Director of Operations

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company; Graham (KY); On-site; USD 175,000 - 225,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Executive relocation

Sign-on incentives

Job summary

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD) seeks a Director of Operations to lead a high-hazard energetics site in Graham, KY. You will own safety, quality, delivery, and cost while scaling operations to meet growing defense and space programs.

The role requires 15+ years in operations leadership, with experience in energetics or explosives, DoD contracts, and strong regulatory knowledge. Expect a safety-first culture and strategic capability development across teams.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of operations leadership in high-hazard manufacturing environments.
• Direct experience in energetics or explosives manufacturing (e.g., propellants, detonators, high explosives such as RDX).
• Background in aerospace & defense or similarly regulated industries.
• Experience supporting DoD programs and contracts.
• Ability to obtain DoD Security Clearance.
• Technical & Regulatory Depth.
• Working knowledge of energetic materials (RDX, HMX, propellants, detonators).
• Strong understanding of explosive safety, hazard analysis, and risk mitigation.
• Experience with ITAR, ATF, and DoD regulatory environments.
• Leadership.
• Proven ability to lead teams in high-consequence environments where safety is critical.
• Track record of driving continuous improvement without compromising safety or quality.
• Experience building teams, developing leaders, and scaling operations through growth.

Responsibilities

• Full-site leadership in a high-mix, low-volume, high-consequence manufacturing environment.
• Ownership of site performance across safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
• Ensure strict adherence to explosive safety, process controls, and regulatory standards.
• Operate within a PSM-regulated environment with full compliance to federal, DoD, and explosive safety requirements.
• Build and develop teams with a safety-first, accountability-driven culture.
• Drive performance through EBAD’s operating system (EBOS) and lean execution discipline.
• Lead production ramp, capacity expansion, and operational readiness aligned to customer demand.

Skills

Ops leadership

DoD programs

Energetics manufacturing

Regulatory compliance

Explosive safety

ITAR compliance

Leadership

Hazard analysis

Security clearance

Job description

At Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD), we believe that our strengths are built on our most important resource - our people. Join EBAD and you'll be a part of a team who creates cutting edge technology that will blast us into the future. No other company can match the innovative energetic solutions that we provide. At EBAD you will actively contribute to successful missions putting men, women and satellites into space, and protecting our armed service men and women around the world. If this is the culture and work environment you are seeking, then EBAD is the place for you!

Location: Graham, KY

Reports to: VP of Operations

At Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense (EBAD), we bring nearly 200 years of innovation to the development of mission-critical energetic systems supporting defense and space programs. Our work operates in high-consequence environments where safety, precision, and discipline are non-negotiable. We are seeking a Director of Operations to lead a growing energetics manufacturing site and scale operations without compromising safety, compliance, or execution.

This role serves as the operational leader for a 150-person, high-risk manufacturing site, with full ownership of performance across safety, quality, delivery, and cost. Beyond execution, this leader will play a key role in shaping the next generation of operations, talent, and manufacturing capability at EBAD - building the systems, culture, and leadership pipeline required to support long-term growth in a mission-critical environment.

What You’ll Own

• Full-site leadership in a high-mix, low-volume, high-consequence manufacturing environment
• Ownership of site performance across safety, quality, delivery, and cost
• Ensure strict adherence to explosive safety, process controls, and regulatory standards
• Operate within a PSM-regulated environment with full compliance to federal, DoD, and explosive safety requirements
• Build and develop teams with a safety-first, accountability-driven culture
• Drive performance through EBAD’s operating system (EBOS) and lean execution discipline
• Lead production ramp, capacity expansion, and operational readiness aligned to customer demand

What We’re Looking For

• 15+ years of operations leadership in high-hazard manufacturing environments
• Direct experience in energetics or explosives manufacturing (e.g., propellants, detonators, high explosives such as RDX or similar)
• Background in aerospace & defense or similarly regulated industries
• Experience supporting DoD programs and contracts
• Ability to obtain DoD Security Clearance
• Technical & Regulatory Depth
• Working knowledge of energetic materials (RDX, HMX, propellants, detonators)
• Strong understanding of explosive safety, hazard analysis, and risk mitigation
• Experience with ITAR, ATF, and DoD regulatory environments
• Leadership
• Proven ability to lead teams in high-consequence environments where safety is critical
• Track record of driving continuous improvement without compromising safety or quality
• Experience building teams, developing leaders, and scaling operations through growth

Why This Role

Lead a critical, high-consequence manufacturing operation
Shape and scale a site during a period of significant growth and transformation
Build the next generation of operational capability and leadership within EBAD
Join a long-standing, mission-driven defense company with a legacy of innovation

Compensation and Rewards

• Base Salary: $175k – $225k plus annual bonus
• Executive Relocation: Comprehensive support for a seamless transition
• Additional Enhancements: Potential sign-on incentives and tailored rewards based on experience

Equal Opportunity Employer

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer (EOE). Qualified applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, disability, sexual orientation, genetic information, national origin, or veteran status.

About the Company

Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Company (EBAD), headquartered in Simsbury, CT with facilities in Moorpark, CA, and Graham, KY is a global leader of mission-critical hardware and systems solutions including precision energetics systems and innovative explosive solutions. Our capabilities include customized man-portable breaching systems; fully integrated payload system, subsystem or energetic component production; shock tube-based, signal transmission technology integrated with our highly reliable family of detonators; and armored vehicle solutions. EBAD also has extensive satellite/spacecraft and missile/aircraft/launch vehicle manufacturing capabilities for system initiation, signal transfer, separation release, actuation and deployment and flight termination. No matter what the mission, EBAD can provide tailored, customized solutions to address our customers' challenges.