Chief of Staff

Airbus Aerosystems Kinston, Inc is seeking a Chief of Staff to act as the strategic partner and facilitator for the Kinston plant leadership team, ensuring seamless execution of operational strategies, governance cycles, and cross-functional transformation initiatives.

About the Role

The Chief of Staff optimizes executive decision-making, drives site competitiveness, and coordinates critical performance recovery plans across the manufacturing facility. This role reports directly to the General Manager & Vice President and serves as an individual contributor, collaborating extensively with the site's Senior Leadership Team (SLT) to streamline operations.

Responsibilities

• Site Governance, KPI Cascade, and Performance Management (30%):
  • Implement and maintain the Kinston plant governance structure.
  • Drive and track the Objectives and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) cascade across the manufacturing facility.
  • Facilitate the Senior Leadership Team (SLT) standard agenda, managing performance routines and optimizing systems such as CVAT (Cost Value Analysis Tool) and Skywise to ensure strategic operational alignment.
• Operational Transformation and Competitiveness Programs (30%):
  • Oversee operational transformation initiatives and competitiveness workstreams across the Kinston plant.
  • Collaborate closely with the Finance department to analyze and monitor cost reduction trajectories, specifically aligning plant operational performance with the Sparrow cost trajectory program.
• Special Projects, Strategic Communications, and Recovery Management (30%):
  • Direct high-priority 'Tier 1' strategic initiatives and complex plant-wide projects on behalf of the General Manager.
  • Act as a Recovery Manager to rapidly mobilize cross-functional teams, resolving critical production bottlenecks and restoring baseline operational performance during disruptions.
  • Draft executive briefings, tactical status reports, and strategic presentations for Senior Vice Presidents (SVPs) and Executive Vice Presidents (EVPs).
• Cross-Functional Liaison and Stakeholder Alignment (10%):
  • Act as the central operational liaison between the General Manager & Vice President and key functional departments, including Human Resources, Finance, Value Stream Management (VSM), Engineering, Quality, and Operations.
  • Represent plant leadership in internal regional working groups and key operational committees to foster organizational alignment and smooth program execution.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Education:
  • Required: Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, manufacturing, or a related industrial discipline, or equivalent experience in a manufacturing environment.
  • Preferred: Master's or postgraduate degree in business administration, engineering management, or industrial leadership.
• Experience:
  • Required: 8+ years of professional experience in an aerospace, complex manufacturing, or high-level industrial engineering environment, with a demonstrated history of coordinating cross-functional projects.
  • Preferred: 10+ years of experience with direct exposure to aerospace plant management operations, strategic operational recovery, or management consulting.
• Licensure/Certifications:
  • Required: None.
  • Preferred: Project Management Professional (PMP) or Lean Six Sigma certification.

Skills

• Required:
  • Strong understanding of aerospace manufacturing processes, industrial performance metrics, operational recovery frameworks, and project management methodologies.
  • Strong business acumen with the capability to support financial budget reviews and analyze operational data.
  • Excellent written and verbal English communication skills, with the ability to draft professional, board-level executive briefings and present complex operational data clearly to diverse stakeholders.
  • Proficiency with advanced operational and data analysis systems (such as Skywise), project management tracking software, and standard executive suite tools (presentation design, spreadsheets, and reporting databases).
• Preferred:
  • Familiarity with the Airbus Operating System (AOS) and Lean manufacturing practices.

Working Conditions

• Location: 100% onsite at the company's location in Kinston, NC.
• Travel: 10% domestic and international.
• Physical Requirements:
  • Vision: Daily frequency. Able to see and read computer screens, documents, reports, and engineering drawings.
  • Hearing: Daily frequency. Able to hear conversations in person and via teleconference or phone, and to hear sounds on the production floor including safety warnings or alarms.
  • Speaking: Daily frequency. Able to speak in conversations and meetings.
  • Equipment Operation: Daily frequency. Able to operate office and personal electronic equipment and some production tools including hydraulic lifts.
  • Carrying: Daily frequency. Able to carry documents, tools, drawings, and electronic equipment up to 30 lbs / 14 kgs.
  • Lifting: Daily frequency. Able to lift documents, tools, drawings, and electronic equipment up to 30 lbs / 14 kgs.
  • Pushing/Pulling: Occasionally. Able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools.
  • Sitting: Daily frequency. Able to sit for long periods in meetings or while working on a computer.
  • Squatting/Kneeling: Occasionally. Able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving.
  • Standing: Daily frequency. Able to stand for discussions in offices or on the production floor.
  • Walking: Daily frequency. Able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Safety Shoes, Safety Glasses, Hearing Protection, and/or Protective Gloves as required by site and/or customer site. Steel-toed shoes are required for all shop floor visits.
• Citizenship: Able to work in the US without current or future need for visa sponsorship.

Additional Information

• Decision Making: The Chief of Staff exercises independent judgment in defining meeting agendas, structuring governance schedules, tracking key operational actions, and prioritizing executive briefings. For complex strategic or operational changes, the role formulates evidence-based options and recommendations and consults directly with the General Manager & Vice President prior to implementation.
• Nature of Contacts: The role involves high-frequency, involved, and influencing communications. Internally, the Chief of Staff interfaces daily with Kinston Senior Leadership, functional departments (Human Resources, Finance, Engineering, and Quality), and operations. Externally and regionally, the role coordinates with the A350 Value Stream Management (VSM) team, other Airbus manufacturing plants, and executive offices across the United States and Europe.
• Job Dimensions: While the role does not have direct financial sign-off or budget ownership, it plays a critical strategic support role by driving operational efficiency projects, coordinating competitiveness initiatives (e.g., tracking savings trajectories such as the Sparrow program), and supporting financial budget reviews and allocations.