Senior Manager, Production Operations – E-7 Assembly

Location: Birmingham Airport (BHX)
Contract: Contract opportunity to End August 2027 (Umbrella inside IR35)
Hours of Work: Monday-Thursday Days and Lates 10 hours, potential OT on Friday
Rate of Pay: Neg

Lead aircraft production operations on a major aviation programme.

Sponsorship is not available for this opportunity, you will need to have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.

We are seeking an experienced Senior Manager, Production Operations to lead day-to-day production and supplier integration for the E-7 assembly line at Birmingham Airport.

This is a senior leadership opportunity for an individual with a strong background in aircraft manufacturing, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), or aircraft modification. You will be responsible for ensuring the safe, compliant, high-quality and on-time delivery of aircraft, providing technical leadership and coordinating people, suppliers and resources across a complex production environment.

The Role
You will oversee production and modification activities, working closely with suppliers, programme teams and senior stakeholders to maintain delivery schedules, resolve technical challenges and drive continuous improvement.

Key responsibilities will include:

• Leading delivery of the E-7 assembly statement of work, maintaining high standards of safety, quality and schedule performance.
• Managing production and modification suppliers, ensuring products and associated technical data meet required standards.
• Coordinating daily work plans with supplier leadership and Industrial Engineering teams.
• Planning and allocating personnel, tooling and materials to meet production priorities.
• Providing technical leadership, approving technical approaches and resolving complex production issues.
• Monitoring production performance, identifying risks and implementing mitigation plans.
• Auditing build activities to ensure compliance with operating procedures and programme requirements.
• Overseeing component installation, systems testing, troubleshooting, repair, certification and aircraft release to flight.
• Reporting progress, risks and delivery performance to programme teams and executive stakeholders.
• Leading and developing multidisciplinary teams, promoting effective problem-solving and process improvement.
• Driving operational efficiency through continuous improvement methodologies, including Lean and Six Sigma.
• Ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory, safety, quality and airworthiness standards.

About You
You will be an established production or operations leader with significant experience in a demanding aviation environment. You will combine strong technical judgement with the ability to lead teams, manage suppliers and deliver results against challenging programme requirements.
You will ideally have:

• Extensive senior leadership experience in aircraft manufacturing, MRO or aircraft modification.
• A proven track record of leading multidisciplinary teams and integrating external suppliers.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, shop-floor control, aircraft modification and airworthiness certification.
• Experience with technical approvals, process audits and supplier performance management.
• The ability to manage contractual, quality and delivery requirements.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder-management skills, including engagement with senior and executive leadership.
• Flexibility to work across locations and shifts in line with production requirements.

Desirable Experience and Qualifications

• A degree in aerospace engineering or an equivalent technical qualification.
• Knowledge of EASA Part-66 requirements or relevant maintenance engineering qualifications.
• Programme or project management certification, such as PRINCE2 or PMP.
• Previous experience with the E-7 Wedgetail or other large transport or airborne early warning platforms.
• Current Security Check (SC) clearance, or the ability to obtain it.

The Opportunity
This role offers the opportunity to take a leading position in a complex aircraft assembly and modification environment, bringing together technical expertise, supplier management and operational leadership to support programme delivery.

Interested?
If you have the production leadership experience and technical background to succeed in this role, we will welcome your application. Please submit your CV for consideration.

Sponsorship is not available for this opportunity, you will need to have the right to work in the UK at the time of application.