Chief Operating Officer

Stark Aerospace; Columbus (MS); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Stark Aerospace is seeking a leader for the Operational Leadership role to manage and enhance day-to-day operations, overseeing manufacturing, supply chain, and engineering functions. The ideal candidate will have 15+ years of experience in a leadership role within the defense or aerospace industries.

You will partner with the CEO on strategic initiatives, ensuring compliance and excellence across projects while building high-performing teams. A Bachelor’s degree is required, with preferred qualifications including an MBA.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations.
• Experience in defense, aerospace, or highly regulated manufacturing.
• Proven track record managing complex programs in a $100M+ revenue environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day operations including manufacturing and supply chain.
• Partner with CEO to implement corporate strategy.
• Ensure effective delivery across government and commercial contracts.
• Build and mentor high-performing operational teams.
• Work with CFO to manage budgets and financial targets.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Communication skills

Change management

Supply chain processes

Manufacturing processes

Engineering processes

ERP systems experience

Continuous improvement tools

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field

MBA or advanced technical degree

Job description

Operational Leadership

• Lead day-to-day operations including manufacturing, supply chain, quality assurance, program management, and engineering.
• Ensure consistent execution across all programs, meeting cost, schedule, and performance requirements.
• Oversee production planning, inventory control, logistics, and resource management.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives across operations, using Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies.

Strategic Execution

• Partner with the CEO and executive team to define and implement corporate strategy.
• Translate strategic goals into actionable operational plans and key performance metrics.
• Identify and mitigate operational risks, ensuring compliance with government regulations (e.g., FAR/DFARS, ITAR, AS9100, NIST).
• Support M&A integration efforts, if applicable.

Program and Contract Performance

• Ensure effective delivery and performance across multiple government and commercial contracts.
• Collaborate with program managers to proactively manage schedules, budgets, and customer expectations.
• Interface with key government and defense customers (e.g., DoD, prime contractors) to ensure alignment and satisfaction.

Team Leadership & Culture

• Build, mentor, and lead high-performing operational teams.
• Foster a culture of accountability, innovation, and operational excellence.
• Develop leadership talent and succession plans across the organization.

Financial and KPI Management

• Work closely with the CFO to develop and manage budgets, forecasts, and financial targets.
• Monitor performance metrics (e.g., OTD, quality, gross margin, cost of goods sold) and implement corrective actions as needed.
• Support capital planning and investments aligned with growth strategy.

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or related field required.
• MBA or advanced technical degree preferred.

Experience

• 15+ years of progressive leadership experience in operations, preferably within defense, aerospace, or a highly regulated manufacturing industry.
• Proven track record managing complex programs and teams in a $100M+ revenue environment.
• Deep knowledge of DoD contracting, DFARS/FAR, ITAR, ISO/AS9100, and cybersecurity (NIST 800-171, CMMC).

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic thinker with hands-on execution capability.
• Strong leadership, communication, and change management skills.
• Deep understanding of supply chain, manufacturing, and engineering processes.
• Experience with ERP systems, operational dashboards, and continuous improvement tools.