Business Unit Manager

Victor Sierra

• $100K — $120K *
Aerospace & Defense
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in technical, engineering, business, or related field preferred.
  • 5+ years of progressive experience in aerospace, defense, or manufacturing.
  • Proven track record in managing complex customer relationships.
  • Experience in pricing, contract negotiations, and business development.
  • Ability to analyze financial data and develop actionable strategies.
  • Experience leading cross-functional teams and direct reports.

Responsibilities

  • Own and drive Business Unit performance metrics including Bookings and EBITDA.
  • Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy for sustainable growth.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers.
  • Lead contract negotiations balancing customer needs with profitability.
  • Identify and secure profitable new business opportunities.
  • Lead a cross-functional team to meet operational and financial goals.
  • Implement initiatives for continuous improvement in performance.

Benefits

  • Collaborative, hands-on work environment that values your input.
  • Supportive team of aviation professionals.
  • Competitive pay and comprehensive benefits package.
  • Opportunities for professional growth and advancement.
  • Meaningful work that contributes to aircraft performance.
Full Job Description
Company: Victor Sierra Aviation

Position Description: Business Unit Manager

Location: Baldwin City, KS

Reports to: VP of Sales & Marketing

Travel: Approximately 35-50%

The Business Unit Manager (BUM) is a highly visible leadership position responsible for driving the growth, profitability, and overall performance of a Business Unit. Acting with an owner's mindset, the Business Unit Manager leads a co-located, cross-functional team and is accountable for delivering results across three primary value-creation drivers: profitable new business, value-based pricing, and productivity/cost improvement.

This role develops and executes strategies that drive sustainable year-over-year growth while delivering exceptional value and service to customers, working across Sales, Engineering, Operations, Finance, Quality, and Supply Chain to align priorities, remove obstacles, and ensure execution against business objectives.

Reporting to the Vice President of Sales & Marketing, this is a highly customer-facing role with significant responsibility for customer relationships, order review and negotiation, new business development, pricing strategy, and Business Unit bookings. Given the position's visibility, accountability, and broad business exposure, this role also serves as an important leadership development and succession-planning position within TransDigm, providing opportunities for continued advancement.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Business Ownership & Strategy
• Business Unit Performance: Own Business Unit performance and deliver Bookings, Sales, EBITDA, and other key financial and operational objectives.
• Value Creation: Drive sustainable value creation through value-based pricing, profitable new business growth, productivity improvements, and cost reduction initiatives.
• Strategy & Planning: Develop and execute a comprehensive Business Unit strategy focused on consistent year-over-year growth and profitability, including the Annual Business Unit Plan.
• Executive Reporting: Develop and present Quarterly Business Reviews to executive management, clearly communicating performance, opportunities, risks, and corrective actions.

Customer & Commercial Leadership
• Customer Relationships: Build and maintain strong, productive relationships with key customers and serve as a primary point of contact for business and commercial matters.
• Contract Negotiation: Lead contract reviews and negotiations, balancing customer requirements with profitability, risk, and long-term business objectives.
• New Business: Identify, pursue, and secure profitable new business opportunities that align with Business Unit growth objectives.

Team & Execution
• Team Leadership: Lead and align a cross-functional Business Unit team to achieve customer, operational, and financial objectives.
• Continuous Improvement: Identify and implement initiatives that improve responsiveness, execution, productivity, and overall performance against customer and business needs.
• Cross-Functional Partnership: Partner cross-functionally to resolve customer and business challenges quickly and effectively.
• Culture: Establish clear expectations and foster a performance-oriented culture of ownership, urgency, collaboration, and accountability.

QUALIFICATIONS

Education & Experience
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university required; technical, engineering, business, or related degree preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive professional experience, including roles of increasing responsibility.
• Experience in aerospace/aviation, defense, manufacturing, or a related technical environment preferred.
• Demonstrated experience working directly with customers and managing complex business or commercial relationships.
• Experience with pricing, contract negotiations, business development, financial analysis, or P&L-related responsibilities preferred.
• Experience leading direct reports preferred.
• Experience successfully leading or influencing cross-functional teams preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to analyze business and financial data and translate findings into actionable strategies.
• Ability to travel approximately 35-50%, based on business and customer requirements.

DESIRED LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS
• Entrepreneurial & Ownership Mindset: Self-starter who thrives in an entrepreneurial, high-accountability environment and approaches the business with an owner's mentality.
• Results Oriented: Maintains a strong focus on delivering measurable business results and consistently meeting commitments.
• Drives Performance: Sets high expectations and drives the organization toward achievement of both short- and long-term objectives.
• Bias for Action: Demonstrates urgency, takes initiative, makes decisions, and drives issues through to resolution.
• Critical Thinking & Problem Solving: Quickly assesses complex business challenges, identifies root causes, evaluates alternatives, and develops practical solutions.
• Data-Driven Decision Making: Uses financials, metrics, customer data, and operational information to make informed decisions while maintaining strong attention to detail.
• Prioritization & Execution: Effectively manages multiple competing priorities while maintaining focus on activities that create the greatest business value.
• Influential Leadership & Accountability: Effectively influences across functions, establishes clear expectations, and holds self and others accountable for results.
• Leads by Example: Models the behaviors, standards, and level of ownership expected from the team while creating a collective sense of purpose.
• Strong Business Acumen: Understands the financial, commercial, operational, and customer drivers of the business and how decisions impact growth and profitability.
• Communication & Interpersonal Effectiveness: Communicates openly, directly, and effectively while building credibility and productive relationships at all levels of the organization.

We offer:
• A collaborative, hands-on environment where your ideas and expertise make an impact.
• A team of aviation professionals who take pride in their work and support one another.
• Competitive pay, comprehensive benefits, growth opportunities, and meaningful work that keeps aircraft performing at their best.

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