Stennis and Michoud Production Operations Director

Description:The mission matters. So do the people behind it. With advancing defense technology at our core, what sets us apart is a culture of collaboration, purpose, and impact.

What does this role look like?

Lockheed Martin Space is seeking a strategic and results-oriented Site Director for the Stennis and Michoud Manufacturing Centers with responsibility for the overall business and operational performance of the sites. This position is responsible for providing leadership, direction, and accountability for site operations, manufacturing execution, workforce development, operational excellence, production readiness, customer engagement, business performance, and stewardship of enterprise resources in support of national security, civil space, and advanced aerospace programs.

The successful candidate will ensure the safe, efficient, and compliant execution of manufacturing operations while fostering a culture of safety, accountability, collaboration, innovation, and continuous improvement. This leader must possess strong business acumen and an entrepreneurial mindset, balancing operational excellence with strategic business objectives to position the organization for long-term success. As the senior site representative, this individual serves as the primary interface with customers, community stakeholders, government agencies, and Lockheed Martin leadership while ensuring successful execution of program commitments and business objectives.

In this role you will have the following daily key responsibilities:

• Serve as the Site Executive for the Stennis and Michoud Manufacturing Centers with overall responsibility for site leadership, workforce engagement, customer relationships, community partnerships, business performance, and operational excellence.
• Maintain accountability for overall business performance of the Stennis and Michoud Manufacturing Centers, including workforce utilization, operational efficiency, capital investments, infrastructure planning, affordability initiatives, resource allocation, and execution of cost, schedule, quality, and safety objectives.
• Champion a culture where safety is the first priority by ensuring compliance with all environmental, health, and safety requirements while driving proactive risk identification, hazard mitigation, employee involvement, and continuous improvement in safety performance.
• Lead cross-functional integration among Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Production Planning & Control, Facilities, Safety, Human Resources, Finance, Security, and Program Management organizations to achieve business objectives.
• Ensure manufacturing and production readiness through workforce planning, capacity planning, facility readiness, equipment readiness, supply chain readiness, capital investment planning, and risk mitigation activities supporting current and future production demands, including production ramp-to-rate initiatives.
• Facilitate coordination and alignment among programs competing for shared resources to ensure enterprise-level optimization and successful execution of business commitments.
• Drive operational excellence initiatives through Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma methodologies, visual management systems, continuous improvement initiatives, and productivity improvement efforts.
• Develop and execute workforce strategies including talent acquisition, succession planning, leadership development, employee engagement, retention, skills development, and preservation of critical capabilities.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators related to safety, quality, cost, schedule, productivity, workforce development, customer satisfaction, and overall business performance.
Basic Qualifications:
To be effective, you will need to possess these basic qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college, or equivalent experience/combined education.
• 10+ years of highly effective leadership experience with a proven ability to manage through complex manufacturing environments.
• Proven track record of meeting program schedules and effectively managing resources, critical path activities, and operational priorities.
• Experience leading exempt and non-exempt workforces within a manufacturing environment.
• Experience managing production performance, operational metrics, workforce engagement, and employee relations.
• Demonstrated commitment to environmental, health, and safety excellence within a manufacturing or operations environment.
• You will need to be a US Citizen, and be able to obtain and maintain a US TOP SECRET clearance, to support this government contract, as well as successfully pass a drug and background check, in order to meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

Please note:

No clearance is required to apply, nor prior to start.
Desired Skills:
To be effective, ideally, you should also have:

• Experience serving as a Site Executive, Operations Director, Manufacturing Center Director, or senior leader within a complex aerospace, defense, or industrial environment.
• Knowledge of spacecraft systems, propulsion systems, thermal systems, composite structures, or advanced aerospace manufacturing operations.
• Experience supporting NASA, Department of Defense, National Security Space, or other government aerospace programs.
• Experience leading geographically dispersed organizations or multiple manufacturing locations.
• Experience integrating Manufacturing, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Facilities, Finance, Human Resources, Security, and Program organizations to achieve business objectives.
• Experience leading production ramp, rate readiness, manufacturing readiness, or large-scale production growth initiatives within aerospace, defense, or advanced manufacturing environments.
• Experience developing and executing strategies to increase production capacity while maintaining safety, quality, cost, and schedule performance.
• Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, Kaizen, Visual Management, or Operational Excellence leadership experience.
• Experience with workforce planning, manufacturing readiness assessments, enterprise resource allocation, and long-range capacity planning.
• Experience evaluating business cases, capital investments, workforce strategies, and operational trade-offs to support long-term business objectives.
• Active Top Secret security clearance.

PLEASE NOTE-Other important information:

• By applying to this role, you are expressing interest in this position and could be considered for other career opportunities, within Lockheed Martin, where similar skills and requirements have been identified as a match.
• Should this match be identified you may be contacted for this and future openings.
• Applicants selected will be subject to a government security investigation and must meet eligibility requirements for access to classified information.

Benefits of Employment:

Our employees play an active role in strengthening the quality of life where we live and work by volunteering more than 850,000 hours annually.

Learn more about Lockheed Martin’s competitive and comprehensive benefits package here.


We are also committed to enabling transitioning veterans to connect with their communities and find new purpose as they reintegrate into civilian life. By clicking on the link, you can find out more on how we proudly support the Military/Veterans Network:
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Joining Lockheed Martin Space means becoming part of a global network of passionate professionals dedicated to safety and shaping the future of defense capabilities

At Space we value your skills, training, and education. We believe that by applying the highest standards of business ethics and visionary thinking, everything is within our reach – and yours as a Lockheed Martin Space employee. …just to name a few reasons to join Lockheed Martin Space, and experience your future!
Security Clearance Statement: This position requires a government security clearance, you must be a US Citizen for consideration.
Clearance Level: Top Secret
Other Important Information You Should Know
Expression of Interest: By applying to this job, you are expressing interest in this position and could be considered for other career opportunities where similar skills and requirements have been identified as a match. Should this match be identified you may be contacted for this and future openings.
Ability to Work Remotely: Onsite Full-time: The work associated with this position will be performed onsite at a designated Lockheed Martin facility.
Work Schedules: Lockheed Martin supports a variety of alternate work schedules that provide additional flexibility to our employees. Schedules range from standard 40 hours over a five day work week while others may be condensed. These condensed schedules provide employees with additional time away from the office and are in addition to our Paid Time off benefits.
Schedule for this Position: 9x80 every other Friday off
Lockheed Martin is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified candidates will be considered without regard to legally protected characteristics.
The application window will close in 90 days; applicants are encouraged to apply within 5 - 30 days of the requisition posting date in order to receive optimal consideration.
At Lockheed Martin, we use our passion for purposeful innovation to help keep people safe and solve the world's most complex challenges. Our people are some of the greatest minds in the industry and truly make Lockheed Martin a great place to work.

With our employees as our priority, we provide diverse career opportunities designed to propel, develop, and boost agility. Our flexible schedules, competitive pay, and comprehensive benefits enable our employees to live a healthy, fulfilling life at and outside of work. We place an emphasis on empowering our employees by fostering an inclusive environment built upon integrity and corporate responsibility.

If this sounds like a culture you connect with, you’re invited to apply for this role. Or, if you are unsure whether your experience aligns with the requirements of this position, we encourage you to search on Lockheed Martin Jobs, and apply for roles that align with your qualifications.
Experience Level: Experienced Professional
Business Unit: SPACE
Relocation Available: Possible
Career Area: Management
Type: Full-Time
Shift: First