Senior Director Operations

The Senior Director, Operations will lead the greenfield design, construction, commissioning, and long-term scaled production of a new manufacturing facility, managing a capital budget >$150M and guiding an eventual workforce of 200+ personnel. In addition, this role is responsible for providing services and resources to Engineering and Programs as needed to support the new location Assembly and Integration Center of Excellence for new product development and new product qualification.

The primary focus will be on Class 3 UAVs and air launched powered munitions. This position requires experience leading the operation of a complex, multi-product manufacturing line inclusive of energetics integration. Expertise in munitions handling is required. While the facility is being developed the Senior Director, Operations will provide leadership as the interim facility lead until additional staff is onboarded to assume those responsibilities.

• Serve as the senior operations interface to Business Units, Programs, Development Engineering, and state/local community leaders, ensuring aligned priorities and transparent communication.
• Provide strategic operational leadership for major segments of the organization, shaping long ‑ term plans, resource strategies, and cross ‑ functional execution.
• Direct Operations' contributions to assigned programs, including cost, schedule, quality, and performance commitments; ensure plans align with company and functional strategy.
• Oversee creation, approval, and execution of Operations program plans, capacity assessments, and production strategies. Key participant in make/buy decisions.
• Lead and ensure full integration and execution of New Product Introduction (NPI) requirements within proposals, BOEs, IMS planning, engineering development, and manufacturing readiness. Support the development of and provide manufacturing insight for subcontracting strategies in collaboration with the Supply Chain leader.
• Manage Production Control account execution across Operations, and related functions to ensure budget, schedule, and performance objectives.
• Oversee the transition of mature products (MRL 6+) into new or expanded production facilities, ensuring readiness, rate capability, and compliance.
• Provide executive ‑ level leadership in facility strategy (site selection, architectural design influence, environmental/permit coordination, factory layout, security systems, and Cap Ex management).
• Drive day ‑ to ‑ day operational performance across multiple manufacturing lines, ensuring throughput, on ‑ time delivery, and effective labor and facility utilization.
• Ensure full compliance with OSHA PSM, ATF FFL/FEL, EHS regulations, and company standards; lead incident investigations, audits, and corrective ‑ action programs.
• Own plant safety culture, enforcing SOPs for hazardous materials (propellants, explosives) and maintaining robust emergency preparedness, crisis management, and business continuity programs.
• Lead workforce strategy, including hiring, training, certification, and development of high ‑ performance teams aligned to organizational priorities.
• Direct continuous improvement initiatives using Lean/Six Sigma to optimize productivity, reduce waste, improve cost competitiveness, and enhance manufacturing maturity.
• Build and maintain executive ‑ level relationships with customers, regulators, defense partners, and internal leaders, negotiating issues and ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Benchmark industry best practices and justify future investments (Cap Ex, technologies, infrastructure) to enable sustained competitiveness and long ‑ term business growth.

• Master
  - Preferred (10+ years…