Ducommun

Performance Center Director

Ducommun$120K — $150K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Business required; Master's or MBA preferred.
  • 10-15+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience required.
  • Prior Full P&L ownership of a manufacturing operation is required.
  • Demonstrated success in operational improvement or turnaround efforts.
  • Deep understanding of Lean manufacturing in an aerospace environment.

Responsibilities

  • Own full-site P&L and ensure operating income and productivity improvements.
  • Translate strategic objectives into achievable operating plans and execute them urgently.
  • Quickly identify and implement corrective actions in underperforming areas.
  • Lead functions to deliver improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives for tangible gains.
  • Remove barriers to execution and make decisions in imperfect conditions.
  • Set performance standards and lead cultural change initiatives.

Benefits

  • Equal Opportunity Employer status for veterans and disabled individuals.
Full Job Description
Performance Center Director

The Manufacturing General Manager (Performance CenterDirector) is a senior operations leader with full P&L responsibility for acomplex aerospace structures manufacturing site. This role is designed for aleader who thrives in high-expectation, action-oriented environments and has aproven track record of improving performance, not maintaining it.

The successful candidate will be accountable for drivingmeasurable improvements in cost, delivery, quality, and working capital, whilestrengthening operational discipline and talent capability. This is not asteady-state leadership role. The General Manager is expected to activelyengage in problem-solving, challenge existing processes, and move theorganization forward at pace.

Revenue: Approximately $60M

Employees: Approximately 150

Job Summary

Key Responsibilities

Business & P&L Leadership

  • Own full-site P&L with direct accountability for operating income, cash flow, cost structure, and productivity improvements.
  • Translate strategic objectives into aggressive, achievable operating plans and execute with urgency.
  • Identify underperforming areas quickly and implement corrective actions decisively.

Operational Excellence & Execution

  • Lead manufacturing, supply chain, engineering, and support functions to deliver sustained improvements in safety, quality, delivery, and cost.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives that result in tangible gains, not theoretical models.
  • Actively remove barriers to execution, making timely decisions in imperfect conditions.
  • Ensure operational readiness for new programs, volume changes, and evolving customer requirements.

Change Leadership & Culture

  • Set a clear performance standard and hold leaders accountable for results.
  • Lead cultural change initiatives that reinforce ownership, accountability, and continuous improvement.
  • Personally model Lean and Six Sigma behaviors through visible engagement and follow-through.
  • Build a culture that rewards problem-solving, adaptability, and results over process preservation.

Cross-Functional & Customer Interface

  • Partner with program management, finance, engineering, and corporate functions to ensure alignment and execution.
  • Support contract execution and customer commitments through hands-on operational leadership.
  • Participate in bid/no-bid decisions and make/buy analysis with a focus on manufacturability and margin.
  • Engage with customers and suppliers as needed


Required Skills and Leadership Profile
  • Results-driven leader who is comfortable operating in environments with change, pressure, and competing priorities.
  • Demonstrated ability to move an organization from acceptable performance to higher standards.
  • Strong executive presence with the ability to challenge constructively and lead difficult conversations.
  • Decisive, data-driven, and willing to act without perfect information.
  • High energy, resilient, and visible on the manufacturing floor.
  • Comfortable in fiscally disciplined organizations where leaders are expected to do more with less.

Required Experience &Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering or Business required; Master's or MBA preferred.
  • 10-15+ years of progressive manufacturing leadership experience with increasing scope and accountability.
  • Prior Full P&L ownership of a manufacturing operation is required.
  • Demonstrated success leading operational improvement, turnaround efforts, or step-change performance initiatives.
  • Deep understanding of Lean manufacturing, process control, and continuous improvement in an aerospace or regulated
  • manufacturing environment.
  • Experience in aerospace structures manufacturing strongly preferred.
  • Strong understanding of financial metrics
  • Proven ability to develop leaders and strengthen bench capability while driving results.


3333 Main Street
Parsons, Kansas, 67357
United States

About Ducommun

Ducommun Incorporated is a publicly traded company that operates in the aerospace and defense industry. The company was founded in 1849 as a hardware store and has since evolved to become a leading provider of engineering and manufacturing services to the aerospace and defense industries. Ducommun is headquartered in Carson, California and has operations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company is committed to providing innovative solutions to its customers and has a strong focus on research and development. Ducommun is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DCO.
Learn more about Ducommun
Size
2,480 employees
Market Cap
$598.6 million
Industry
Net Income
$29.1 million
Founded
1849
5 Year Trend
+3.2%
Revenue
$628.9 million
NASDAQ

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