Senior Director of Operations - Shipyard Strategy

General Dynamics - Bath Iron Works; Bath (ME); On-site; USD 235,000 - 275,000; Full time

Job summary

General Dynamics – Bath Iron Works in Bath, ME seeks a Senior Director of Operations to oversee shipyard construction, testing, and delivery of Navy vessels. You will drive strategy, safety culture, and enterprise improvements, reporting to executive leadership.

With 15+ years in heavy industry, you will manage budgets, schedules, and cross-functional teams, ensuring safety, quality, and schedule adherence while developing workforce capability and leadership pipelines.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive leadership in shipbuilding, construction, industrial manufacturing, or heavy industry.
• Experience managing multi-program schedules, budgets, and performance metrics.
• Strong record of industrial safety leadership and regulatory compliance.
• Experience leading unionized workforces and managing labor relations.

Responsibilities

• Shape and execute long-range operational strategies aligned with BIW’s goals and modernization roadmap.
• Lead major operational departments with cohesive planning, resource alignment, and performance accountability across programs and ship sections.
• Provide executive-level operational insight and recommendations to senior leadership.
• Oversee construction, testing, and production execution; manage schedules, costs, and quality; implement risk mitigation.
• Lead Superintendents and cross-functional teams with a focus on performance, development, and accountability; develop leadership pipelines.
• Engage Navy program leadership and internal stakeholders; communicate performance, readiness, and risk.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Safety leadership

Budgeting

Lean manufacturing

Cross-functional collaboration

Strategic planning

Communication

Industrial process improvement

Education

Bachelor's degree in manufacturing/engineering/industrial operations

MBA or advanced degree

Job description

General Dynamics – Bath Iron Works in Bath, ME seeks a Senior Director of Operations to oversee shipyard construction, testing, and delivery of Navy vessels. You will drive strategy, safety culture, and enterprise improvements, reporting to executive leadership.

With 15+ years in heavy industry, you will manage budgets, schedules, and cross-functional teams, ensuring safety, quality, and schedule adherence while developing workforce capability and leadership pipelines.