What are the responsibilities and job description for the Vice President Operations position at Aerostar Manufacturing?
VP of Operations (Manufacturing)
Romulus, MI
We are seeking a VP of Operations to lead and scale our global manufacturing operations, driving performance across our U.S. and India facilities.
Position Summary
The VP of Operations (manufacturing) will be responsible for end-to-end operational leadership, including manufacturing, quality, supply chain, and production control. This role will drive execution, accountability, and scalability to support aggressive growth targets while maintaining world-class quality and delivery performance.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership
- Lead global manufacturing operations across multiple sites (U.S. and India)
- Drive improvements in on-time delivery, quality, throughput, and cost structure
- Oversee S&OP, capacity planning, supply chain, and production control
- Build and enforce standard work, KPI dashboards, and accountability systems
Technical & Manufacturing Excellence
- Ensure strong execution in:
- CNC machining, tooling, and process capability
- IATF 16949, AS9100, ITAR, NADCAP, and customer audit readiness
- NPI, ECN/ECO processes, and engineering collaboration
- Optimize cost drivers including labor efficiency, scrap, rework, and utilization
Strategic Execution
- Translate business growth targets into:
- 3-year operational roadmap
- Capacity and capital investment plans
- Global organizational structure and talent strategy
- Partner with Sales/BD to ensure quotes and forecasts are operationally executable
Cross-Functional Integration
- Align Engineering, Quality, Operations, and Program Management
- Strengthen global supply chain and vendor performance
- Ensure seamless execution from RFQ → NPI → Production → Change Management
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- On-Time Delivery (OTD) ≥ 95%
- Year-over-year Quality PPM reduction
- Productivity improvement ≥ 5–8% annually
- Scrap and rework reduction
- Capacity utilization and throughput gains
- S&OP adherence and forecast accuracy
- Cost per unit and margin performance
Experience Requirements
- 15 years in manufacturing operations
- 7 years in multi-site or global leadership roles
- Experience in precision machining, aerospace/defense, or regulated environments
- Proven success scaling operations across U.S. and offshore (India experience strongly preferred)
- Demonstrated results improving delivery, quality, and cost simultaneously
Technical Expertise
- CNC machining and manufacturing process knowledge
- Deep understanding of AS9100, ITAR, and regulated environments
- Strong background in lean transformation and continuous improvement
- Experience with S&OP, forecasting, and capacity modeling
- Supply chain, vendor management, and risk mitigation expertise
Leadership Profile
- High accountability, disciplined, and execution-focused
- Builds and leads high-performing, cross-functional teams
- Strong global leadership with cultural awareness
- Data-driven decision maker who challenges underperformance
- Calm under pressure; decisive in ambiguity
- Transparent communicator with executive presence
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, or related field
- MBA or Master’s degree preferred
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (or equivalent) strongly preferred
Why Join Aerostar
- High-growth environment with strong leadership vision
- Opportunity to build and scale global operations
- Direct impact on strategy, performance, and organizational success
- Collaborative, values-driven culture focused on excellence and accountability
If you’re a results-driven operations leader ready to build and scale a global manufacturing organization, we’d love to connect.