Operations Director (USA)

About the role

DroneShield is seeking a Operations Director with relevant experience to join the team in Warrenton, VA. The position will report to the Chief Operating Officer. The Operations Director – USA is accountable for building and running a field-first, delivery-driven operations engine that enables rapid, reliable demonstrations, deployments, and customer outcomes at scale.

Responsibilities, Duties and Expectations

• Own and lead a world-class field execution engine across the U.S.
• Accountability: All demonstrations, trials, installations, and field support
• End-to-end execution from customer request → mobilization → delivery → support
• Key Outcomes: 50% reduction in demo and mobilization time
• Consistent, repeatable demo execution across all regions
• Improved first-time fix rate (>20%)
• Standardized deployment models and field playbooks
• Seamless coordination of assets, people, and sites
• Strategic Importance: Directly impacts revenue conversion, customer trust, and market influence
• Transforms field ops from ad hoc execution → repeatable system
• Project Delivery
• In concert with the Global Head of PMO build and lead a disciplined, scalable project delivery engine.
• Accountability: Local management of Project Managers to ensure that priorities are met
• Local coordination of all programs, demos, installations, and complex deliveries
• Key Outcomes: 85% of projects delivered on time and on budget
• Strong front-end planning replacing downstream recovery
• Clear ownership across all deployments and programs
• Reduced execution risk in complex defense and customer programs
• Strategic Importance: Moves delivery from heroics → system-driven execution
• Test Sites & Demo Infrastructure
• Establish and operationalize U.S. test sites as core revenue-enabling assets.
• Accountability: Site establishment, readiness, and integration into planning
• Ensuring test sites are always ready, available, and utilized
• Key Outcomes: Fully operational regional test sites
• Sites integrated into scheduling (not reactive bookings)
• Reduced setup time and increased utilization
• Repeatable demo environments
• Strategic Importance: Enables speed, consistency, and scale of demonstrations
• Warehouse & Inventory
• Transform inventory into a deployment-ready, execution-critical capability.
• Key Outcomes: 98% inventory accuracy
• 98% kitting accuracy for demos, projects, and field ops
• Materials always ready for deployment, not just manufacturing
• Warehouse flow aligned to field demand and project schedules
• Strategic Importance: Supports the shift to planned execution vs last-minute scrambling
• Facilities & Field Infrastructure
• Ensure facilities enable, not constrain, field delivery and growth.
• Key Outcomes: Facilities ready ahead of demand (>90%)
• Infrastructure supports field ops, inventory, and demo capability
• No delays due to lack of space, tools, or readiness
• Strategic Importance: Enables speed of deployment and operational readiness at scale
• Health, Safety & Operational Assurance
• Embed safe, compliant field execution at speed.
• Key Outcomes: Zero major safety or compliance incidents
• Safety embedded into field, demo, and deployment processes
• Strong leading indicators and proactive risk mitigation
• Strategic Importance: Critical for defense customers and field-based operations

Qualifications, Experience and Skills

• Senior leadership experience in Engineering, Operations, Project Management or similar.
• Background in defence, aerospace, or highly regulated high-tech manufacturing.
• Proven experience operating in global, multi-site environments.
• Engineering or technical qualifications preferred.
• Customer-oriented with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Relevant tertiary qualification in Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain or Business (desirable).