Senior Manager Operations

Since 2018, Elevate Aircraft Seating has been enhancing the passenger experience through innovative aircraft seat design and manufacturing. With locations in California, Washington, and Germany we are guided by creativity, collaboration, and a shared commitment to quality. We are looking for a skilled Senior Manager Operations to join our team in Santa Maria, CA. This is an on-site position based in Santa Maria, CA. We value teamwork, inclusivity, and continuous professional development, and we offer competitive benefits along with opportunities for growth. Export Control Requirements: This position must meet U.S. export control compliance requirements. To meet U.S. export control compliance requirements, a “U.S. Person” as defined by 22 C.F.R. §120.62 is required. “U.S. Person” includes U.S. Citizen, U.S. National, lawful permanent resident, refugee, or asylee. JOB SUMMARY The Senior Manager, Operations is responsible for leading and overseeing manufacturing operations and maintenance activities to ensure the achievement of safety, quality, delivery, productivity, and cost objectives. This role drives operational performance through effective resource planning, workforce development, and process optimization while supporting continuous improvement initiatives. Partnering cross-functionally, the Senior Manager implements operational strategies, promotes accountability, and ensures efficient manufacturing execution aligned with organizational and customer objectives. SUMMARY OF JOB DUTIES - Essential Functions (Other duties and projects may be assigned or requested.) Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions Operational Leadership & Performance Lead and oversee daily manufacturing operations and maintenance activities to achieve safety, quality, on-time delivery, productivity, labor efficiency, scrap reduction, and work-in-process (WIP) inventory objectives. Establish, monitor, and drive accountability for key operational performance indicators (KPIs), implementing corrective actions to address performance gaps. Support continuous improvement initiatives by identifying operational inefficiencies, collaborating with relevant stakeholders, and implementing improvements within manufacturing operations. Production Planning & Execution Oversee all phases of manufacturing operations to ensure production activities comply with established procedures, quality standards, and approved manufacturing processes. Plan, coordinate, and optimize departmental activities, production schedules, and resource allocation to meet customer requirements and business objectives. Evaluate production capacity, workforce requirements, and operational constraints to ensure effective utilization of labor, equipment, and manufacturing resources. People Leadership & Workforce Development Lead, develop, and manage production and associated functional teams, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and operational excellence. Oversee workforce planning, recruitment, onboarding, training, and employee development to maintain operational readiness. Establish performance expectations, evaluate employee performance, and partner with Human Resources on coaching, employee relations, corrective actions, and performance management. Quality, Safety & Regulatory Compliance Ensure manufacturing operations adhere to established Quality Management System (QMS) requirements, AS9100 standards, applicable aerospace regulations, and internal policies and procedures. Promote a culture of safety, quality, and compliance by ensuring employees are appropriately trained and consistently follow established manufacturing procedures. Financial Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration Manage departmental budgets, monitor operational expenditures, and implement cost-control measures to support financial objectives. Partner with Supply Chain, Planning, Quality, Engineering, P…

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