Manufacturing Operations Manager - Advanced Leader Program

Howmet Aerospace Inc.; La Porte (IN); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Howmet Aerospace Inc. seeks a Manufacturing Operations Manager for the Advanced Leader Program to develop into a Plant Operations leader across sites.

The role oversees a broad scope from engineering to maintenance, driving accountability and operational excellence in a complex manufacturing environment. The ALP targets executive development with exposure to P&L, capacity planning, and Lean transformation while guiding teams toward safety, quality, delivery, and cost performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering, Manufacturing, or Business discipline.
• 10+ years of manufacturing experience; 7+ years in leadership.
• Experience with financial P&L, manufacturing excellence, customer management, and lean principles.
• U.S. work authorization; visa sponsorship not available.
• Export-controlled data access and compliance requirements.

Responsibilities

• Demonstrates high ethical standards and a culture of accountability and operational excellence.
• Ensures compliance with Environmental, Health, and Safety requirements and drives risk reduction.
• Leads employee engagement and communications across the organization.
• Develops and executes strategic and operational plans in partnership with local leadership.
• Supports identification and execution of new market opportunities from proposal to realization.
• Develops workforce and headcount plans with Campus HR to match operational needs.
• Drives Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement across the operation.
• Establishes performance measures and oversees monthly business reviews with senior management.
• Manages asset and working-capital performance, including inventory optimization and OEE.
• Analyzes capacity, forecasts, and constraints to drive capacity improvement plans.

Skills

Leadership

Lean manufacturing

Six Sigma

P&L management

Analytical skills

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or Business

Job description

Manufacturing Operations Manager - Advanced Leader Program

Job Info

• Job Identification 119159
• Job Category Operations
• Posting Date 09/03/2026, 11:15 AM
• Locations 1110 East Lincoln Way, Laporte, IN, 46350-3954, US (On-site)
• Job Schedule Full time
• Remote Work Schedule Availability? None
• Export-Controlled Data This position entails access to export-controlled items and employment offers are conditioned upon an applicant's ability to lawfully obtain access to such items

Responsibilities

Howmet Engine Products, a division Howmet Aerospace, seeks motivated and experienced leadership to join our team! The Advanced Leader Program (ALP) is designed for Plant Manager level talent, in search of an operations career path moving across our plants. The ideal candidate will gain knowledge of the processes and customers in the Engines Business Unit of Howmet Aerospace, by leading projects or stepping in to plant leadership roles. Candidates must have the ability and desire to grow into a super-size Plant Operations Manager (750 - 1,000 employees and handle P&L between 250 million to 500 million). The ideal candidate will follow a career path to multi-site leader roles and ultimately a role such as Operations leader at the VP & GM level.

Job Responsibilities:

• Demonstrates high ethical standards and reinforces a culture of accountability, ownership, and operational excellence.
• Ensures full compliance with all Environmental, Health, and Safety (EHS) requirements and drives a proactive culture focused on risk reduction and safe operations.
• Leads employee engagement and communication initiatives, maintaining strong organizational alignment through regular all-employee meetings, business updates, and two-way communication.
• Leads the development and execution of strategic and operational plans in partnership with local leadership, utilizing Hoshin Planning and other structured business planning tools.
• Supports the identification, development, and execution of new market opportunities from proposal through commercialization and market realization.
• Develops and executes workforce and headcount plans in coordination with Campus HR to ensure staffing levels and organizational capabilities align with operational requirements.
• Drives continuous improvement in workplace safety and environmental performance in partnership with the Campus EHS team.
• Partners with Finance to establish, manage, and achieve P&L objectives, with accountability for operational cost performance and financial results.
• Provides direct leadership and operational oversight of Engineering, Manufacturing, Quality Control, and Maintenance functions. Maintains overall accountability forquality, on-time delivery, productivity, operational efficiency, continuous improvement, and cost performance.
• Leads the annual operating and strategic planning process for the plant and manages monthly forecasting activities to ensure performance remains aligned with business objectives.
• Leads preparation for and execution of monthly business reviews with Senior Management, providing clear visibility to operational performance, financial results, risks, opportunities, and corrective actions.
• Maintains a strong understanding of customer requirements and operational expectations, ensuring the organization consistently delivers products and services that meet or exceed customer needs.
• Establishes and manages performance measures for short- and long-term growth, profitability, and “external gross profit,” regularly evaluating results and implementing actions to close performance gaps.
• Proactively identifies operational issues, performance gaps, and business risks; establishes priorities and directs corrective actions to achieve forecasted objectives and improve overall business performance.
• Provides clear operational leadership for asset and working-capital management, including inventory optimization, equipment utilization, and OEE performance of critical assets.
• Analyzes production capacity, demand forecasts, and resource requirements to identify constraints and bottlenecks. Develops and executes capacity improvement plans utilizing Lean principles, process optimization, equipment investment, outsourcing, or other appropriate solutions.
• Drives a culture of Lean manufacturing and continuous improvement across the operation, establishing sustainable processes that improve safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost.
• Develops organizational capability by identifying, coaching, and retaining high-performing talent while establishing effective succession plans for key leadership and technical positions.
• Establishes clear accountability throughout the organization through defined performance objectives, operating metrics, management routines, and regular performance reviews.
• Ensures the operation maintains disciplined daily management practices, including performance monitoring, issue escalation, root-cause analysis, and timely execution of corrective and preventive actions.
• Drives cross-functional alignment and execution to ensure operational priorities are translated into measurable results and sustained business performance.

Qualifications

Basic Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in an Engineering, Manufacturing, or Business discipline from an accredited institution.
• Minimum 10 years of manufacturing experience; at least 7 years within a leadership capacity.
• Experience must include financial P&L, leading manufacturing excellence, customer management, and driving improvements through the implementation of lean manufacturing principles.
• Employees must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Verification of employment eligibility will be required at the time of hire. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position.
• This position entails access to export-controlled items and employment offers are conditioned upon an applicant's ability to lawfully obtain access to such items.

Preferred Qualifications:

The successful candidate will have the following:

• Experience driving improvement through the implementation of the lean manufacturing principles, total quality practices, six sigma.
• Strong leadership skills that create an engaged employee environment
• Demonstrated results in leading manufacturing excellence.
• Strong technical understanding of manufacturing processes.
• Strong analytical, communication, interpersonal, organizational and negotiation skills.

About Us

Howmet Aerospace Inc. (NYSE: HWM), headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a leading global provider of advanced engineered solutions for the aerospace and transportation industries. Our primary businesses focus on jet engine components, aerospace fastening systems, titanium structural parts and forged wheels. With $8.3 Billion in revenue in 2025, our products play a crucial role in enabling fuel efficiency and lightweighting, contributing to our customers’ success and making a positive impact on the world. To learn more about the way Howmet Aerospace Inc. is advancing the sustainability of our customers, markets, and communities where we operate, review the 2025 Environmental Social and Governance report at www.howmet.com/esg-report . Follow: LinkedIn , Twitter , Instagram , Facebook , and YouTube .

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Howmet is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

The Howmet engines business produces world-class aerospace engine components, including investment castings, fasteners, rings and forgings. Our vacuum melted superalloys, machining, performance coatings and hot isostatic pressing for high performance parts enable the next generation of quieter, cleaner and more fuel-efficient aerospace engines. Able to supply more than 90% of structural and rotating aerospace engine components.