General Manager

About Us:

As a global manufacturer of complex aircraft engine components, Pursuit Aerospace is founded on a commitment to relentless, continuous, operational improvement and extraordinary customer service. We pride ourselves on competitive cost structure, exceptional on-time delivery, and industry-leading quality.

Pursuit Aerospace has cultivated long-term relationships with our customers around the world through respect, teamwork, technology, and trust. We are driven to develop industry leading process innovations and manufacturing techniques on behalf of our customers. Our exceptional quality is driven by a deep investment in and the daily practice of continually improving our people, processes, and products.

About the Opportunity:

We are currently searching for a General Manager to join the Pursuit Aerospace organization. This is a key leadership role supporting approximately $54m in annual sales and manufacturing output. Key responsibilities include safety, quality, delivery, and financial performance targets. These will be achieved through leadership and management of an organization of 120 employees responsible for all operations at the sites including safety, kaizen (continuous improvement), manufacturing, quality, engineering, account management, material management, and production planning. Ultimately the General Manager needs to balance the objectives of maximum financial performance with customer needs while driving productivity, employee growth, and engagement.

Location: Morton, Illinois

Responsibilities:

• Provides ongoing leadership in the development and refinement of the business strategy and strategic plan. Establishes supporting goals for Operations and all supporting functions and ensure they are implemented. Responsible for the overall business performance.
• Serves as a visible leader for the business; model and communicate behavior/expectations that set the standard for ethics, quality, customer responsiveness and accountability, including ensuring all employees are trained in, aware of, and compliant with company, government, and customer policies, procedures, and regulations.
• Ensures all established safety, cost, quality, inventory and delivery commitments are met. Demonstrates a relentless commitment to prudent financial management and operational excellence.
• Oversees full range of direct and indirect functions of the business through a team of functional managers and supervisors. Empowers teams with a leadership/management style that is collaborative, inclusive and balanced in approach to drive and achieve results while embracing the company's servant leadership philosophy. Consistently achieves and executes the business plan the right way.
• Ensures the effective management of operating methods and manufacturing process plan, budget spending, manpower/resource utilization and labor efficiency, material scheduling and capacity planning, facility needs, and tooling and equipment planning to achieve quality standards and on-time delivery goals for the customer.
• Becomes immersed in production and operating processes and directs the resolution of operational, manufacturing, and maintenance problems to ensure minimum costs and prevent operational delays.
• Conducts business in a manner that is consistent with the Pursuit Vison, Mission, and Values, inclusive of leveraging the Pursuit Production System, a relentless approach to developing our people and processes using Kaizen and Moonshining that results in breakthroughs in technology and improved quality. The core of this methodology is quick process changes for the betterment of our customers and employees.
• Works collaboratively across the organization on policy deployment targets focused on cash generation and cost reduction.
• Oversees and, at times, directs the interface with customers and regulating bodies. Is deeply involved in building and maintaining relationships with these entities.
• Actively partners and engages Sales on customer management as the "voice-of-the-customer" (VOC). Seeks to expand product offerings with existing customers, help develop new customers and expand the division presence as a strategic supplier.
• Operates as a strong team leader and team builder focused on generating results through collaboration, influence and relationship building as much as direct line authority. Builds a passionate and driven leadership team that possesses unmatched intensity and professionalism who desire and understands "how to win".
• Attracts, develops, and retains qualified, talented people, creating and sustaining a high-performance culture. Organizes the business to execute and deliver promised results on a consistent basis - the right way.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, Operations Management, technical field
• 15+ years of progressive experience in a complex, precision-driven manufacturing environment
• 5+ years of progressive experience in a leadership role, with direct reports
• 2+ years of site leadership experience, with P&L ownership
• Must be authorized to work in the U.S. on a full-time basis without sponsorship now or in the future. The Company cannot offer employment to visa holders who require employer sponsorship in the future or cannot work now on a full-time basis.
• Must be able to perform work subject to ITAR/EAR regulations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Aerospace experience preferred.
• Advanced degree preferred.
• Outstanding negotiation skills with a proven ability to create and maintain positive working relationships with vendors, suppliers, shippers, and internal and external customers.
• Must be a strategic and analytical, and a results-oriented leader with sound judgment who will empower others to take ownership and pride in company operations.
• Detailed working knowledge and understanding of lean manufacturing and continuous improvement and their importance of driving cycle time and cost out of products produced.
• Working knowledge and understanding of business support functions and their contributions including human resources, information technology, accounting, finance, etc.
• Possesses the ability to apply logic to a wide range of abstract and practical problems faced in the context of business and to problem-solve possible resolutions and outcomes.
• Development and management of operating and capital investment plans.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Strong track record of establishing and developing a company culture focused on positive employee relations and continuous improvement.
• Demonstrated experience as a change agent with ability to build trust, influence and communicate at all levels within the organization.
• Proven ability to collaborate broadly across all levels of the organization and achieve results through accountability with cross-functional teams.
• Proven experience building dynamic, successful, high performing teams, understanding how to motivate and inspire.
• A champion who forges customer and vendor relationships.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate sales, operations, finance, logistics and human resource disciplines to maximize the site P&L performance. Develops and implements performance indicators to continually improve the efficiency and productivity of the manufacturing operations.
• Demonstrated leadership effectiveness. Must be an effective change leader; balancing consistency with flexibility and willing to change ideas in the face of new information. Impeccable integrity; superior interpersonal skills; strong ability to communicate with and present to all levels of the organization. Emotionally intelligent change agent who challenges the status quo and acts with a sense of urgency to drive results.

Working Conditions

• Must be able to frequently sit, stand and walk.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.

• Must be able to climb ladder, work on platforms, and climb stairs
• Personal protective equipment (e.g., safety glasses and safety shoes) is required on the shop floor
• Occasional weekend and evening work may be required to accommodate priorities, deadlines, and schedules.

Acknowledgements:

The above job description is not intended to be an all-inclusive list of duties and standards of the position. Incumbents will follow any other instructions, and perform any other related duties, as assigned by their supervisor.

Benefits:

Pursuit Aerospace also offers a variety of benefits, including health and disability insurance, 401(k) match, flexible spending accounts, EAP, paid time off, and company-paid holidays. The specific programs and options available to an employee may vary depending on date of hire, schedule type, and the applicability of collective bargaining agreements, among other things.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Pursuit Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.