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Director of Operations

Eleven Recruiting
  • Hayden, ID
  • $180,000–$200,000 Per Year
  • Instant Apply
3 days ago

Job Description

Eleven Recruiting is searching for a Director of Operations for a leading aerospace and defense composites manufacturer, onsite in Spokane, Washington. This organization builds high-performance composite structures for aerospace and defense and operates in a highly regulated, safety-critical environment. Reporting to the General Manager, the Director of Operations provides strategic leadership and hands-on execution across all manufacturing, production, supply chain, and facility operations. The ideal candidate pairs a strong composites background with experience spanning both commercial aerospace and the emerging new-space sector — a leader comfortable operating across defense, commercial, and new-space programs — and can drive operational excellence, lead continuous improvement, develop high-performing teams, and deliver on business, customer, and regulatory objectives.

Responsibilities:
  • Lead all manufacturing, production, supply chain, and facility operations to deliver products on time, on cost, and at the highest quality.
  • Translate corporate and business objectives into actionable operational strategies and execution plans; contribute to company strategy, growth, and profitability as a key member of the leadership team.
  • Assume General Manager responsibilities as needed to support business continuity.
  • Champion and sustain a Lean Manufacturing culture; lead continuous-improvement initiatives — 5S, Kaizen, Value Stream Mapping, Standard Work, Visual Management, RCCA, and waste elimination.
  • Drive productivity, cost reduction, throughput optimization, and quality through structured CI; establish and manage KPI dashboards and visual performance-management systems.
  • Ensure all production meets customer, contractual, and regulatory requirements; maintain compliance with AS9100, ISO, FAA, DoD, ITAR, and applicable safety standards.
  • Oversee quality systems, corrective and preventive action, and audit readiness; ensure a safe working environment and OSHA compliance.
  • Build, mentor, and develop high-performing operations and manufacturing leadership teams; establish accountability, performance expectations, and development plans.
  • Foster a culture of engagement, ownership, continuous learning, and operational excellence.
  • Develop and manage operating budgets, capital planning, and resource allocation; drive cost control and improve operational profitability.
  • Optimize labor, materials, equipment utilization, and capacity planning.
  • Oversee production planning, scheduling, capacity management, and inventory control; ensure effective ERP/MRP use and data-driven decision-making.
  • Lead facility layout optimization, equipment investments, and process-modernization initiatives.

Required Qualifications:
  • 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in manufacturing operations.
  • Experience across both defense and commercial aerospace composite programs.
  • Proven success driving Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement — 5S, Kaizen, value stream mapping, standard work, waste reduction, and throughput optimization.
  • Strong understanding of aerospace/defense quality systems and regulatory requirements — AS9100, ITAR, and customer-specific compliance standards.
  • Experience overseeing or partnering closely with supply chain functions (procurement, planning, inventory control, supplier performance, material flow) to support production continuity and on-time delivery.
  • Demonstrated ability to lead complex, multi-disciplinary operations teams and scale manufacturing organizations while maintaining quality and delivery.
  • Strong financial acumen — operating budgets, capital planning, cost-reduction initiatives, and operational KPIs.
  • Hands-on ERP/MRP experience for production planning, inventory management, capacity planning, and data-driven decision-making.
  • Execution-focused leader who balances strategic direction with day-to-day operational leadership in a fast-paced environment.
  • Excellent communication and leadership skills, building trust and accountability across operations, engineering, quality, and supply chain.
  • Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.

Preferred Qualifications:
  • Strong composites background.
  • Hands-on experience leading operations in composite fabrication environments — layup, bonding, curing, trimming, assembly, and inspection.
  • Ties to — or direct experience within — the commercial and new-space sectors, including new-space primes and their suppliers (strongly preferred by the hiring team).
  • Master’s degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business, or a related field.
  • Prior General Manager or P&L-ownership experience.

Salary: $180,000 - $200,000
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Numbers & Facts

LocationHayden, ID
Salary$180,000–$200,000 Per Year

Skills

  • AS 9100unmatched
  • Aerospace and Defenseunmatched
  • Banking Servicesunmatched
  • Budget Managementunmatched
  • Business Strategyunmatched
  • Business Supportunmatched
  • Calendar Managementunmatched
  • Capacity Managementunmatched
  • Capacity Utilizationunmatched
  • Capital Budgetingunmatched
  • Communication Skillsunmatched
  • Composite Materialsunmatched
  • Continuous Improvementunmatched
  • Contract Requirementsunmatched
  • Corrective Actionunmatched
  • Corrective and Preventative Action (CAPA) Systemsunmatched
  • Cost Controlunmatched
  • Cross-Functionalunmatched
  • ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning)unmatched
  • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)unmatched
  • ISO (International Organization for Standardization)unmatched
  • Inventory Managementunmatched
  • Leadershipunmatched
  • Lean Manufacturingunmatched
  • Maintain Complianceunmatched
  • Manufacturingunmatched
  • Manufacturing Operationsunmatched
  • Mentoringunmatched
  • OSHAunmatched
  • Operational Improvementunmatched
  • Operational Strategyunmatched
  • Operations Managementunmatched
  • Performance Managementunmatched
  • Performance Metricsunmatched
  • Procurement Planningunmatched
  • Production Controlunmatched
  • Production Planningunmatched
  • Production Scheduleunmatched
  • Production Supportunmatched
  • Profit & Lossunmatched
  • Profit & Loss Managementunmatched
  • Quality Managementunmatched
  • Quality System Requirements (QSR)unmatched
  • Regulationsunmatched
  • Regulatory Complianceunmatched
  • Regulatory Requirementsunmatched
  • Reporting Dashboardsunmatched
  • Resource Managementunmatched
  • Safety Standardsunmatched
  • Safety/Work Safetyunmatched
  • Strategic Planningunmatched
  • Supply Chainunmatched
  • Supply Chain Operationsunmatched
  • Time Managementunmatched
  • United States Department of Defense (DoD)unmatched
  • Value Stream Mappingunmatched
  • Vendor/Supplier Evaluationunmatched

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