Vice President Operations - Aerospace

Confidential; Long Beach (CA); On-site; USD 210,000 - 310,000; Full time

Job summary

Confidential is seeking an accomplished operations executive to lead a group of precision-manufacturing businesses in Southern California. This full-time role oversees multiple facilities, product lines, and leadership teams, delivering measurable improvements in safety, quality, delivery, cost, and productivity.

The ideal candidate has senior operations leadership experience in aerospace/precision manufacturing, with P&L ownership, and a proven record of developing and retaining high-performing

Qualifications

• Senior operations leadership experience in aerospace, defense, precision manufacturing, or a highly engineered environment.
• Experience leading multiple facilities or business units.
• Strong understanding of machining, engineered components, assembly, or technical manufacturing processes.
• Proven track record of improving operational and financial performance.
• Experience with full P&L ownership or significant financial responsibility.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership across multiple aerospace and precision-manufacturing operations.
• Improve performance in safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and working capital.
• Partner with site and business leaders to establish operating priorities and execute improvement plans.
• Strengthen accountability, operating discipline, and performance visibility across the organization.
• Evaluate organizational capabilities and develop a pipeline of operational leadership talent.
• Lead initiatives involving capacity, capital investment, manufacturing efficiency, supply chain, and production scalability.
• Support annual planning, forecasting, and longer-term business strategy.
• Work collaboratively with engineering, quality, commercial, supply-chain, and finance leadership.
• Establish consistent operating practices while recognizing the needs of each business and facility.
• Participate in strategic initiatives, including business integration and growth planning.

Skills

Senior operations leadership

Multi-facility leadership

Lean manufacturing

Capital planning

P&L ownership

Strong communication

Engineering/related degree

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/operations/business

Job description

Ross Staffing is leading a confidential executive search for a well-established global manufacturer of highly engineered components serving the aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. This is a full-time position overseeing multiple operating divisions at the enterprise level.

The organization is seeking an accomplished operations executive to help lead and strengthen a group of precision-manufacturing businesses in Southern California. This individual will work closely with senior corporate and business leadership to improve operating performance, develop leadership talent, and support the organization’s long-term growth strategy.

This is a highly visible position for an executive who combines strategic perspective with a practical, hands-on approach to manufacturing leadership. The successful candidate will be comfortable operating across multiple facilities, product lines, and leadership teams while maintaining accountability for measurable results.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership across multiple aerospace and precision-manufacturing operations.
• Improve performance in safety, quality, delivery, cost, productivity, and working capital.
• Partner with site and business leaders to establish operating priorities and execute improvement plans.
• Strengthen accountability, operating discipline, and performance visibility across the organization.
• Evaluate organizational capabilities and develop a strong pipeline of operational leadership talent.
• Lead initiatives involving capacity, capital investment, manufacturing efficiency, supply chain, and production scalability.
• Support annual planning, forecasting, and longer-term business strategy.
• Work collaboratively with engineering, quality, commercial, supply-chain, and finance leadership.
• Establish consistent operating practices while recognizing the individual needs of each business and facility.
• Participate in strategic initiatives, including business integration, operational assessments, and growth planning.

Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will bring:

• Senior operations leadership experience within aerospace, defense, precision manufacturing, or another highly engineered and regulated environment.
• Experience leading multiple facilities, business units, or a complex manufacturing organization.
• Strong understanding of machining, engineered components, assembly, or similarly technical manufacturing processes.
• Demonstrated success improving operational and financial performance.
• Experience with full P&L ownership or significant responsibility for business-unit financial results.
• A record of developing leaders and building accountable, high-performing teams.
• Working knowledge of lean manufacturing, continuous improvement, quality systems, and capital planning.
• The ability to move effectively between executive-level strategy and plant-level execution.
• Strong judgment, communication skills, and credibility with both senior leaders and operating teams.
• A bachelor’s degree in engineering, operations, business, or a related discipline. An advanced degree is valued but not required.

Leadership Style

We are seeking a leader who is:

• Decisive, practical, and metrics-driven.
• Visible and engaged with manufacturing teams.
• Comfortable leading through influence as well as direct authority.
• Capable of challenging existing practices constructively.
• Focused on sustainable improvement rather than short-term fixes.
• Effective across different facilities, leadership styles, and organizational cultures.

Location and Travel

The position will be based in Southern California and requires regular on-site involvement across company operations. Candidates should currently reside in the region or be willing to relocate. Periodic domestic travel will be required.

Confidentiality

This is a confidential executive search. Additional information about the organization, reporting structure, and business mandate will be shared with qualified candidates during the recruitment process.