Senior Director Operations

Elbit America, Inc.; Charleston (SC); Remote; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

9/80 schedule

401(k) program

Medical/dental/vision coverage

Parental leave

Life insurance

Job summary

Twenty-Six Defense seeks a Senior Director of Operations to lead the greenfield facility for Class 3 UAVs and air-launched munitions. You will supervise design, construction, commissioning, and scaling to 200+ personnel while managing a >$150M CapEx and coordinating with Engineering and Programs as needed.

You will provide executive leadership for site strategy, safety, compliance, and long-term manufacturing readiness across multi-product lines, with heavy emphasis on milestoned gates, budget,

Qualifications

• 10+ years of production management experience in defense or heavy manufacturing.
• 10+ years in heavy manufacturing, chemicals, or defense with at least 5 years managing an active munitions or energetic materials plant.
• Experience with Mil-Spec, explosives safety, and hazardous waste disposal.
• Ability to obtain and hold a U.S. Department of War Secret security clearance.
• Capable of leading cross-functional teams and managing programs through the product life cycle.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior operations interface to Business Units, Programs, Development Engineering, and state/local community leaders.
• Provide strategic operational leadership for major segments of the organization and cross-functional execution.
• Direct Operations' contributions to programs including cost, schedule, quality, and performance commitments.
• Oversee creation, approval, and execution of Operations program plans, capacity assessments, and production strategies.
• Lead and ensure full integration of New Product Introduction requirements within proposals, IMS planning, and manufacturing readiness.
• Manage Production Control account execution across Operations and related functions.
• Oversee transition of mature products into new or expanded production facilities to ensure readiness and rate capability.
• Drive day-to-day operational performance across multiple manufacturing lines and ensure on-time delivery.

Job description

Job Summary

The Senior Director, Operations will lead the greenfield design, construction, commissioning, and long-term scaled production of a new manufacturing facility, managing a capital budget >$150M and guiding an eventual workforce of 200+ personnel. In addition, this role is responsible for providing services and resources to Engineering and Programs as needed to support the new location Assembly and Integration Center of Excellence for new product development and new product qualification. The primary focus will be on Class 3 UAVs and air launched powered munitions. This position requires experience leading the operation of a complex, multi-product manufacturing line inclusive of energetics integration. Expertise in munitions handling is required. While the facility is being developed the Senior Director, Operations will provide leadership as the interim facility lead until additional staff is onboarded to assume those responsibilities.

Responsibilities and Tasks

• Serve as the senior operations interface to Business Units, Programs, Development Engineering, and state/local community leaders, ensuring aligned priorities and transparent communication.
• Provide strategic operational leadership for major segments of the organization, shaping long ‑ term plans, resource strategies, and cross ‑ functional execution.
• Direct Operations' contributions to assigned programs, including cost, schedule, quality, and performance commitments; ensure plans align with company and functional strategy.
• Oversee creation, approval, and execution of Operations program plans, capacity assessments, and production strategies. Key participant in make/buy decisions.
• Lead and ensure full integration and execution of New Product Introduction (NPI) requirements within proposals, BOEs, IMS planning, engineering development, and manufacturing readiness. Support the development of and provide manufacturing insight for subcontracting strategies in collaboration with the Supply Chain leader.
• Manage Production Control account execution across Operations, and related functions to ensure budget, schedule, and performance objectives.
• Oversee the transition of mature products (MRL 6+) into new or expanded production facilities, ensuring readiness, rate capability, and compliance.
• Provide executive ‑ level leadership in facility strategy (site selection, architectural design influence, environmental/permit coordination, factory layout, security systems, and CapEx management).
• Drive day ‑ to ‑ day operational performance across multiple manufacturing lines, ensuring throughput, on ‑ time delivery, and effective labor and facility utilization.
• Ensure full compliance with OSHA PSM, ATF FFL/FEL, EHS regulations, and company standards; lead incident investigations, audits, and corrective ‑ action programs.
• Own plant safety culture, enforcing SOPs for hazardous materials (propellants, explosives) and maintaining robust emergency preparedness, crisis management, and business continuity programs.
• Lead workforce strategy, including hiring, training, certification, and development of high ‑ performance teams aligned to organizational priorities.
• Direct continuous improvement initiatives using Lean/Six Sigma to optimize productivity, reduce waste, improve cost competitiveness, and enhance manufacturing maturity.
• Build and maintain executive ‑ level relationships with customers, regulators, defense partners, and internal leaders, negotiating issues and ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Benchmark industry best practices and justify future investments (CapEx, technologies, infrastructure) to enable sustained competitiveness and long ‑ term business growth.

Knowledge (Education/License/Certification, Prior Experience)

• Master - Preferred (10+ years of production management experience may substitute)
• Bachelor - Required; Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Chemical Engineering, or related field

Experience Required:

• Functional (Using Skill Set) 10+ years
• Management 10+ years
• Defense Industry 10+ years
• Experience: 10+ years in heavy manufacturing, chemicals, or defense, with at least 5 years managing an active munitions or energetic materials plant.
• Build Experience: Proven track record of managing a greenfield or major brownfield factory construction project from groundbreaking to startup.
• Knowledge: Expertise in military standards (Mil-Spec), explosives safety, and hazardous waste disposal.
• Clearance: Must be able to obtain and hold a U.S. Department of War Secret security clearance.
• Skills and Abilities
• Required:
• Willingness to work from/relocate to new selected factory location within the next 18 months is required.
• Demonstrated experience managing programs through the product life cycle (pursuit through support and closure).
• Demonstrated ability to manage cross-functional teams with competing priorities (Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Engineering, etc.).
• Capable of creating and maintaining constructive customer relationships.
• Ability to manage disciplined internal processes by knowledge of industry standard tools and holding others accountable for the following:
• Earned Value Management
• Phased gate approval process
• Program Planning
• Risk & Opportunity Management
• Requirements Management
• MRP/ERP
• Working knowledge and understanding of financial data such as P&L statements, ROI analysis, and cash flow.
• Knowledge of relevant type of contracts, e.g. fixed price, cost plus, time and materials, performance-based logistics, contract logistics support, master repair agreement.
• Exposure and working knowledge in negotiation, collaborative problem solving, conflict management, meeting facilitation skills, and applying tact and diplomacy with internal/external customers and foreign personnel.
• Ability to effectively work with all management levels in the company
• Experience in Aerospace & Defense manufacturing and working with USG and International Customers
• Working knowledge of Import/Export requirements and compliance
• Experience with UAV and missile assembly, integration (including the warhead), and test
• Comfortable travelling internationally to support transition of production and technology from overseas to domestic production

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities Desired:

• Strong experience in UAVs and air-to-surface missiles
• Moderate understanding of industry trends and our customers and competitors' strategies, strengths and weaknesses.
• Working knowledge of the defense acquisition process and an understanding of Defense Acquisition Regulations (DFARS).
• Demonstrated experience working in manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, quality or program management

Work Model

This role will begin as a remote position during early planning stages. Following the build‑out and initial operational setup, the position will transition to full on‑site work, with relocation required. The estimated timeline for relocation is approximately 12 to18 months.

Travel Requirements

Frequent travel will be required throughout facility design, engineering, and construction phases. This includes domestic travel to prospective site locations and project partners, as well as occasional international travel to Israel for coordination with global teams and technical specialists.

Here Are Some of the Great Benefits We Offer

• Most locations offer a 9/80 schedule, providing every other Friday off
• Competitive compensation & 401(k) program to plan for your future
• Robust medical, dental, vision, & disability coverage with qualified wellness discounts
• Basic Life Insurance and Additional Life & AD&D Insurances are available
• Flexible Vacation & PTO
• Paid Parental Leave
• Generous Employee Referral Program
• Voluntary Benefits Available: Longer Term Care, Legal, Identity Theft, Pet Insurance, and more
• Voluntary Tricare Supplement available for military retirees

This job description does not list all the duties of the job. You may be asked by your supervisors or managers to perform other duties. The employer has the right to revise this job description at any time. The job description is not an employment contract. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position. Twenty-Six Defense is an equal opportunity employer as to all protected groups, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

*For Virginia-based positions only* In accordance with Virginia DOL requirements, the listed salary range reflects the anticipated base pay range for this role. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors including skills, experience, education, certifications, business needs, internal equity, and geographic location. Compensation may vary in different locations based on market conditions and cost-of-labor considerations.