Performance Center Director

Job Summary

The Manufacturing General Manager (Performance Center Director) is a senior operations leader with full P&L responsibility for a complex aerospace structures manufacturing site. This role is designed for a leader who thrives in high-expectation, action-oriented environments and has a proven track record of improving performance, not maintaining it.

Key Responsibilities

• Own full-site P&L with direct accountability for operating income, cash flow, cost structure, and productivity improvements.

• Translate strategic objectives into aggressive, achievable operating plans and execute with urgency.

• Identify underperforming areas quickly and implement corrective actions decisively.

• Lead manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, and support functions to deliver sustained improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that result in tangible gains, not theoretical models.

• Actively remove barriers to execution, making timely decisions in imperfect conditions.

• Ensure operational readiness for new programs, volume changes, and evolving customer requirements.

• Set a clear performance standard and hold leaders accountable for results.

• Lead cultural change initiatives that reinforce ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Personally model Lean and Six Sigma behaviors through visible engagement and follow-through.

• Build a culture that rewards problem-solving, adaptability, and results over process preservation.

• Partner with program management, finance, engineering, and corporate functions to ensure alignment and execution.

• Support contract execution and customer commitments through hands-on operational leadership.

• Participate in bid/no-bid decisions and make/buy analysis with a focus on manufacturability and margin.

• Engage with customers and suppliers as needed.

Required Skills And Leadership Profile

• Results-driven leader who is comfortable operating in environments with change, pressure, and competing priorities.

• Demonstrated ability to move an organization from acceptable performance to higher standards.

• Strong executive presence with the ability to challenge constructively and lead difficult conversations.

• Decisive, data-driven, and willing to act without perfect information.

• High energy, resilient, and visible on the manufacturing floor.

• Comfortable in fiscally disciplined organizations where leaders are expected to do more with less.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Business required; Master’s or MBA preferred.

• 10–15+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience with increasing scope and accountability.

• Prior Full P&L ownership of a manufacturing operation is required.

• Demonstrated success leading operational improvement, turnaround efforts, or step-change performance initiatives.

• Deep understanding of Lean manufacturing, process control, and continuous improvement in an aerospace or regulated manufacturing environment.

• Experience in aerospace structures manufacturing strongly preferred.

• Strong understanding of financial metrics.

• Proven ability to develop leaders and strengthen bench capability while driving results.