Director Operations

Leonardo DRS; Goose Creek (SC); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary and comprehensive福利

9/80 work schedule

Vacation and paid parental leave

Wellness programs

Career development opportunities

Job summary

Leonardo DRS Naval Power Systems in Goose Creek, SC, seeks a Director of Operations to oversee manufacturing and ensure processes meet budgets, schedules, and stringent quality standards. The role requires a U.S. citizenship and an active or obtainable DoD security clearance.

You will lead cross-functional teams, drive continuous improvement, and ensure regulatory compliance while delivering high-quality, on-time results for critical defense programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in operations, engineering or related discipline.
• Minimum 10 years of related experience.
• Proven track record implementing continuous improvement initiatives.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead mission-critical operations in a zero-failure environment prioritizing safety, quality, and schedules.
• Plan, allocate resources, and establish operating rhythms to meet performance objectives.
• Coordinate across maintenance, engineering, supply chain, quality, and leadership.
• Identify, assess and mitigate operational risks before they impact safety or delivery.
• Resolve complex issues through root-cause analysis and data-driven decisions.
• Drive continuous improvement to increase efficiency and reduce waste.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Operations management

Communication

Risk assessment

Education

Bachelor’s degree in operations, engineering or related discipline

Job description

Director Operations

Location: Goose Creek, SC, US, 29445

Job ID:114744

The Leonardo DRS Naval Power Systems business is a trusted provider of innovative naval gas and hybrid power systems, control technology and support solutions for the U.S. Navy and navies around the world.

Job Summary

Direct all activities related to manufacturing operations. Ensure that manufacturing processes adhere to negotiated budgets and schedule and are in compliance with applicable quality and federal, state, and local regulatory requirements.

Job Responsibilities

• Lead mission-critical operations in a zero-failure performance environment where safety, quality, and schedule adherence are non-negotiable.
• Execute rigorous planning, resource allocation, and disciplined operating rhythms to meet performance objectives under demanding conditions.
• Manage complex systems and operational readiness through precise coordination across multiple functional teams.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate operational risks using structured, analytical methods before they impact safety, quality, or delivery.
• Resolve complex technical and operational issues through root-cause analysis, data-driven decision-making, and cross-functional collaboration.
• Build and sustain a proactive risk management culture focused on prevention, contingency planning, and continuous monitoring.
• Operate within highly demanding quality assurance environments emphasizing procedural compliance, configuration control, and continuous verification.
• Ensure strict adherence to regulatory requirements, technical standards, and operating procedures while driving measurable performance improvements.
• Reinforce a culture of attention to detail, accountability, and process discipline that ensures consistent quality outcomes.
• Apply continuous improvement principles to increase efficiency, reduce waste, improve reliability, and optimize resource utilization.
• Use lessons learned, performance metrics, and structured evaluations to drive sustainable process improvements.
• Champion Lean, Six Sigma, and operational excellence methods that increase productivity while maintaining safety and quality standards.
• Manage high-value equipment, resources, and personnel while balancing mission requirements, readiness needs, and efficiency goals.
• Prioritize investments and resources using sound judgment aligned to near-term execution and long-term business objectives.
• Coordinate execution across maintenance, engineering, supply chain, quality, and leadership to achieve common operational goals.
• Build strong working relationships across departments through clear communication, ownership, and accountability.
• Align diverse stakeholders around shared priorities, expectations, and measurable performance targets.
• Lead, train, qualify, and mentor highly technical teams in demanding operational environments.
• Build high-performance cultures centered on technical competence, accountability, development, and continuous learning.
• Conduct performance evaluations, qualification reviews, and career development activities that strengthen organizational capability.
• Ensure operational excellence directly supports customer satisfaction, mission success, and organizational reputation.
• Deliver reliable, high-quality results that meet stakeholder expectations for performance, responsiveness, and on-time delivery.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in operations, engineering or related discipline with a minimum of 10 years of related experience
• Demonstrated performance implementing continuous improvement initiatives
• Proven track record solving complex issues, driving risk assessments, root cause evaluations and red to green action planning
• Excellent leadership and communication skills

U.S. Citizenship required. This position requires an active DOD security clearance or the ability to obtain such clearance within a reasonable time after commencement of employment.

Benefits

• Taking care of our people is a top priority at Leonardo DRS.
• We are proud to offer competitive salaries and comprehensive benefits, including medical, dental, and vision coverage, a company contribution to a health savings account, telemedicine, life and disability insurance, legal insurance, and a 401(k) savings plan.
• We champion wellness programs that focus on physical, emotional, and financial well-being.
• We develop our talent by offering programs and activities to support career-growth, professional development, and skill enhancement.
• And we understand there is more to life than work, and the importance of offering flexible work schedules with our 9/80 program, competitive vacation, health/emergency leave, paid parental leave, and community service hours.
• *Some employees are eligible for limited benefits only

Leonardo DRS, Inc. and its subsidiaries provide equal opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibit discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Our Vision. To be the leading mid-tier defense technology company in the U.S.

Our Values. The Leonardo DRS culture is defined by our Core Values and Principles:

• Integrity
• Agility
• Excellence
• Customer Focus
• Community & Respect
• Innovation

We strive to uphold them in all aspects of our business practices to inspire our employees and provide outstanding support for our customers.