Site Director

GKN Aerospace · Phoenix, AZ

Level: Director+
Team: Manufacturing
Degree: Required (or equivalent experience)
Industry: Aerospace & defense
Posted: 12 days ago

The role in 30 seconds

A director-level manufacturing role at GKN Aerospace (aerospace & defense) in Phoenix, AZ. Own P&L and financial performance, including budget, forecast, productivity, inventory, working capital, cost, and capital investment.

They ask for: degree required (or equivalent experience)
Tools it names: Lean, AS9100

Read from the posting. The full description is below.

From the plant jobs report · week of November 2, 2026

Manufacturing Engineer roles in Arizona: typical posted base $98k–$138k.

Median of the low and high ends of 10 live postings that list pay, out of 25 manufacturing engineer openings in Arizona, read from manufacturers' own careers sites.

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

How this role compares

Against 24 other live manufacturing postings in Arizona.

Base pay: Not listed in this posting
Experience asked: Not stated

Skills these teams ask for most

Automation 40%
Team leadership 36%
Root cause 32%
New product launch 28%
Tooling 28%
Validation (IQ/OQ/PQ) 24%

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

Stands out: this posting asks for AS9100, 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
Pick 2–3 people on the Manufacturing team at GKN Aerospace
Engineers who joined in the last year or two reply the most. Use the team search on this page to find them.
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
Turn a reply into a short call
Questions worth asking about this team:
- What does a normal week look like on your team?
- Is the work mostly new product launches or sustaining existing lines?
- How much time do you spend on the floor versus at a desk?
- How did you land the job? What stood out in your interviews?
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
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 GKN AerospaceAs posted on their careers site.Show

Job Summary

The Site Director has overall responsibility for the performance of GKN Aerospace’s Phoenix operation, leading across Operations, Supply Chain, Procurement, Quality, Engineering, Health and Safety, Finance, and People.

Phoenix is an approximately 90-person, high-value aerospace operation that serves as the hub for a broader global program, supported by smaller teams in the UK and Poland. The role combines hands-on site leadership with significant customer, supplier, financial, and cross-functional complexity across a matrixed global organization.

We are looking for a strong leader who can strengthen execution, raise performance expectations, develop the leadership team, and create greater ownership and accountability across the operation.

Required

✓Bachelor’s degree or equivalent relevant experience in Engineering, Operations, Business, Supply Chain, or a related field.
✓Progressive leadership experience in aerospace, advanced manufacturing, or another complex regulated manufacturing environment, with responsibility across multiple functions.
✓Strong financial and business acumen, including P&L, budgets, forecasts, working capital, and operational cost drivers.
✓Demonstrated ability to improve performance, accountability, and execution while leading senior customers, suppliers, executives, and cross-functional stakeholders.
✓Strong understanding of Lean manufacturing, structured problem solving, continuous improvement, and developing experienced leaders.

Show full description ↓

Fantastic challenges. Amazing opportunities.

GKN Aerospace is reimagining air travel: going further, faster and greener! Fuelled by great people whose expertise and creativity sets the standards in our industry, we’re inspired by the opportunities to innovate and break boundaries. We’re proud to play a part in protecting the world’s democracies. And we’re committed to putting sustainability at the centre of everything we do, opening up and protecting our planet. With over 16,000 employees across 32 manufacturing sites in 12 countries we serve over 90% of the world’s aircraft and engine manufacturers and achieved sales of £3.6bn in 2025. There are no limits to where you can take your career.

Lead the Business

•Set direction for the site, translate business priorities into measurable results, and hold functional leaders accountable for site and customer commitments.
•Own P&L and financial performance, including budget, forecast, productivity, inventory, working capital, cost, and capital investment.
•Use operational and financial data to identify risks, make sound decisions, and improve business performance.

Lead Customers & the Global Program

•Serve as the senior site representative with customers, suppliers, and GKN Aerospace leadership, including during major performance or recovery issues.
•Work across Phoenix, UK, and Poland teams to align priorities, resolve issues, and deliver overall program commitments.

Drive Operational Excellence

•Lead People, Safety, Quality, Delivery, Cash, and Cost performance through the GKN Aerospace Lean Operating Model.
•Maintain accountability for safe, compliant operations and strong quality and regulatory discipline across manufacturing, supply chain, supplier performance, planning, inventory, and logistics.
•Drive structured problem solving, continuous improvement, and lasting resolution of recurring operational and supplier issues.

Build Leadership & Culture

•Build a strong Site Leadership Team with clear expectations, accountability, and shared ownership for business results.
•Create a culture where problems are raised early, difficult issues are addressed directly, and people take ownership.
•Coach and develop leaders while addressing capability or performance gaps when needed.

What You'll Bring

Preferred

+Previous Site Director, General Manager, Plant Manager, Operations Director, Program Director, or comparable leadership experience.
+Aerospace manufacturing experience with OEMs, engine manufacturers, or Tier 1 suppliers.
+Experience leading across multiple locations or international teams, including AS9100, aerospace regulatory requirements, complex supply chains, supplier recovery, or significant operational change.

We’ll offer you fantastic challenges and amazing opportunities. This is your chance to be part of an organisation that has proven itself to be at the cutting edge of our industry; and is committed to pushing the boundaries even further. And with some of the best training on offer in the industry, who knows how far you can go?

A Great Place to work needs a Great Way of Working

Everyone is welcome to apply to GKN. We believe that we can only achieve our ambitions through a coming together of diverse minds who enjoy collaborating in an inspirational environment. Through our commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging and by living our five powerful principles we’ve created a culture where everyone feels welcome to contribute. It’s a culture that won us ‘The Best Workplace Culture Award’. By embracing and celebrating what makes us unique we encourage everyone to bring their full self to work.

We’re also committed to providing an accessible recruitment process, so if you require reasonable adjustments at any stage during our recruitment process please get in touch and let us know.

We are the place where human dreams, plus human endeavour, shape the future of aerospace innovation and technology.