Director of Interior

Elliott Aviation, a renowned leader in aviation solutions, has an exciting opportunity for a Director of Interior, located in Moline, IL. With a legacy dating back to 1936, Elliott Aviation has consistently delivered top-tier, customer-centric solutions throughout the years. Our overarching vision, "building partnerships that last," extends not only to our clients but also to our dedicated team members.

 As Director of Interior, you will assume responsibility for the leadership and strategic direction of the Interior group for our Moline facility. This multifaceted group encompasses the cabinet shop, seats, soft goods, and the installation team. Your primary objectives will be to set forth and accomplish performance goals and objectives that not only meet but surpass expectations in areas such as quality, productivity, efficiency, safety, financial performance, and customer service. Working in collaboration with each department manager, you will play a pivotal role in devising the department's annual budget and aligning annual Management by Objectives (MBOs) with the corporate strategy.

In your role you will:

• Identify key priorities and champion a continuous improvement approach by originating best practices projects, aiming to enhance both efficiency and quality.
• Be entrusted with ensuring that our capacity goals are met through meticulous staffing and hiring plans, along with the optimization of resource scheduling, all in line with the budget and sales objectives.
• Maintain a robust system of accountability, holding supervisors to well-established goals, objectives, and professional standards.
• Lead by cascading accountability down through every department and employee level, ultimately striving to achieve zero defects in quality, zero warranty issues, and zero rework.

Essential Job Functions:

1. Directs the development of the annual budget and staffing plan for all areas in coordination with the Sales team to meet profitability objectives and then monitors and manages to this on a continuous basis making necessary adjustments to meet or exceed the sales plan and to keep expenses at or under budget.

2. Develops and presents annual business objectives (MBO’s) for each supervisor that supports the budget and strategic plan. Reviews MBO’s with each supervisor on a routine basis and holds them accountable for achieving same.

3. Directs the development and implementation of process improvements to increase efficiencies, improve quality, reduce costs, reduce downtimes/improve turn times, standardize work, and reduce/eliminate warranty and re-work. Leads frequent review and analysis of projects just delivered and a periodic review of existing processes and procedures. Holds supervisors and team members accountable to Elliott Aviation approved policies, procedures, and Best Practices.

4. Directs the Production Scheduling function for the MLI Interior operations to ensure that resources are maximized and that schedules are planned and flowed effectively to ensure timely completion and squawk free delivery. Implements systems and processes that ensure that an accurate depiction of capacity sold and/or capacity available is 100% accurate and reported daily. Coordinates with Sales team members to develop solutions to opportunities that require resources that are minimal or not apparently available for a given opportunity.

5. Directs the development of an annual staffing plan in coordination with Human Resources and then executes to this plan to ensure that staffing needs match budget and strategic requirements. Actively participates, or ensures the participation of the team, in the recruiting effort in accordance with the strategic recruiting plan. Identifies and communicates new ways and develops new relationships that support this effort.

6. Completes a needs analysis on an annual basis to identify capital investment items (i.e. tooling & equipment) that are necessary to support the strategic or tactical plan for the year or that are necessary to meet Interior Service Center requirements.

7. Directs the completion of an annual training needs analysis to ensure the area supervisors and their teams training needs are identified to facilitate each individual’s professional development and that technical training needs are identified to meet Interior Service Center requirements as well as the strategic plan.

8. Communicates effectively verbally, and in writing and acts as the liaison between department management/subordinate levels, as well as, executive/department manager levels to ensure that all personnel are informed of important decisions or policy changes that affect them and that SLT members are informed of employee ideas and concerns.

Job Specific Requirements:

Licenses:

• A&P License or equivalent knowledge preferred

Competencies:

• Strong experience in written and verbal communication
• Ability to interact with all levels of staff and management with proven ability to build effective working relationships
• Ability to manage multiple projects independently, set priorities and completing assignments in a fast-paced environment
• Thorough knowledge of aviation maintenance and other applicable federal, state and local regulations
• Successful track record in the management of general aviation maintenance processes
• Ability to maintain confidential information
• Ability to analyze and interpret professional journals, technical procedures, or governmental regulations
• Ability to effectively persuasive speeches and presentations on complex topics to top management, customers and the general public
• Ability of write reports, business correspondence and procedure manuals
• Ability to maintain a safe and clean work environment