC machining, tooling, setup, production flow, capacity, scheduling, and shop-floor execution.
• Strong understanding of precision electromechanical assembly, subassembly, winding, final assembly, inspection, and test operations.
• Demonstrated ability to lead complex, high-mix/low-volume manufacturing environments with demanding quality, delivery, and traceability requirements.
• Demonstrated Lean Manufacturing change agent that has credible experience implementing continuous improvement utilizing lean manufacturing concepts in a machine shop and complex assembly environment.
• Proven manufacturing leader with a track record of increasing responsibility through production, manufacturing, plant, and/or operations leadership roles.
• Strong shop-floor leadership skills with the ability to engage effectively with machinists, technicians, supervisors, engineers, managers, and senior leadership.
• Demonstrated ability to identify and resolve manufacturing constraints related to people, equipment, material, methods, quality, and capacity.
• Strong understanding of structured problem-solving and continuous improvement methodologies, including Root Cause/Corrective Action, 5 Why, Lean Manufacturing, and Six Sigma.
• Demonstrated ability to improve production flow, reduce lead time and WIP, improve productivity, and increase manufacturing capacity while maintaining rigorous quality standards.
• Strong knowledge of ERP/MRP systems and their application to production planning, material requirements, capacity management, shop-floor scheduling, and execution.
• Ability to establish clear operating priorities, make timely decisions, and drive accountability in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Strong understanding of Aerospace & Defense customer expectations for quality, delivery, configuration control, traceability, and operational discipline.
• Proven ability to develop manufacturing talent, build strong front-line leadership teams, and create succession and cross-training plans.
• Ability to translate extensive manufacturing experience into common operating practices and best practices across multiple sites.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, manufacturing, operations, business, or a related discipline required; advanced degree preferred.
• Minimum 12+ years of progressive manufacturing and operations experience, with significant experience in Aerospace & Defense manufacturing strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated career progression through increasingly responsible manufacturing leadership positions, with substantial direct experience leading shop-floor operations.
• Significant experience with precision machine shop operations and CNC machining environments strongly preferred.
• Significant experience with precision assembly, electromechanical assembly, final assembly, and/or test operations strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex manufacturing operations involving machining, assembly, inspection, test, maintenance, and production support functions.
• Proven experience leading manufacturing organizations through improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, inventory, and lead time.
• Demonstrated experience applying Lean Manufacturing and structured root-cause/corrective-action methodologies to actual shop-floor problems.
• Experience developing supervisors, managers, technicians, machinists, and other manufacturing personnel.
• Multi-site manufacturing leadership experience preferred, including the ability to establish consistent operating practices and performance expectations across geographically dispersed operations.
• Experience supporting significant production growth, capacity expansion, new equipment implementation, manufacturing transfers, and/or facility expansion strongly preferred.
• Excellent leadership, communication, and organizational skills, with demonstrated credibility at both the shop-floor and executive leadership levels.
• Must be a US Citizen and have the ability to obtain and maintain a US Government Security Clearance.

Equal Opportunity Employer/including Disabled/Veterans