We’re more than aviation experts, we’re pioneers. We challenge what’s possible. From breaking the sound barrier to advanced tiltrotor systems. Today, Bell is shaping the future of aviation through specialized engineering. And we want you.

We are developing the future of Army Aviation with the Bell Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft (FLRAA) part of the US Army’s Future Vertical Lift (FVL) modernization effort. We are also developing the Bell 525 Relentless and Bells High-Speed Vertical Take-Off and Landing (HSVTOL) program, a next generation aircraft. This position is onsite in Wichita, Kansas.

Site Leader- Wichita

The Wichita Site Leader will provide strategic leadership and accountability for cross-functional teams and site support for all Wichita activities and operations. This role will report directly to the Executive Vice President of Operations and has primary responsibility and oversight of all community relations and will be the official Bell liaison to the Wichita community. This individual will oversee the organization and management of all standing and ad-hoc committees that interact or impact the Wichita facility. The Site Leader will also facilitate highly engaged and responsive relationships with customers while working in partnership with departments across Bell to support the mission and vision with a high degree of integrity and professionalism. This individual will be instrumental in creating and executing an overall people strategy as well as ensure engagement and collaboration across the site. This includes active participation in capital and budget planning and business objective setting. In addition, this individual will provide the technical and functional leadership for the development, maintenance and uniform administration of the Wichita site by establishing the vision, assessing internal capabilities, guiding process improvement, talent development and measuring progress against goals.

What you’ll be doing as the Site Leader

• Responsibility for the leadership and superior execution of all aspects of the Wichita site
• Responsible for ensuring products, people and services meet customer demand
• Responsible for ensuring comprehensive engagement plans are in place and executed effectively
• Conduct review meetings to review process performance
• Oversight and involvement of facility audits and audits of in-house processes to ensure compliance with company policies, FAA, customer, and AS9100 requirements
• Enable a culture focused on understanding risk and proactive mitigation
• Promote a culture of service excellence by relentlessly focusing on meeting internal and external customer requirements
• Assure teams are staffed with world-class talent to exceed the strategic and tactical goals of the business
• Develop, deploy and execute quality policies, objectives and plans that align and support the corporate strategic business goals
• Provides strategic direction on business initiatives to executive leadership, and drives implementation throughout the site

• Plans and directs resources and activities that support the Wichita site. Manages the site’s annual operating budget and employees in a matrixed reporting environment
• Manage internal and external partnerships and relationships
• Interface with Textron Aviation resources (facilities, IT, security), outside agencies, and customers to address issues identified for improvement or resolution
• Build bench strength and leadership potential at the Wichita site, while driving personnel to achieve strategic priorities.

What you need to be successful

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Business Administration, Operations or Manufacturing Management or equivalent, advanced degree strongly preferred.
• 15 Years of Experience in a manufacturing operations environment
• Extensive leadership experience in component fabrication/assembly, aircraft assembly, systems integration and quality manufacturing requirements. Comprehensive understanding of Engineering Design, Manufacturing Quality, and government regulatory requirements. Working knowledge of environmental, health, and safety activities.
• Strong leadership and facilitation skills; 3-5 years of Management experience

• Experience building and leading complex programs and teams; experience in capital equipment, or complex systems manufacturing is desired; multi-business/product line execution in one site a plus.
• Drive for Results: Consistently hits goals and objectives. Drives self and others to achieve stretch goals. Keeps eye on the ball and actively manages to the bottom line.
• Business Acumen: Knows how businesses work. Knowledgeable in current and possible future policies, practices, trends and information affecting his/her business and organization. Knows the competition and is aware of how strategies and tactics work in the marketplace.
• Strategic Planning: Actively participates through collaboration and technical leadership in the analysis and development of strategic business.
• Strong problem-solving abilities, customer service mindset, and excellent communication skill
• Proven track record in driving a diverse, inclusive, engaged, and ethical culture.
• Possess a working understanding of leadership principles and management best practices.
• Ability to build high-performance teams and establish internal and external partnerships and relationships with key customers and stakeholders in an effort to recruit and retain talent.
• Be personally energetic, dynamic, positive, and enthusiastic. Must possess the ability to think laterally and act through robust decision making.
• Strong team player, results orientated, and sense of urgency to achieve business objectives.
• Strong influencing skills in a cross-functional environment and executive presence. Must be able to effectively represent Bell Flight and Textron within the Wichita community.
• Competitive spirit and drive to win. Strong sense of initiative, internal motivation, and an unrelenting focus on results.
• Entrepreneurial, flexible, yet results-focused with a strong work ethic.
• Capacity to function in a complex, global company with ease and fluidity, while driving and influencing results.
• Demonstrated effective management (both direct and through influence) across multiple locations and work groups.