STS Technical Services is hiring a Director of Production in Radford, Virginia. This senior operations leadership role is responsible for propellant and energetics manufacturing at RFAAP, overseeing approximately 700 employees across nitrocellulose, nitroglycerin, single, double, multi and solvent-based propellants, rocket grains and related production units.
Operating within a government-owned, contractor-operated plant, the Director of Production will lead safe, reliable and efficient execution of the Army’s production mission while meeting quantity, schedule, cost and quality requirements in support of U.S. national security.
Position Overview
The Director of Production provides day-to-day leadership for production operations and production engineering. This role drives continuous improvement, strengthens safety and quality performance and ensures process controls are fully implemented on the shop floor.
The Director reports to and works closely with the President and partners with leaders across Plant Support, Compliance, Growth and Modernization and Business Operations to support mission success.
Operations and Production Leadership
- Lead all plant production operations for propellants and energetics across multiple product lines and value streams
- Ensure safe, on-time and in-spec delivery to Army requirements
- Provide day-to-day leadership for approximately 700 employees across multiple departments, shifts and a union workforce
- Lead through a team of production and operations managers
- Own production execution against the Integrated Master Schedule and production plans
- Ensure capacity, staffing and equipment readiness to meet baseline and surge requirements
- Direct Production Engineering to maintain and optimize manufacturing processes, line layouts, operating procedures and process controls
- Improve throughput, yield and reliability across production operations
Safety, ESH&Q and Quality
- Implement and enforce all ESH&Q requirements within production areas
- Translate policies and standards into effective shop-floor practices and behaviors
- Ensure strict adherence to explosives safety, process safety management and high-hazard operating procedures
- Maintain robust in-process quality controls and line-side inspection and testing
- Ensure adherence to Army technical data packages, specifications and acceptance criteria
- Lead a strong safety culture across production organizations
- Support hazard recognition, near-miss reporting, corrective actions and visible management engagement on the floor
Financial, Cost and Performance Management
- Partner with the Business Director to develop and manage production budgets
- Support labor, materials, overtime, rework, scrap and productivity targets
- Track and manage key performance indicators including throughput, OEE, yield, scrap, rework, labor and material efficiency and on-time delivery
- Implement corrective actions as needed
- Drive continuous improvement using lean, Six Sigma and other operational excellence tools
- Reduce waste, improve flow and enhance quality and cost performance
- Provide production input for cost estimating, pricing and business case analyses
Cross-Functional Integration
- Work closely with the Director of Plant Support to coordinate utilities, maintenance, outage planning and equipment reliability programs
- Collaborate with the Director of Compliance / CCO to translate audit findings, incident investigations and risk assessments into actionable improvements
- Partner with the Director of Growth & Modernization to support tie-ins, cutovers and phased implementation of new lines, technologies and facilities
- Engage with the Business Director to align production strategies and continuous improvement initiatives with affordability and rate objectives
Risk Management and Operational Readiness
- Identify and manage operational risks related to safety, environmental performance, product quality, asset availability and workforce capability
- Develop and maintain contingency plans for critical production assets, supply disruptions and surge requirements
- Support readiness for evolving Army demand
- Support internal and external audits and inspections in production areas
- Ensure timely closure of production-related findings
People Leadership and Culture
- Build, develop and retain a high-performing production leadership team
- Lead production managers, supervisors and production engineers
- Foster a culture of ownership, accountability, teamwork and respect across all shifts and departments
- Engage the union workforce and frontline employees
- Communicate priorities, performance and changes clearly and effectively
- Serve as a visible leader on the shop floor
- Champion training and qualification programs for operators and supervisors
Minimum Qualifications
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, including Chemical, Mechanical, Industrial or Manufacturing, or a closely related technical discipline
Experience
- Minimum of 15 years of total experience in manufacturing or industrial operations
- At least 8 years leading large-scale manufacturing operations, including multi-line, multi-shift or multi-site operations
- Preferred experience within the defense supply chain, munitions, energetics or other high-hazard industrial environments
- At least 5 years with direct responsibility for munitions or comparable hazardous chemical production processes
- Experience with safety protocols and quality controls in high-hazard operations
- Proven track record leading large organizations, typically more than 500 employees and more than 5 distinct products or product families
- Experience managing cross-functional teams
- Experience leading a union workforce
Technical and Operational Competence
- Comprehensive understanding of propellant or energetics production processes, or similar high-hazard manufacturing
- Knowledge of unit operations, process controls and equipment
- Demonstrated capability in operational excellence, including lean manufacturing, Six Sigma, standard work, visual management and problem-solving methods
- Experience integrating safety, quality and production requirements into daily operations, procedures and supervision
Business, Safety and Regulatory Experience
- Strong background in budgeting, cost control and financial performance management
- Ability to align operational decisions with business objectives
- Understanding of relevant federal, DoD/Army, OSHA, EPA and explosives safety requirements applicable to munitions or comparable facilities
Leadership and Communication
- Proven ability to lead, mentor and develop large teams of managers and frontline leaders
- Strong written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to brief senior leaders
- Ability to engage credibly with Government representatives and auditors
- U.S. Citizenship required
- Ability to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance required
- Active clearance preferred
Preferred Qualifications
- Advanced degree in Engineering, Operations Management or Business
- MBA preferred
- Direct experience in a GOCO, arsenal, depot or large defense manufacturing facility
- Experience involving propellants, explosives or energetics
- Formal certifications in Lean, Six Sigma Green Belt, Six Sigma Black Belt or similar operational excellence programs
- Experience leading major capacity expansion, modernization or technology integration projects in an operating plant environment
- Demonstrated success building collaborative relationships with unions, regulators, local community leaders and Government customers
Authorization
Candidates must be U.S. citizens and able to obtain and maintain a DoD security clearance. Active clearance is preferred.
About STS Technical Services
STS Technical Services is a Top 100 Staffing Firm that partners with some of the largest names in the aerospace, manufacturing, defense and industrial industries. Our professional recruitment teams connect experienced professionals with high-impact career opportunities at client locations throughout the United States and around the world.
If you want to speak with a Recruiting Professional directly, call 1-800-359-4787.
STS Technical Services is an equal opportunity employer.
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