Operations Director at Blue Origin – Texas City, Texas

Title: Operations Director

Location: Central Texas

Position Type: Full time

Requisition ID: R60958

Description:

Application close date:

Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until the requisition is closed.

At Blue Origin, we envision millions of people living and working in space for the benefit of Earth. We’re working to develop reusable, safe, and low-cost space vehicles and systems within a culture of safety, collaboration, and inclusion. Join our team of problem solvers as we add new chapters to the history of spaceflight! 

This role is part of Blue Origin Operations, which is comprised of Integrated Supply Chain, Test Operations, Safety, Quality, and Mission Assurance. This includes Manufacturing and Supply Chain support across all Blue Origin facilities.

As the Site Leader for Blue Origin's Emerging Business Manufacturing Complex, you will have a direct impact on the success of Blue's mission. Reporting to the Operations Leader for emerging business, you will lead a large, multi-disciplinary organization responsible for the end to end production of emerging business satellites.

This role is accountable for the entire Operations value stream, leading teams across Production, Supply Chain, Manufacturing Engineering, Automation Engineering, Tooling, Quality, and Production Control. You will be responsible for delivering all satellite systems on time, with high quality, and at a competitive cost to ensure emerging business program targets are achieved. This requires deep experience in New Product Introduction (NPI), Production System Design, and scaling through all phases of the Product Lifecycle (NPI, Low Rate Initial Production, and full rate production).

As the Site Leader for the emerging business, you will act as the delegate for the Operations Leader in several forums, including coordinating site level activities that support creating a safe and effective work environment for all Blue Teammates. This may include but is not limited to supporting New Teammate Integration, tours, coordinating emerging facility needs, coordinating audits, and driving lean standard implementation through Gemba walks.

“This position will require you to be onsite at an office in Texas which is TBD. You will need to relocate within 60 days of the site opening."

Key Responsibilities

Successful candidates will have demonstrated success interfacing with all Enterprise Functions and Executive Leadership while developing and deploying the Manufacturing Operating System. You will align the entire site to enable execution, accurately forecast deliveries, and implement methods to increase efficiency and productivity. This includes driving improvements in factory flow, tooling readiness, automation integration, supply chain performance, first-pass yield, and learning curve acceleration as we scale to rate.

We are looking for an individual who goes beyond reporting data and translates it into actionable information that drives improved team performance. While this role requires an understanding of industry best practices across Manufacturing Operations, Supply Chain Management, Quality Systems, and the development of new automation technologies, candidates must have demonstrated experience challenging the norms and relentlessly pursuing new and better alternative practices.

You will leverage Blue's leadership principles to cultivate a trusting, learning culture of leaders through continuous feedback, coaching, and robust development opportunities. You will work to ensure that we are continually improving manufacturing processes and procedures, with direct support from your teams. We are looking for someone to apply their technical expertise, leadership skills, and commitment to quality to positively impact safe human spaceflight. Passion for our mission and vision is required!

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of experience in a complex, high volume manufacturing environment with roles of expanding leadership and scope across functions such as Production, Supply Chain, Quality, or Manufacturing/Automation Engineering.
• Proven ability to lead and direct initiatives and strategies that deliver cost effective, high quality operational performance across a full production value stream, including assembly, integration, and test.
• Experience with large project data sets, project planning efforts, and integrating program cost and schedules to satisfy demand provided by the Enterprise Customers.
• Excellent communication and relationship building skills with a keen ability to understand and work with complex relationships across the organization.
• Extensive experience in building and leading large, multi-disciplinary teams, including hiring new talent, growing existing talent, and fostering a productive and healthy team culture.
• Ability to propagate key operational findings and best practices to support improvement across the Blue enterprise.
• Experience analyzing processes and operations at the micro and macro levels, followed by implementing high impact improvements for safety, cost savings, and other means to accelerate progress.
• Demonstrated ability to use Blue Origin's Leadership Principles to cultivate a trusting, learning culture of leaders through continuous feedback, mentoring, and robust development opportunities.
• Ability to earn trust, maintain positive and professional relationships, and contribute to a culture of inclusion while developing and sustaining high-performance teams.
• Experience and ability to thrive in an environment with ambiguity, evolving priorities, and requirements.
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Desired:

• Experience Leading and Integrating large complex technical programs.
• Experienced in Program Planning and Program Finance in support of large hardware platforms (Aerospace, Defense, Construction sectors).
• Demonstrated success in designing, testing, implementing, and deploying standard operating procedures and processes.
• Passionate about the value robust schedule and cost management can bring to a program and experienced in articulating this value and earning buy-in from stakeholders.
• Scheduling and/or project management experience in a recurring operations or maintenance environment.
• Proven record of hands-on development and implementation of company-wide process improvements.

Culture Statement

Don’t meet all desired requirements? Studies have shown that some people are less likely to apply to jobs unless they meet every single desired qualification. At Blue Origin, we are dedicated to building an authentic workplace, so if you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every desired qualification in the job description, we encourage you to apply anyway. You may be just the right candidate for this or other roles.

Export Control Regulations

Applicants for employment at Blue Origin must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (i.e. current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.

Background Check

• Required for all positions: Blue’s Standard Background Check

• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Defense Biometric Identification System (DBIDS) background check if at any time the role requires one to be on a military installation

• Required for Certain Job Profiles: Drivers who operate Commercial Motor Vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW), Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or combination of power unit and trailer that meets or exceeds 10,001 lbs. and/or transports placardable amounts of hazardous materials by ground in any vehicle on a public road while in commerce, may be subject to additional Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations including: Driver Qualification Files, Medical Certification (obtained before onboarding), Road Test, Hours of Service, Drug and Alcohol Testing (CDL drivers only), vehicle inspection requirements, CDL requirements (if applicable) and hazardous materials transportation/shipping training.

• Required for certain Job Profiles: Ability to obtain and maintain Merchant Mariner Credential, which includes pre-employment and random drug testing as well as DOT physical

Benefits

• Benefits include: Medical, dental, vision, basic and supplemental life insurance, paid parental leave, short and long-term disability, 401(k) with a company match of up to 5%, and an Education Support Program.

• Paid Time Off: Up to four (4) weeks per year based on weekly scheduled hours, and up to 14 company-paid holidays.

• Dependent on role type and job level, employees may be eligible for benefits and bonuses based on the company's intent to reward individual contributions and enable them to share in the company's results, or other factors at the company's sole discretion. Bonus amounts and eligibility are not guaranteed and subject to change and cancellation. Please check with your recruiter for more details.

Equal Employment Opportunity

Blue Origin is proud to be an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer and is committed to attracting, retaining, and developing a highly qualified and dedicated work force. Blue Origin hires and promotes people on the basis of their qualifications, performance, and abilities. We support the establishment and maintenance of a workplace that fosters trust, equality, and teamwork. We provide all qualified applicants for employment and employees with equal opportunities for hire, promotion, and other terms and conditions of employment, regardless of their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic factors, military/veteran status, or any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local law. Blue Origin will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the Washington Fair Chance Act, the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles Fair Chance in Hiring Ordinance, and other applicable laws. For more information on “Know Your Rights,” please see here.

Affirmative Action and Disability Accommodation

Applicants wishing to receive information on Blue Origin’s Affirmative Action Plans, or applicants requiring a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in the application and/or interview process, please contact us at EEOCompliance@blueorigin.com. Please note this is a publicly managed inbox. Please do not include any personal medical information in your request.

California Applicant Privacy Notice

If you are a California resident, please reference the CA Applicant Privacy Notice here.