Aviation Program Manager Jobs in Durham, NC (NOW HIRING)

Company: Victor Sierra Aviation

Position Description: Operational Excellence Leader

Location: Assigned VSA operating company (specific location determined at offer): Burlington, NC, Baldwin City, KS and/or Palmer, AK

Department: Operational Excellence

Reports to: VP of Operations with dotted line to the operating company's Site Leader

Program Duration: 24 months across two operating company assignments

Travel/Relocation: 25 - 50%

ABOUT VICTOR SIERRA AVIATION

Victor Sierra Aviation (VSA) is the parent company of McFarlane Aviation, McFarlane Alaska, Tempest Aero Group®, Av8, and Aviation Products Systems. We acquire and build businesses that lead in engineering, manufacturing, and distribution of exceptional aerospace products globally.

THE OPPORTUNITY

The Operational Excellence Leader plays a critical role in advancing operations across our businesses. This role is responsible for driving business process improvements that enhance safety, quality, delivery, and cost, while embedding a culture of continuous improvement. This is a 24-month developmental assignment across two VSA operating company: the Operational Excellence Leader embeds with the team, drives an OPEX transformation across the operating company (including all of its locations), and builds the track record and exposure the program is designed to set up, positioning for future operations and leadership opportunities across Victor Sierra Aviation.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS

•     Immersive Assignment: Spend 24 months embedded at two VSA operating companies, across all their locations driving an OPEX transformation from the ground up.

•     Fast Trust-Building: Build credibility and working relationships quickly with the team, given the depth of ownership the assignment requires.

•     Structured Handoff: Close out the assignment with a documented transition package which includes status of initiatives, open action items, and lessons learned to ensure continuity for the operating company and the successor to the program.

•     Built-In Career Path: The program is designed to set Operational Excellence Leaders up for success, with a clear path into future operations and leadership opportunities across Victor Sierra Aviation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational Excellence Execution

•     Kaizen Leadership: Lead and facilitate OPEX initiatives, including kaizen events and continuous improvement projects, to reduce waste, improve flow, and increase efficiency across production lines.

•     Performance Impact: Drive measurable improvements in safety, first-pass yield, productivity, and delivery performance.

•     OPEX Toolkit: Apply Lean and Six Sigma tools such as 3P, Value Stream Mapping, 5S, A3, SMED, Standard Work, Kanban, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and Visual Management.

•     Flow & Utilization: Improve piece flow, capacity utilization, and productivity across the operating company’s facilities, identifying and eliminating bottlenecks end-to-end.

Coaching, Training, & Culture Building

•     Coaching & Mentoring: Coach and mentor employees at all levels, from operators to plant leadership, in OPEX practices and structured problem solving.

•     Capability Building: Develop OPEX capabilities across the organization, supporting certification programs and ongoing capability development.

•     Culture Transformation: Lead cultural transformation initiatives to build ownership, engagement, and discipline around continuous improvement.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Leadership

•     Operations Partnership: Partner closely with the operating company's operations leader and leadership team to align OPEX priorities with day-to-day operating goals.

•     Cross-Team Partnership: Partner with Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, and Maintenance teams to align improvement activities with plant and vertical goals.

•     Best-Practice Standardization: Standardize best practices across sites within the vertical(s), ensuring alignment with both operational and compliance requirements.

•     Leadership Reporting: Provide regular updates and performance reporting to leadership using clear metrics and dashboards.

Compliance, Safety, & Quality Focus

•     Regulatory Compliance: Ensure all OPEX initiatives are compliant with applicable aerospace regulatory standards including FAA, AS9100, ISO 9001, and customer-specific requirements.

•     Audit Support: Support or lead internal process audits to identify gaps in adherence to regulatory and internal standards.

•     Safety Championing: Champion initiatives that improve workplace safety and compliance while maintaining or improving operational efficiency.

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

•     Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, or a related technical field, with an aptitude for learning manufacturing and performance reporting tools

•     3–5 years of experience in manufacturing, engineering, or operations, ideally within aerospace or another highly regulated environment

•     Some leadership or informal team-lead experience, or a clear, demonstrated desire to grow into a leadership role

•     Working knowledge of, or willingness to quickly learn, aerospace quality standards and regulatory requirements (FAA, AS9100, ISO)

•     Demonstrated problem-solving ability, with examples of contributing to measurable improvements in a manufacturing or operations setting

•     Excellent communication, facilitation, and interpersonal skills

•     Proficient in Microsoft Office, Visio, and project management tools

•     Willingness and ability to relocate for a 24-month assignment at an assigned VSA operating company (which may include travel across that operating company’s locations)

Preferred

•     Master’s degree (MBA or MS in Industrial Engineering or Operations)

•     Lean/Six Sigma certification (Green Belt or higher; Black Belt or Master Black Belt a plus)

•     Experience in supply chain optimization and manufacturing flow within an aerospace context

•     Understanding of cost management and manufacturing KPIs, including trend analysis and standard costing

WHO WE'RE LOOKING FOR

You’re comfortable stepping into a new organization without long tenure or built-in credibility, and quick to earn trust and traction once you’re there. You bring strong leadership presence, structured problem-solving skills, and the confidence to influence across organizational levels in a regulated environment. You’re results-oriented and persistent, comfortable working under pressure while holding a high bar for accuracy and compliance, and flexible enough to adjust your approach as the business’s needs evolve. This is a hands-on role — expect regular time on the shop floor alongside production equipment and tooling, over a 24-month assignment at an assigned VSA operating company.

JOIN THE VICTOR SIERRA TEAM

At Victor Sierra Aviation, you’ll be part of a team that’s shaping the future of aviation manufacturing and support. Whether you’re assembling components, innovating new processes, or collaborating across our family of operating companies, your work directly contributes to keeping the skies safe and our customers flying. We believe in craftsmanship, integrity, and teamwork—values that define everything we do.

We offer:

•     A collaborative, hands-on environment where your ideas and expertise make an impact.

•     A team of aviation professionals who take pride in their work and support one another.

•     Competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, growth opportunities, and meaningful work that keeps aircraft performing at their best.

Victor Sierra Aviation is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We make employment decisions based on qualifications, merit, and business needs—without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.