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Confidential SearchRecruiter-HandledAerospacePresidentHybridFull-time

President, Operations

Confidential Client Philadelphia, PA $310K – $500K

Confidential search overview

Confidential Search Overview

A confidential aerospace client has retained HireAxis to appoint a President, Operations whose mandate covers owning day-to-day execution, service delivery and operational economics across its aerospace business. Based in Philadelphia, PA on a hybrid basis, the role reports to the chief executive officer and carries a remit of Full business-unit P&L across multiple markets. The organisation is 1,200–3,500 employees and privately identified to shortlisted candidates only. The appointed leader inherits 300–1,200 people and will be measured on the strategic priorities set out below rather than activity.

This opportunity is being handled as a confidential executive search. Certain client and organisational details are withheld at the client's request and may be shared with qualified candidates during the recruiter-led process.

The leadership mandate

The Leadership Mandate

  • Develop frontline leadership capability across the network
  • Lead site, regional and functional operations leaders to a common standard
  • Build an operating cadence that surfaces problems early

First 12 months

Strategic Priorities

Standardise processes across sites without slowing local execution
Build resilience into capacity, systems and supplier dependencies
Deliver a measurable step change in productivity and unit economics

Day to day

Key Responsibilities

  • Own operational capacity planning against the commercial forecast
  • Partner with finance on the operating budget and productivity targets
  • Own service levels, quality, safety and cost per unit across the operation
  • Run the operating review cadence and drive corrective action to closure
  • Lead continuous improvement and automation programmes

Leadership profile

Leadership Profile

  • Operations leadership experience across multiple sites, regions or service lines
  • Track record improving cost, quality and service simultaneously
  • Fluency in operational metrics, capacity planning and continuous improvement
  • 18+ years, including full P&L ownership of a business unit of progressive leadership experience
  • Experience operating in the aerospace sector or an adjacent regulated market

Track record

Leadership Experience

  • Proven leadership of 300–1,200 people, directly and through other leaders
  • Accountability for a budget or P&L consistent with Full business-unit P&L across multiple markets
  • Experience presenting to executive committees, boards or investment committees

How success is measured

Key Performance Expectations

Safety and compliance outcomes
Cost per unit and productivity improvement
Service level and quality performance

Nice to have

Preferred Qualifications

  • Experience leading operational technology deployments
  • Lean, Six Sigma or equivalent qualification

What's offered

Benefits

Relocation support for the right candidate
Board and executive education allowance
Life insurance and long-term disability cover
Company-supported professional memberships
Executive base salary with annual short-term incentive
Long-term incentive participation reviewed annually

Client Profile

Our client is 1,200–3,500 employees in the aerospace sector, headquartered in the United States and well established in its market. Further organisational detail — including the company name, ownership structure and leadership team — is shared with qualified candidates during the recruiter-led process.

Additional Information

  • Department: Operations
  • Applications close February 20, 1970.
  • DEMO CONTENT — this record was created for the HireAxis platform preview and is not a verified client mandate.
  • Search process: confidential candidate review, advisor conversation, client presentation, client interview panel and final board or CEO meeting.
  • Background, reference and, where relevant, regulatory checks are completed before any offer.

How to apply

Application Instructions

Express confidential interest through HireAxis with your executive profile and a short note on the leadership scope you have owned. A talent advisor reviews every submission and speaks with shortlisted executives before any profile is presented to the client.

Why This Opportunity

The role has genuine mandate: the executive team has already funded the plan and is looking for the leader to run it. Collaboration across functions is expected at the top table; the company prizes leaders who build trust quickly with peers, customers and investors.

Request Confidential Consideration

Your interest is received by the HireAxis search team only. Nothing is shared with the client organisation without your agreement.

Recruiter-handled

The Confidential Candidate Process

Every stage is managed by a HireAxis talent advisor. Nothing is shared with the client organisation without your agreement.

  1. 01

    Express Interest

    Send your executive profile and a short note on the leadership scope you have owned. Nothing is shared with the client at this stage.

  2. 02

    Confidential Candidate Review

    Our search team reviews your background against the leadership mandate and the client's stated requirements.

  3. 03

    Recruiter Conversation

    A talent advisor discusses the mandate with you in detail, including client context that is not published, and answers your questions.

  4. 04

    Qualified Candidate Presentation

    With your agreement, your profile is presented to the client as part of a shortlist of qualified executives.

  5. 05

    Client Interview Process

    Interviews with the executive committee, board or hiring principals, coordinated and briefed by your advisor.

  6. 06

    Next Steps

    Feedback, references, compensation discussion and offer support — handled through your advisor from start to finish.

Your point of contact

Senior Executive Talent Advisor

HireAxis Confidential Search Practice

Your information will be handled discreetly throughout the initial consideration process.

Demo contact profile — replace with the assigned advisor's details before this search is published.

Candidate Privacy

Information you submit for a confidential search is reviewed by the HireAxis search team and shared only with parties authorised for that search — normally the client organisation and its interview panel — and only after we have discussed the role with you. We ask for your agreement before your profile is presented. Details may also be shared where required by law or by an appointed background-screening provider. No online platform can guarantee absolute confidentiality, so please share sensitive information only when you are comfortable doing so.

Demonstration search content. This brief illustrates how HireAxis presents a confidential mandate and is not a verified live vacancy.