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Senior Director of Operations

Kearfott Corporation · Black Mountain, NC

Apply on Kearfott ↗
Level
Director+
Team
Production
Degree
Preferred
Industry
Industrial
Posted
Recently

The role in 30 seconds

A director-level production role at Kearfott Corporation (industrial) in Black Mountain, NC. Lead, analyze, design, and improve processes by enlisting and influencing teams focused on reducing waste, inventory, and lead times.

They ask for
degree preferred
Tools it names
Lean, Six Sigma, Root cause, Machining, Assembly lines

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of October 19, 2026

Production Engineer roles in North Carolina: typical posted base $98k–$145k.

Median of the low and high ends of 7 live postings that list pay, out of 28 production engineer openings in North Carolina, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

North Carolina plant jobs report →Pay by team and state →What moves pay →

How this role compares

Against 27 other live production postings in North Carolina.

Base pay
Not listed in this posting

Typical $98k–$145k, from 6 postings that list pay.

Experience asked
Not stated

Similar roles usually ask 8+ years.

Skills these teams ask for most

  • ✓ Lean 50%
  • ✓ Team leadership 46%
  • ✓ Six Sigma 29%
  • ✓ Root cause 21%

✓ = this posting asks for it too. % = share of similar postings that mention it.

Stands out: this posting asks for Machining, Assembly lines, which few similar roles mention. If you have it, lead with it.

At a glance

Pulled from the posting text. If it's not listed here, the posting didn't say.

How to get in at this plant

Five moves over a week or two. The first one takes ten minutes.

  1. 1

    Pick 2–3 people on the Production team at Kearfott Corporation

    Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.

  2. 2

    Send a short, curious note

    One real question about their work. No favors yet. Each person gets a different note, written for this role.

  3. 3

    Turn a reply into a short call

    Questions worth asking about this team:

    • What does a normal week look like on your team?
    • How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
  4. 4

    Apply with someone vouching for you

    If the call went well, ask whether they’d pass your résumé to the hiring manager. Send your résumé link, apply that day, and let them know.

  5. 5

    Bring proof to the interview

    One page of before-and-after numbers from projects you led: scrap, OEE, cycle time, cost. Plant managers hire on results.

Full description from Kearfott CorporationAs posted on their careers site.Show

requirements

and expectations for quality and performance. As a member of the Division Leadership Team, ensure continuity across functional areas, support divisional initiatives, and provide regular information and guidance regarding shipments, plant efficiency, and improvements. Lead the organization in the development of manufacturing standards, methods, metrics, and processes to continuously improve quality and delivery. Support and contribute to Root Cause/Corrective action initiatives, the Six Sigma Council, Green and Yellow Belt programs, Lean, and other manufacturing programs. Provide leadership and coaching to all Operations associates to ensure understanding and attainment of performance objectives. Lead, analyze, design, and improve processes by enlisting and influencing teams focused on reducing waste, inventory, and lead times. Foster a continuous improvement lean manufacturing culture assuring buy-in and ownership at all levels of the organization. Identify and implement best practices across the site. Ensure compliance with company policies and procedures, especially those pertaining to safety. Must take an active role in safety awareness and accident prevention. Lead talent management process for operations – develop a plan to cross-train technicians for multiple processes. Critical Competencies Strong understanding of operations functions – Production Flow, Assembly and Test, Machining, and Shop Floor Scheduling. Strong leadership skills. Ability to think on your feet and make quick decisions throughout the day. Ability to prioritize work and communicate the priorities clearly. Strong organizational and communication skills. In-depth knowledge of how Enterprise Requirement Planning (ERP) and/or Manufacturing

Requirements

Planning (MRP) function and be able to create efficient process that leverage these systems. Sense of urgency to meet customer quality and delivery requirements. Aerospace and Defense manufacturing experience. Ability to attract and retain talent.

Show full description ↓

Founded in 1918, Kearfott Corporation, a global Aerospace and Defense supplier for over 100 years, is a leader in the design and manufacture of precision motion control products and inertial navigation components. Kearfott has a very long history of innovation and excellence and is the go-to brand for many of our global clients. Kearfott is trusted, respected and plays a vital role in the success of America’s aerospace and defense industries. With over a century of expertise & experience, Kearfott is dedicated to providing quality, reliability, and cutting-edge technology to customers worldwide to meet their sea, land, air, and space navigation and guidance requirements. Kearfott offers a comprehensive benefits package including a 401K, and Tuition Reimbursement. We offer a 9/80 schedule with every other Friday off. We are looking for talented individuals who want to be part of a world-class work force. Join Kearfott and become part of a company that is recognized for technical expertise and respected world-wide as a ‘full service’ provider. For more information, visit our website at www.kearfott.com Sr. Director of Operations, Black Mountain, NC The Sr. Director of Operations is responsible for leading multiple operational sites. The Sr. Director is responsible for leading all manufacturing functions for all of Kearfott Corporation, Motion Systems Division (MSD) operational sites (Asheville NC, Brownsville TX, and Matamoros Mexico). This includes Machine Shop Production, Lower Assembly and Winding, Final Assembly and Test, Maintenance, and Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S). The Sr. Director of Operations is required to be a leader/mentor who leverages their knowledge/experience to develop an operations department that is prepared for double digit growth. The Sr. Director of Operations must also be a Lean Manufacturing change agent to drive lean throughout the organization. Essential Functions Management of Operations team across multiple sites to meet key customer and business performance metrics. Setting and achieving goals and metrics for areas of responsibility in support of overall MSD business goals. Providing leadership to ensure on time delivery that meet customer

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