What are the responsibilities and job description for the Site Director position at GKN Aerospace?
Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.
GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.
Job Summary
The Site Director has overall responsibility for the performance of GKN Aerospace’s Phoenix operation, leading across Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, Engineering, Health and Safety, Finance, and People.
Phoenix is an approximately 90-person, high-value aerospace operation that serves as the hub for a broader global program, supported by smaller teams in the UK and Poland. The role combines hands-on site leadership with significant customer, supplier, financial, and cross-functional complexity across a matrixed global organization.
We are looking for a strong leader who can strengthen execution, raise performance expectations, develop the leadership team, and create greater ownership and accountability across the operation.
What you'll Do
Lead the Business
Required
A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working
Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.
We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.
We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.
GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.
Job Summary
The Site Director has overall responsibility for the performance of GKN Aerospace’s Phoenix operation, leading across Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, Engineering, Health and Safety, Finance, and People.
Phoenix is an approximately 90-person, high-value aerospace operation that serves as the hub for a broader global program, supported by smaller teams in the UK and Poland. The role combines hands-on site leadership with significant customer, supplier, financial, and cross-functional complexity across a matrixed global organization.
We are looking for a strong leader who can strengthen execution, raise performance expectations, develop the leadership team, and create greater ownership and accountability across the operation.
What you'll Do
Lead the Business
- Set direction for the site, translate business priorities into measurable results, and hold functional leaders accountable for site and customer commitments.
- Own P&L and financial performance, including budget, forecast, productivity, inventory, working capital, cost, and capital investment.
- Use operational and financial data to identify risks, make sound decisions, and improve business performance.
- Serve as the senior site representative with customers, suppliers, and GKN Aerospace leadership, including during major performance or recovery issues.
- Work across Phoenix, UK, and Poland teams to align priorities, resolve issues, and deliver overall program commitments.
- Lead People, Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cash, and Cost performance through the GKN Aerospace Lean Operating Model.
- Maintain accountability for safe, compliant operations and strong quality and regulatory discipline across manufacturing, supply chain, supplier performance, planning, inventory, and logistics.
- Drive structured problem solving, continuous improvement, and lasting resolution of recurring operational and supplier issues.
- Build a strong Site Leadership Team with clear expectations, accountability, and shared ownership for business results.
- Create a culture where problems are raised early, difficult issues are addressed directly, and people take ownership.
- Coach and develop leaders while addressing capability or performance gaps when needed.
Required
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience in Engineering, Operations, Business, Supply Chain, or a related field.
- Progressive leadership experience in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, or another complex regulated manufacturing environment, with responsibility across multiple functions.
- Strong financial and business acumen, including P&L, budgets, forecasts, working capital, and operational cost drivers.
- Demonstrated ability to improve performance, accountability, and execution while leading senior customers, suppliers, executives, and cross-functional stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of Lean manufacturing, structured problem solving, continuous improvement, and developing experienced leaders.
- Previous Site Director, General Manager, Plant Manager, Operations Director, Program Director, or comparable leadership experience.
- Aerospace manufacturing experience with OEMs, engine manufacturers, or Tier 1 suppliers.
- Experience leading across multiple locations or international teams, including AS9100, aerospace regulatory requirements, complex supply chains, supplier recovery, or significant operational change.
A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working
Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.
We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.
We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.