Sr Director, Global Operations Leader

Curtiss-Wright Corporation · Mecklenburg County, NC · 1 wk ago

HybridFull-time

About the role

Curtiss-Wright is seeking a highly experienced Global Operations Leader to oversee and drive excellence within our Defense Electronics segment across Operations, Supply Chain, Quality, Planning and New Product Introduction functions. This leadership role is pivotal to ensuring the integrity, efficiency, and compliance of mission-critical manufacturing and delivery processes on a global scale.

Location: Remote/Hybrid (prefer US East Coast proximity to one of the Curtiss-Wright Defense facilities)

Salary Range: $200,000 – $275,000 plus bonus opportunities. The salary range is a guideline; final offer will consider qualifications, scope, market, and business considerations.

Responsibilities

Global Operations Management
- Build and lead a high-performing global operations team within a matrix structure of business units, focusing on technical excellence, accountability, and continuous development.
- Lead global production, logistics, and facility operations to ensure delivery of complex aerospace and defense systems on time, within budget, and to specification.
- Drive operational strategies that align with program execution and customer requirements, including government and military contracts.
- Champion a culture of integrity, safety, compliance, and innovation.
Supply Chain & Procurement
- Direct global supply chain activities including strategic sourcing, supplier risk management, logistics, and lifecycle sustainment planning.
- Develop and maintain supplier relationships with a focus on long-term partnerships, resilience, cost containment, and technology readiness.
Quality & Regulatory Compliance
- Ensure compliance with industry and regulatory standards such as AS9100, ISO 9001, ITAR, and DFARS.
- Lead and oversee quality management systems to maintain product reliability and customer trust.
- Embed a culture of continuous improvement using Lean, Six Sigma, and root cause analysis tools.
New Product Introduction
- Develop and implement scalable manufacturing strategies to support rapid and successful ramp-up of new products across global sites.
- Partner closely with R&D, engineering, supply chain, quality, and regional operations teams to ensure seamless product transitions from development to volume production.
- Manage risk assessment and mitigation plans related to NPI, including supply chain constraints, capacity planning, and quality controls.
Cross-Functional & Program Alignment
- Partner with engineering, program management, contracts, and finance teams to ensure alignment of operational capabilities with customer and program needs.
- Support the capture and execution of new business by contributing to proposal development, capacity planning, and capability presentations.
Performance & Risk Management
- Define and manage KPIs related to quality, delivery, cost, compliance, and efficiency.
- Identify and mitigate operational risks, including geopolitical, cybersecurity, and supply chain disruptions.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or related field (Master’s degree or MBA preferred).
15+ years of progressive leadership experience in global operations within the Aerospace & Defense industry.
Understanding of defense acquisition frameworks and export compliance (e.g., ITAR, EAR).
Proven track record in managing complex supply chains, regulated production environments, and large-scale transformation initiatives.
Experience in ERP and business systems integration (e.g., SAP, Oracle, Deltek Costpoint, Teamcenter).
Strong familiarity with FAA, DoD, NASA, or other regulatory agency standards and expectations.
Security clearance (or ability to obtain) may be required depending on business unit focus.

Preferred Certifications

PMP or Program Management credentials
APICS CPIM/CSCP
Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt

Benefits