Vice President of Operations

Ferrotherm is seeking an experienced and results-driven Vice President of Operations to lead and optimize all aspects of manufacturing operations. This executive leadership role is responsible for driving operational excellence, developing organizational capabilities, and supporting the company's continued growth while strengthening strategic customer relationships within the aerospace industry.

The Vice President of Operations will oversee all operational functions, ensuring the consistent delivery of high-quality, airworthy products to aerospace OEM, defense, and turbine engine customers. As a key member of the Executive Leadership Team, this individual will translate strategy into operational execution while delivering results in safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and profitability.

The successful candidate will be a strategic leader with a proven track record of building high-performing teams, driving operational excellence, and leading growth initiatives within aerospace or other highly regulated manufacturing environments.

People Leadership & Culture

• Lead, mentor, and develop operational leaders across the organization within a union manufacturing environment.
• Foster a culture of accountability, ownership, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Develop succession plans and leadership pipelines for critical operational positions.
• Reinforce Ferrotherm's commitment to safety, quality, integrity, customer focus, and business excellence.
• Create an environment where employees are empowered to identify risks, solve problems, and drive meaningful improvements.

Executive Operations Leadership

• Develop and execute operational strategies that support revenue growth, profitability, customer satisfaction, and long-term business objectives.
• Establish operational goals, key performance indicators (KPIs), and accountability systems aligned with company objectives.
• Partner with Sales, Engineering, Quality, Finance, Information Technology, and Human Resources to ensure cross-functional alignment and effective execution.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to the President and Executive Leadership Team on operational risk, capacity planning, and capital investment priorities.
• Act as the executive operational liaison for key customers, supporting executive reviews, audits, escalation meetings, and strategic business discussions.

Manufacturing Operations & Production Execution

• Provide executive leadership for machining, assembly, heat treatment, special processes, preventative maintenance, and production support functions.
• Drive continuous improvement in safety, quality, throughput, productivity, utilization, and on-time delivery performance.
• Ensure production plans are executed efficiently while maintaining compliance with customer, regulatory, and internal requirements.
• Implement visual management systems, performance metrics, and accountability processes that support operational excellence.
• Lead initiatives to reduce lead times, improve manufacturing flow, eliminate bottlenecks, and expand capacity.
• Ensure operational readiness for production increases, new product introductions (NPI), and strategic program launches.

Supply Chain & Planning Leadership

• Oversee purchasing, supplier management, inventory control, logistics, production planning, and scheduling.
• Drive supplier performance improvements focused on quality, delivery, responsiveness, and cost.
• Develop and maintain robust Sales, Inventory, and Operations Planning (SIOP) processes to align customer demand with inventory strategy, available capacity, and production resources.
• Lead risk mitigation efforts related to material availability and supplier constraints.
• Ensure inventory strategies support customer delivery requirements while optimizing working capital.

Quality, Compliance & Aerospace Standards

• Provide executive leadership and support for the effectiveness of Ferrotherm's Quality Management System in partnership with the Director of Quality.
• Promote a culture where quality is built into processes, not inspected into products.
• Support successful customer, certification, and regulatory audits.
• Ensure operational processes maintain full product traceability, configuration control, and compliance with airworthiness requirements.

Financial & Business Performance

• Develop and manage annual operational budgets and capital expenditure plans.
• Drive EBITDA improvement through productivity gains, cost reduction initiatives, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure effective utilization of labor, equipment, inventory, and facility resources.
• Monitor operational financial performance and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Evaluate and justify investments in equipment, automation, facilities, and technology.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience, including executive-level responsibility.
• Proven experience in aerospace, aviation, defense, turbine engine, or other highly regulated manufacturing environments involving precision machining.
• Strong knowledge of AS9100 Quality Management Systems, aerospace manufacturing standards, root cause corrective action methodologies, and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional teams, managing organizational change, and delivering measurable business results.
• Strong strategic planning, leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with a Tier 1 or Tier 2 aerospace supplier supporting organizations such as GE Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney, Rolls-Royce, Safran, Honeywell, Collins Aerospace, Boeing, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, or similar customers.
• MBA or advanced degree in Business, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related discipline.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, or other operational excellence certifications are highly desirable.

Why Join Ferrotherm?

At Ferrotherm, you'll have the opportunity to make a significant impact on a growing aerospace manufacturing organization. You will help shape operational strategy, lead high-performing teams, and contribute to delivering world-class products to some of the industry's most respected aerospace and defense customers.

If you are a strategic and results-oriented operations executive with a passion for manufacturing excellence, we encourage you to apply.

Benefits:

• 100% Employer paid Health / Dental / Vision Insurance
• Generous Paid Time Off including annual Christmas Holiday shutdown (6 days) and 6 paid holidays.
• Long Term Disability insurance

Application Question(s):

• Do you have a MBA or advanced degree in Business, Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related discipline?
• Do you have at least 10 years of leadership experience in aerospace, aviation, defense, turbine engine, or another highly regulated manufacturing environment?
• Have you held responsibility for an entire manufacturing operation, plant, business unit, or multi-site operation as a Vice President, Director, General Manager, Plant Manager, or equivalent senior leadership role?
• Do you have direct experience working within an AS9100-certified manufacturing environment?
• Have you been responsible for managing operating budgets, capital expenditures, and P&L performance?
• Compensation for this position is based on a candidate's skills, experience, qualifications, and overall expertise. Ferrotherm is open to considering different compensation levels for highly qualified candidates. What is the minimum annual base salary you would require to consider this opportunity?
• Have you led operations within a UNION manufacturing environment?

Work Location: In person

Pay: From $125,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Application Question(s):

• Have you been responsible for managing operating budgets, capital expenditures, and P&L performance?
• Compensation for this position is based on a candidate's skills, experience, qualifications, and overall expertise. Ferrotherm is open to considering different compensation levels for highly qualified candidates. What is the minimum annual base salary you would require to consider this opportunity?
• Have you led operations within a UNION manufacturing environment?
• Please describe your experience interacting directly with aerospace customers or customers in other highly regulated industries. Include the types of customers you supported, your role in those interactions, and the types of information, documentation, or deliverables you were responsible for managing.
• Do you have direct experience working within an AS9100-certified or similar manufacturing environment?
• What experience do you have developing and executing supply chain strategy in support of business growth, profitability, and customer delivery requirements?
• What leadership principles have been most important to your success?

Work Location: In person