Job Description Summary

We are seeking a Senior Operations Manager – Incoming Repair Scoping (also known as Cell Leader) to lead our incoming inspection and repair scoping operations while serving as the primary operational focal point for customers throughout the scoping process.

This role is accountable for driving end-to-end cell performance across Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC), achieving production output and budget targets, meeting incoming scoping turnaround time (TAT), and enabling continuous flow and timely induction into downstream repair cells. The role also plays a pivotal part in strengthening customer engagement, enhancing customer experience, and driving customer satisfaction through proactive communication and reliable execution.

You will lead daily production operations at the gemba, partner with the Lean team to build and operationalize Incoming Lean Lines, drive cross-functional execution, and develop a high-performing, customer-focused team.

Job Description

Roles and Responsibilities

1. Safety & Quality Leadership

• Champion Safety First and Quality Always through strong EHS compliance, risk mitigation, and process discipline.
• Drive root cause problem-solving, sustainable corrective actions, and adherence to technical and quality requirements.

2. Production Operations & Delivery

• Lead the production team to achieve output targets (parts per day), budget attainment, and overall SQDC performance.
• Own production execution, capacity planning, manpower allocation, productivity, applied hours, and cost performance.
• Drive timely scoping completion, proactively addressing aging WIP, operational constraints, and performance gaps.

3. Customer Engagement & Experience Management

• Serve as the primary operational focal point for customers throughout the incoming scoping process.
• Drive initiatives to strengthen customer engagement, enhance customer experience, and continuously improve customer satisfaction.
• Own scoping-related customer communication, delivery commitments, progress updates, and operational escalations.
• Host customer visits, address customer queries, and connect with downstream repair cells to provide accurate operational updates and facilitate issue resolution.
• Proactively seek customer feedback, identify improvement opportunities, and translate customer needs into actionable operational improvements.
• Build strong, trusted customer relationships through responsiveness, transparency, and consistent delivery against commitments.

4. Incoming Lean Lines & Continuous Improvement

• Partner with the Lean team to design, build, implement, and operationalize Incoming Lean Lines.
• Establish sustainable flow through standard work, line balancing, visual management, and daily Lean management.
• Lead Kaizen events and apply Lean-before-automation principles to eliminate waste, reduce lead time, and improve productivity.
• Leverage data analytics, Lean digital tools, and practical automation to continuously enhance operational performance.

5. Turnaround Time & Downstream Flow Management

• Own end-to-end incoming scoping TAT, from component receipt through repair scope completion and release.
• Drive continuous flow of scoped components into downstream repair cells, enabling Heijunka (production leveling) and timely repair induction.
• Partner closely with repair Cell Leaders, Material Management, and Planning teams to align scoping output, material readiness, repair capacity, and induction schedules.
• Proactively manage aging WIP, bottlenecks, and operational constraints to prevent delivery disruptions.

6. People Leadership & Culture

• Build, lead, and develop a high-performing production team with strong accountability, engagement, and a “one team” spirit.
• Drive talent development, technical capability, performance management, and succession planning.

7. Daily Management & Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Lead daily gemba and tiered management reviews to drive execution against production, financial, TAT, and SQDC targets.
• Partner across Engineering, Quality, Planning, Material Management, Commercial, Lean, and downstream repair cells to resolve constraints and ensure seamless execution.
• Support capability development, new repair introduction, and site-wide transformation initiatives.

Required Qualifications

- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field, or equivalent practical experience. 8–12+ years of experience in manufacturing, repair operations, MRO, or equivalent industrial operations.
- Proven experience leading production teams and delivering output, productivity, and financial targets.
- Demonstrated customer-facing experience and ability to manage delivery commitments.
- Strong background in Lean, Kaizen, flow creation, and continuous improvement.
- Experience in gas turbine, aerospace, MRO, or precision component repair preferred.

Desired Characteristics

- Strong gemba leadership mindset — hands-on, data-driven, and action-oriented.

- Customer-centric mindset with a passion for building trusted relationships and enhancing customer experience and satisfaction.

- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.

- High accountability, sense of urgency, and execution discipline.

- Strong business acumen with the ability to translate operational performance into financial results.

- Passion for Lean transformation, people development, and building high-performing teams. 

Additional Information