Senior Director of Shipyard Operations

We offer a competitive salary for this role with an expected range of $235000 - $275000. The final offer will depend on your experience skills and overall qualifications. General Dynamics Bath Iron Works also provides a variety of benefits including medical & dental insurance coverage 401(k) retirement savings plan flexible spending accounts/HSAs life and disability insurance company paid holidays paid time off (PTO) health coaching athletic trainers employee assistance programs and onsite health services.

The Senior Director of Operations is a critical enterprise leader responsible for overseeing major shipyard operational functions that support the construction testing and delivery of Navy surface combatant vessels. Reporting to the Vice President of Operations this role provides strategic financial and operational leadership to ensure performance in safety quality schedule cost and workforce development. Operating within the BIW Business Operating System (BOS) the Senior Director drives execution excellence modernizes operational practices and builds the leadership and workforce capabilities required for longterm shipyard success.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Enterprise Leadership

• Shape and execute long-range operational strategies aligned with BIWs enterprise goals and modernization roadmap.
• Lead major operational departments ensuring cohesive planning resource alignment and performance accountability across programs and ship sections.
• Provide executive-level operational insight and recommendations to senior leadership.

Safety Leadership

• Champion a strong safety culture and ensure consistent adherence to safety standards across all assigned areas.
• Drive implementation of safety improvement initiatives and enterprise safety goals.
• Evaluate safety performance trends and lead corrective action efforts.

Operational Execution

• Oversee construction testing and production execution across broad areas of responsibility.
• Manage schedule integrity cost performance and quality compliance; implement recovery plans and risk mitigation strategies as needed.
• Coordinate cross-functionally with Engineering Planning Quality Supply Chain and Manufacturing Support to ensure operational readiness and alignment.

Financial & Resource Management

• Direct multi-program budgets and resource strategies including capacity planning and workforce forecasting.
• Align operational resources to production needs modernization priorities and long-range capability development.
• Present operational and financial updates to executive leadership and key stakeholders.

Leadership & Workforce Development

• Lead Superintendents Managers and cross-functional operational teams with a focus on performance accountability and continuous development.
• Build organizational leadership pipelines through coaching mentoring and structured development planning.
• Ensure training qualifications and workforce readiness requirements are met and sustained.

Stakeholder Engagement

• Serve as a senior operational interface with Navy program leadership ensuring transparency and communication on performance readiness and risk.
• Maintain strong alignment with internal executive stakeholders across Production Engineering Planning and Program Management.
• Support enterprise cultural improvement and organizational change initiatives.

Continuous Improvement & Modernization

• Lead strategic improvement efforts to enhance efficiency reduce waste and strengthen operational standards.
• Drive BOS implementation and sustainment across assigned functions.
• Identify modernization opportunities and champion adoption of new tools processes and technologies.

• Bachelors degree in manufacturing engineering marine engineering industrial operations or related technical field.
• Advanced degree (MBA or similar) strongly preferred.
• This position requires you to be able to obtain a government security clearance. You must be a US Citizen for considerationand you must be able to obtain an interim security clearance within the first 45 days of more information regarding the security clearance process please visitInvestigations & Clearance Process ()

• Minimum 15 years of progressively responsible leadership experience in shipbuilding construction industrial manufacturing or heavy industry.
• Demonstrated success overseeing large operational teams and complex production environments.
• Proven experience managing multi-program schedules budgets and performance metrics.
• Strong record of industrial safety leadership and regulatory compliance.
• Experience leading unionized workforces and managing labor relations.
• Familiarity with Navy programs government contracting or defense manufacturing strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead enterprise-scale process improvements and Lean initiatives.
• Strong communication skills leadership presence and ability to build relationships at all levels including executive and customer stakeholders.