Operations Manager – Aerospace Materials

PPG Industries (UK) Limited; Shelby (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Retirement plan

Paid vacation

Employee assistance program

Job summary

PPG Industries (UK) Limited in Shelby, NC is seeking an Operations Manager for Aerospace Materials to build and lead a greenfield manufacturing operation. You will drive safety, quality, delivery, cost, and capability with a zero‑loss mindset and servant leadership on the shop floor.

You will recruit and mentor teams, implement standard work, and ensure disciplined execution using an integrated work system aligned with industry best practices. This role reports to the Plant Manager on site.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, or related field.
• Minimum 7 years’ manufacturing leadership experience.
• Experience in chemical, coatings, sealants, or specialty materials manufacturing strongly preferred.
• Greenfield or startup experience preferred.
• Lean/Six Sigma certification preferred.
• Strong leadership, problem-solving, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead startup and ramp-up of a greenfield operation, including system development, commissioning, organization design, hiring, and workforce training.
• Champion a zero-loss culture by embedding safety as a core value and implementing proactive safety, hazard identification, and root-cause problem-solving practices.
• Establish and sustain manufacturing standards, operating procedures, visual management systems, and an integrated operating system that drives disciplined execution.
• Model servant leadership through a strong floor presence, employee engagement, coaching, mentoring, and capability development.
• Build a culture of ownership, accountability, teamwork, and continuous learning across the organization.
• Drive operational excellence through lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, loss elimination, and adherence to standard work.
• Utilize data, KPIs, and performance metrics to improve safety, quality, throughput, yield, productivity, and cost performance.
• Recruit, develop, and lead high-performing cross-functional teams, establishing clear expectations and accountability systems.
• Oversee production operations, including scheduling, material flow, inventory management, and collaboration with supply chain and planning functions.
• Deliver business results by achieving safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives while managing operational budgets and resources.

Skills

Manufacturing leadership

Lean Six Sigma

Problem solving

Communication

Team leadership

Safety culture

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, or related field

Job description

Operations Manager – Aerospace Materials

Shelby, NC

Are you a passionate and driven Operations Professional who is looking to take their career to new heights? Then look no further than this opportunity with PPG's Aerospace business! We are looking for someone who can see the future of aviation specialty chemicals and take our exceptional products to the next level!

As the Operations Manager – Aerospace Materials you will be responsible for building and leading a world-class manufacturing operation from the ground up. This role will establish and sustain a high-performance culture rooted in servant leadership, total employee ownership, and a zero-loss mindset. The Operations Manager will drive safety, quality, delivery, cost, and capability while embedding an Integrated Work System aligned with best-in-class models such as P&G.

This leader will operate as a hands‑on, floor‑focused coach who develops people, builds systems, and ensures disciplined execution of standard work in a greenfield specialty chemical manufacturing environment.

This is an On‑Site role reporting to the Shelby, NC facility. In this role you will report to the Plant Manager.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the startup and ramp‑up of a greenfield manufacturing operation, including system development, commissioning, organization design, hiring, and workforce training.
• Champion a zero‑loss culture by embedding safety as a core value and implementing proactive safety, hazard identification, and root‑cause problem‑solving practices.
• Establish and sustain manufacturing standards, operating procedures, visual management systems, and an integrated operating system that drives disciplined execution.
• Model servant leadership through a strong floor presence, employee engagement, coaching, mentoring, and capability development.
• Build a culture of ownership, accountability, teamwork, and continuous learning across the organization.
• Drive operational excellence through lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, loss elimination, and adherence to standard work.
• Utilize data, KPIs, and performance metrics to improve safety, quality, throughput, yield, productivity, and cost performance.
• Recruit, develop, and lead high‑performing cross‑functional teams, establishing clear expectations and accountability systems.
• Oversee production operations, including scheduling, material flow, inventory management, and collaboration with supply chain and planning functions.
• Deliver business results by achieving safety, quality, delivery, and cost objectives while managing operational budgets and resources.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, or related field or commensurate experience required.
• Minimum 7 years’ manufacturing leadership experience required.
• Experience in chemical, coatings, sealants, or specialty materials manufacturing is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success in greenfield or startup environments preferred.
• Lean/Six Sigma certification preferred.
• Strong leadership, problem‑solving, and communication skills required.
• Only U.S. Citizens, Green Card holders, and political asylees or refugees are eligible to apply.

PPG offers comprehensive benefits such as Health, Dental, Life, Retirement Plan, Paid Vacation & Holidays, Employee Assistance Program (EAP), Disability/Leave, and other Voluntary benefit offerings. Actual benefit offerings confirmed at the time of hire.

Sobre nós:

PPG: PROTEGEMOS E EMBELEZAMOS O MUNDO™

The PPG Way 2030

Somos defensores dos nossos clientes

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Somos proativos e responsivos para impulsionar a melhoria contínua e entregar resultados.

Apoiamos nossos profissionais da linha de fronte — o rosto da PPG para nossos clientes.

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