Job Description
The Director of Operations, Ship’s Completion is a high-visibility leadership role accountable for overseeing all operations within Ship’s Completion operations. This position reports to the VP, Operations and is responsible for the safety, quality, schedule adherence, cost performance, and personnel management within their assigned major operational area. Operating under the BIW Business Operating System (BOS), the Director manages all aspects of Ship’s Completion operations, ensuring compliance with safety, quality, and performance standards while maintaining strong relationships with Navy customers and our represented workforce.
Key Responsibilities
Safety Leadership
- Lead safety performance within Ship’s Completion operations and provide leadership for Safety action teams
- Develop and implement area-specific safety initiatives that put people first in the business
- Drive continuous improvement in safety performance metrics
- Establish and reinforce a culture that fosters safety standards through mentorship and enforcement
Project Execution
- Direct all operations within Ship’s Completion area, including daily execution of Plan of the Week for each Cost Account
- Manage multiple concurrent ship construction phases while maintaining compliance with published shipyard schedules
- Oversee schedule and resource allocation across area
- Lead integration between production areas and support functions
- Monitor and resolve flow disruption activities, influencing support areas to address issues promptly
- Maintain vigilance on plant equipment and supporting assets to maximize facility potential
- Recommend capital upgrades or equipment that will provide profitable ROI
Operational Management
- Lead Chief Superintendents and operational leadership team
- Manage area operational budget and performance metrics
- Direct implementation of improvement initiatives
- Prepare and present area performance reviews
- Maintain area-specific improvement programs
- Monitor productivity of the workforce and eliminate non-value added activities
- Provide direction and solutions to Corrective Action Requests for Navy Customer
- Ensure product building aligns with contract specifications while maintaining collaborative relationship with Supervisor of Shipbuilding team
Earned Value Management
- Manage Cost Account activities, approve variances, and provide explanations for each CAM
- Monitor and analyze integrated data management systems for:
- Earned Value trends
- Cost performance indicators
- Cost/schedule variances
- Plan of the week compliance
- Flow disruptions
- Staffing
- Work order burn down
- Material availability
- Develop and submit EAC forecasts for assigned Cost Accounts
- Provide weekly CAM oversight reports to Senior Level Management
Team Leadership and Development
- Drive supervisor and trade development programs
- Implement talent development initiatives in collaboration with the Training Department
- Provide oversight and leadership to maintain productive and positive spirit of management and trades teams
- Lead daily meetings to build confidence and provide direction
- Maintain trustworthy relationships with represented leadership and workforce
- Support a culture of total ownership and employee empowerment at all levels
- Develop and mentor Management and Supervision talent for future leadership positions
Continuous Improvement
- Champion BOS implementation within area
- Drive operational excellence initiatives
- Lead process improvement efforts
- Actively seek opportunities to:
- Improve business processes
- Reduce rework activities
- Optimize work scope activities for profitability
- Benchmark other company's successes
- Incorporate best practices from internal and external sources
Materials Management
- Collaborate with materials personnel to ensure proper material management
- Prevent material loss or damage prior to installation
- Optimize material availability and usage
Required/Preferred Education/Training
- Bachelor's degree in manufacturing, marine engineering or related technical field
- MBA and advanced degrees preferred.
Required/Preferred Experience
- Minimum of 12 years of progressively responsible management and leadership experience in shipbuilding, construction or heavy manufacturing
- Proven experience leading major operational area
- Strong track record of operational performance improvement
- Experience with Navy programs and requirements
- Demonstrated success in safety leadership
- Strong labor relations experience
- Proven ability to lead large teams
- Experience with Lean manufacturing principles
- Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills
- Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
Core Values and Ethics
- Maintain high level of integrity aligned with GD Ethos:
- Honesty
- Transparency
- Trust
- Company Values
- Demonstrate process discipline and enable workforce to deliver first-time quality workmanship