Executive Vice President, Aerospace Manufacturing

Location: Strong preference for candidates in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) metropolitan area; regular travel required

Company Overview:

Our client is a privately held, U.S.-based advanced manufacturing platform serving defense, aerospace, and industrial customers. With a national footprint and a mission-driven culture, the company operates multiple vertically integrated sites delivering precision-engineered components critical to national security and commercial supply chains. Backed by long-term ownership, the organization is entering a period of transformation and growth, with an emphasis on operational excellence, people-first leadership, and advanced manufacturing innovation.

The Opportunity:

The company is seeking a high-impact, execution-focused leader to serve as Executive Vice President (EVP) of its aerospace and industrial manufacturing business unit. This individual will be responsible for stabilizing plant operations, driving strong financial and operational performance, upgrading leadership teams, and accelerating strategic growth across a multi-site platform.

The EVP will report directly to the CEO and own full P&L responsibility for the $75m+ business unit. This role requires a proven operator who can lead a team of 300+ with urgency and clarity, while building a high-performance, mission-aligned culture. Key priorities include scaling site-level leadership, improving throughput and forecasting accuracy, modernizing systems, and driving a disciplined and entrepreneurial execution model across 5+ sites.

Key Responsibilities:

P&L Ownership & Performance Execution

• Lead a multi-site business with full P&L accountability
• Build and institutionalize forecasting processes that drive operational discipline and predictability
• Improve financial performance through margin expansion, cost control, and strategic growth initiatives

Operational Leadership

• Oversee operational realignments and process improvements to stabilize legacy facilities
• Support ramp-up of a recently integrated site through internal work transfers and capability scaling
• Ensure successful ERP implementation and adoption across all locations
• Drive site-level quality improvements and certification efforts
• Optimize inventory management and improve working capital performance
• Hire key leaders, including site managers and a business-unit Controller
• Manage consolidation and wind-down of non-core or redundant assets

Strategic Growth & Innovation

• Lead automation and systems integration efforts to increase productivity and reduce cycle times
• Oversee development and validation of new product lines and capabilities
• Support M&A strategy, including diligence, integration planning, and operational execution
• Evaluate manufacturing footprint and recommend consolidation or expansion as appropriate
• Advance the company’s contract manufacturing and advanced manufacturing capabilities

Culture & Talent Development

• Install and support “A-player” leadership at all sites by year-end
• Champion a culture of urgency, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Lead succession planning and build long-term leadership bench strength
• Uphold a people-first culture grounded in respect, transparency, and shared mission

Required Experience

• Senior leadership experience in manufacturing; aerospace and defense experience strongly preferred
• Demonstrated success in operational turnarounds and scaling multi-site environments
• Experience leading teams of 200+ across functions and geographies
• Strong cross-functional communication and collaboration skills, including with finance and technical teams
• Prior full P&L ownership with a strong financial acumen
• Comfortable operating in entrepreneurial, high-growth, or founder-led environments
• Demonstrated commitment to mission-driven work and supporting national security or warfighter outcomes

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience leading ERP implementations and scaling operational systems
• Familiarity with quality certification processes (AS9100, NADCAP, etc…)
• Track record of driving automation or advanced manufacturing initiatives

Personal Attributes

• Efficiency: Executes with speed and minimizes wasted effort
• Persistence: Navigates obstacles with tenacity and commitment
• Follow-through: Delivers on commitments and holds others accountable
• Proactivity: Anticipates challenges and takes initiative
• Integrity: Operates with transparency, ethics, and trust

Compensation & Benefits

• Salary: Low-to-mid $400Ks
• Incentives: Tax-deferred equity in a long-term value creation plan
• Veteran-owned and led organization