Job Requirements
Fort Worth, TX
Clearance Unspecified Polygraph not specified
Career Level not specified
Salary not specified
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Job Description
Shadowgate Partners is seeking a Director of Operations for a precision engineering and manufacturing business with a strong presence in the global defense and aerospace supply chain. The US operation is based in Fort Worth, Texas and supports the F-35 Lightning II program through Ground Support Equipment (GSE) sustainment.
The business is in an active growth phase — building out machining, welding and assembly capability to win and deliver a broader portfolio of defense and aerospace contracts. This role is central to making that happen.
The Role
This is a greenfield leadership opportunity. The Head of Operations will design and build the US operation — not inherit a finished one. Reporting directly to the General Manager, the role carries full accountability across manufacturing, engineering and supply chain.
The right person moves comfortably between ambiguity and execution, builds structure where none exists, and then runs it with discipline. A credible pathway to General Manager is available for the right candidate.
Key Accountabilities
• Own end-to-end operational performance: Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People
• Lead manufacturing functions — CNC machining, welding, fabrication, assembly and sustainment
• Own supply chain strategy: supplier selection, performance, cost control and risk mitigation
• Lead manufacturing engineering: process design, tooling, work instructions and NPI
• Drive production and capacity planning aligned to demand and workforce capability
• Lead facility layout, equipment strategy and make vs. buy decisions
• Build and develop a multi-disciplinary team across production, engineering and supply chain
What We Are Looking For
Essential:
• 10+ years in senior operations leadership within manufacturing
• Experience standing up, scaling or building through a greenfield or NPI phase
• Technical grounding in CNC machining, welding, fabrication or complex assembly
• Defense or aerospace background with regulatory exposure (AS9100, ITAR, MIL-SPEC)
• Multi-disciplinary workforce leadership across production, engineering and supply chain (50+ people)
• Supply chain ownership: procurement, supplier management, cost and inventory control
• ERP / MRP experience — SAP, Epicor, IFS or equivalent
• Clear ambition toward General Manager or President-level
Desirable:
• Lean / Six Sigma accreditation with demonstrated outcomes
• Experience in project-based or mixed-mode manufacturing environments
The business is in an active growth phase — building out machining, welding and assembly capability to win and deliver a broader portfolio of defense and aerospace contracts. This role is central to making that happen.
The Role
This is a greenfield leadership opportunity. The Head of Operations will design and build the US operation — not inherit a finished one. Reporting directly to the General Manager, the role carries full accountability across manufacturing, engineering and supply chain.
The right person moves comfortably between ambiguity and execution, builds structure where none exists, and then runs it with discipline. A credible pathway to General Manager is available for the right candidate.
Key Accountabilities
• Own end-to-end operational performance: Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cost and People
• Lead manufacturing functions — CNC machining, welding, fabrication, assembly and sustainment
• Own supply chain strategy: supplier selection, performance, cost control and risk mitigation
• Lead manufacturing engineering: process design, tooling, work instructions and NPI
• Drive production and capacity planning aligned to demand and workforce capability
• Lead facility layout, equipment strategy and make vs. buy decisions
• Build and develop a multi-disciplinary team across production, engineering and supply chain
What We Are Looking For
Essential:
• 10+ years in senior operations leadership within manufacturing
• Experience standing up, scaling or building through a greenfield or NPI phase
• Technical grounding in CNC machining, welding, fabrication or complex assembly
• Defense or aerospace background with regulatory exposure (AS9100, ITAR, MIL-SPEC)
• Multi-disciplinary workforce leadership across production, engineering and supply chain (50+ people)
• Supply chain ownership: procurement, supplier management, cost and inventory control
• ERP / MRP experience — SAP, Epicor, IFS or equivalent
• Clear ambition toward General Manager or President-level
Desirable:
• Lean / Six Sigma accreditation with demonstrated outcomes
• Experience in project-based or mixed-mode manufacturing environments
group id: 91173572