Applied Technical Service (ATS) is a leading provider of critical testing, inspection, certification, and compliance services. ATS serves clients across a diverse set of large and stable end markets including manufacturing, power generation, aerospace, medical, and defense. ATS was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Marietta, GA. Today the Company employs nearly 2,100 team members in over 95 locations across the United States.
ATS advances a mission to create a safe and reliable world through precise technical and professional services.
Our Calibration Department is seeking an experienced, energetic, and results-oriented General Manager to lead our Newport News, Virginia operation.
The ATS Calibration Division specializes in accredited calibration services for electrical, dimensional, pressure, temperature, torque, mechanical, and related measurement disciplines supporting commercial, industrial, and government customers.
Position Summary
Reporting to the Regional Calibration Director, Northeast, the General Manager is responsible for the overall operational, financial, technical, and strategic performance of the Newport News calibration laboratory and field service operation.
The General Manager will provide leadership for all aspects of the business including:
- Revenue growth
- Profitability and EBITDA performance
- Customer satisfaction
- Technical operations
- Quality management
- Safety performance
- Employee development
- Laboratory accreditation compliance
As a visible leader internally and externally, the General Manager will cultivate a culture of safety, accountability, technical excellence, continuous improvement, and customer focus while ensuring compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation requirements and ATS operational standards.
Essential Responsibilities
Leadership & Business Management
- Hold full responsibility for the location's profit and loss performance.
- Develop annual operating plans, budgets, forecasts, and strategic growth initiatives.
- Monitor revenue, gross margin, EBITDA, utilization, productivity, and operational overhead.
- Identify and execute opportunities for organic growth and market expansion.
- Develop succession plans and leadership development strategies for supervisory and technical personnel.
- Lead employee engagement initiatives and promote a culture of accountability and teamwork.
- Partner with regional and corporate leadership to execute strategic objectives.
- Communicate organizational goals, priorities, and performance metrics throughout the operation.
- Ensure staffing plans align with current and projected business needs.
Business Development
- Develop and maintain relationships with key commercial, industrial, defense, aerospace, maritime, shipbuilding, and government customers.
- Support regional sales efforts through customer visits, proposals, presentations, and strategic account development.
- Collaborate with ATS business development teams to identify new opportunities and expand existing customer relationships.
- Participate in industry associations, networking events, trade organizations, and customer-facing activities.
- Monitor market trends and competitive conditions to identify growth opportunities.
Operational Excellence
- Direct daily laboratory and field calibration operations.
- Establish productivity, turnaround time, quality, and customer service objectives.
- Monitor technician utilization and workload balancing.
- Ensure efficient scheduling of personnel, equipment, and customer commitments.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives focused on operational efficiency and customer satisfaction.
- Implement best practices across calibration, repair, asset management, and field service operations.
- Ensure proper maintenance and utilization of laboratory standards and support equipment.
Calibration Laboratory Management
Serve as the senior operational leader for the Newport News calibration laboratory by:
- Ensuring the technical integrity of calibration services.
- Maintaining laboratory operational readiness.
- Overseeing calibration standards, measurement assets, and laboratory equipment.
- Supporting technical staff in achieving measurement uncertainty and accreditation requirements.
- Reviewing laboratory performance metrics and corrective actions.
- Ensuring customer requirements are properly understood and fulfilled.
- Monitoring environmental controls required for calibration processes.
- Supporting development and expansion of accredited calibration capabilities.
- Ensuring laboratory resources are adequate to support customer demand and quality requirements.
Quality & ISO/IEC 17025 Compliance
- Partner with the Quality Department to maintain A2LA accreditation and compliance with ISO/IEC 17025 requirements.
- Ensure adherence to ATS procedures, quality management systems, and customer specifications.
- Review nonconformances, customer complaints, audit findings, and corrective actions.
- Promote risk-based thinking and continuous improvement throughout the operation.
- Support internal and external audits.
- Ensure technical records, calibration procedures, and quality documentation are maintained and controlled.
- Drive sustainable corrective and preventive actions to address quality concerns.
- Maintain awareness of regulatory and industry requirements impacting calibration operations.
Safety & Regulatory Compliance
- Lead all safety initiatives for laboratory and field personnel.
- Ensure compliance with ATS safety programs and customer-specific requirements.
- Promote a culture where safety is a core operational value.
- Ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
- Ensure employees maintain required certifications, credentials, and training.
- Support incident investigations and corrective action implementation.
Corporate Collaboration
- Partner with Finance, Accounting, Human Resources, Information Technology, Legal, Quality, and Safety departments.
- Support organizational initiatives and integration efforts.
- Participate in regional leadership meetings and strategic planning activities.
- Provide regular operational, financial, and performance reporting.