Director, CMA Operations & Facilities

Institute For Advanced Learning And Research; Danville (VA); On-site; USD 80,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement benefits

Generous time off

Medical coverage

Job summary

The Institute For Advanced Learning And Research in Danville, VA, is seeking a Director of Operations and Facilities to lead manufacturing operations while ensuring safety and compliance. This role involves strategic leadership and management of production schedules, resource allocation, and operational performance.

Ideal candidates will have proven experience in precision machining, a strong understanding of compliance requirements, and expertise in Lean methodologies to drive continuous improvement.

Competitive salary commensurate with experience and generous benefits offered.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in advanced manufacturing environments.
• Experience in ITAR regulated operations and regulatory compliance.
• Strong background in production planning and material management.

Responsibilities

• Lead and oversee all production operations across CMA.
• Plan and manage production schedules and resource allocation.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators.

Skills

Leadership experience in precision machining

Understanding of subtractive manufacturing processes

Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement

Communication skills

Tools

ERP systems

CAD and CAM applications

Job description

Job Details Job Location: IALR CMA - Danville, VA 24540 Education Level: 2 Year Degree Travel Percentage: Negligible Job Shift: Day Job Category: Management

This position requires eligibility to access controlled unclassified information (CUI) and export controlled data. Candidates must meet applicable federal requirements, including U.S. person status where required. This role is onsite in Danville, VA.

The Pay, Perks, & Benefits

• Salary will be commensurate with qualifications and experience and determined based on market benchmarks and internal equity.
• Retirement benefits are provided through the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) with employer match.
• Generous time off is offered, including vacation, paid sick leave, and paid family leave after one year.
• Paid holidays include a two week paid winter break.
• Medical coverage includes Anthem PPO and HSA health plans with excellent dental options.

How You Will Help the Team

You will provide strategic and operational leadership that ensures the Center for Manufacturing Advancement operates safely, efficiently, and in full compliance with regulatory requirements. Your leadership will enable high quality, on time delivery of manufactured parts while supporting the Navy Additive Manufacturing Center of Excellence and strengthening IALR’s manufacturing mission.

You will build a strong, accountable operations team, foster a culture of safety and continuous improvement, and ensure facilities, systems, and processes are aligned to support growth, customer engagement, and mission critical programs.

What You Will Do

• Lead and oversee all production operations across CMA, ensuring performance across safety, quality, delivery, cost, and capacity.
• Direct multi shift manufacturing operations within an ITAR regulated precision machining environment.
• Plan and manage production schedules, material flow, and resource allocation to meet customer and program priorities.
• Oversee daily manufacturing execution to maximize efficiency while maintaining strict safety and quality standards.
• Partner with quality, application engineering, and technical teams to ensure production readiness and priority alignment.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators and lead corrective actions as needed.
• Own the operations and facilities budget, including forecasting, cost control, procurement, and capital planning.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives using Lean and Six Sigma methodologies.
• Provide executive level reporting on operational performance, financials, and project status.
• Serve as the primary liaison with IALR facilities, maintenance, and safety teams to ensure secure and compliant facility operations.
• Support customer engagement, audits, and visitor hosting, including Navy AM CoE partners.

Qualifications

• Proven leadership experience in precision machining or advanced manufacturing environments.
• Deep understanding of subtractive manufacturing processes, dimensional inspection, NDT, and CAD and CAM applications.
• Experience leading teams with accountability for operational, financial, and performance outcomes.
• Working knowledge of ITAR regulated operations and regulatory compliance requirements.
• Strong background in production planning, material management, and ERP systems.
• Demonstrated success deploying Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Experience managing operating budgets, financial reporting, and capital planning.
• Ability to communicate clearly and effectively with technical staff, leadership, customers, and partners.
• Strong understanding of shopfloor safety regulations and facility operational requirements.

What Makes Working Here Different

IALR’s Center for Manufacturing Advancement combines advanced manufacturing, workforce development, and national defense support in a mission driven environment. As Director of Operations and Facilities, you will have the opportunity to lead complex manufacturing operations that directly support the Navy and other key partners while contributing to regional economic growth and innovation.

This role offers meaningful leadership impact, exposure to advanced manufacturing technologies, and the opportunity to shape scalable, high performance operations within a collaborative and purpose driven organization.

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status.