Job Application for Director, Production Operations at The Copper River Family of Companies

New

We are seeking a highly skilled Director of Production Operations to lead and inspire a dedicated team of up to 150 professionals—including fabricators, outfitters, and electricians—committed to manufacturing state-of-the-art combatant craft. The ideal candidate will have a proven track record of successfully managing large, diverse teams in a fast-paced, high-stakes manufacturing environment.

The Director of Production Operations will take ownership of all aspects of production operations, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the highest quality standards. This role requires a blend of hands-on leadership, strategic oversight, and the ability to continuously empower and develop a team to reach their full potential.

Key Responsibilities (include but are not limited to):

Team Leadership & Empowerment:
Lead, mentor, and motivate a high-performing team of up to 150 fabricators, outfitters, electricians, and support personnel. Foster a positive, collaborative, and results-driven culture. Empower individuals to take ownership of their work and provide continuous development opportunities.

Production Oversight:
Oversee the end-to-end production process, from raw material receipt to the final assembly of complex combatant craft. Ensure adherence to strict quality standards, safety protocols, and operational timelines.

Process Improvement & Optimization:
Continuously identify opportunities for process improvement, cost optimization, and operational efficiency. Leverage Lean Manufacturing principles to drive productivity while maintaining high standards of craftsmanship and precision but recognize that we are a highly customized job shop and not a widget manufacturer.

Cross-Departmental Collaboration:
Work closely with Engineering, Project Management Office and Quality Assurance to ensure smooth communication and alignment between departments. Ensure that production specifications are met and that any technical issues are addressed quickly and effectively.

Resource Management:
Manage the allocation of resources (personnel, materials, equipment) to ensure production targets are met. Oversee scheduling and inventory management to avoid bottlenecks and downtime.

Safety & Compliance:
Champion a culture of safety by ensuring all team members adhere to company safety protocols and industry regulations. Lead by example to maintain a safe working environment and mitigate risks. Oversee training and education, fire safety and emergency preparedness, implement programs and policies in compliance with OSHA guidelines and support supervisors and leads.

Reporting & Documentation:
Provide regular reports to senior management on production performance, including progress against milestones, budget adherence, and key challenges. Use data to drive decisions and improve operational efficiency.

Essential Job Qualifications:

Experience:

Minimum of 7-10 years of experience in a senior production, program, or project management role, preferably in high-tech, manufacturing, or defense-related industries.

Proven experience leading large, multidisciplinary teams (up to 150 people).

Experience in managing complex projects with tight deadlines and high standards.

Leadership:

Strong leadership and people management skills with a passion for developing talent and empowering teams.

Ability to inspire and maintain morale across diverse roles and skill levels.

Excellent conflict resolution and decision-making abilities.

Technical Expertise:

Strong knowledge of manufacturing processes, particularly in the fabrication and assembly of complex systems.

Experience with Lean Manufacturing and continuous improvement initiatives.

Familiarity with military standards and specifications for specialized equipment is a plus.

Communication Skills:

Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Comfortable presenting to senior leadership and working collaboratively across departments.

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing, or a related field is preferred, though significant relevant experience may substitute for formal education.

Certifications:

Relevant certifications (e.g., Lean Six Sigma, PMP, or similar) are a plus.

About Copper River & The Native Village of Eyak:

Owned by the Native Village of Eyak (NVE), a federally recognized Alaska Native Tribe, the Copper River Family of Companies are a collection of entities that deliver a complementary set of solutions and services to support the diverse missions and requirements of our clients. Proud participants of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 8(a) Business Development Program since 2006, our companies consist of both current and graduation SBA 8(a) entities. It is our collective purpose to support the Tribe and diversify the NVE’s ability to facilitate economic advancement.

The income generated from our companies helps the Native Village of Eyak fund health and social services, economic development, natural resource/environmental education, jobs, job training, and other benefits to the NVE in a manner that is consistent with Alaskan Native cultural values and traditions.

Copper River’s Culture

The Copper River Family of Companies has a positive, supportive, and thriving culture. At the foundation of our culture is a focus on collaboration. No matter your role or which operating company you work for, we are ONE TEAM working toward the same goals for our customers and for our collective owner- The Native Village of Eyak. How we treat each other is just as important as the work we deliver.

Benefits

Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage
Flexible Spending Account - healthcare and dependent care
Health Savings Account - high deductible medical plan
Retirement 401(k) with employer match
Open leave policy and paid holidays
Additional benefits including tuition reimbursement, transportation expense account, employee assistance program, and more!

Note: These benefits are only applicable to full time, regular associates at Copper River.

Disclaimer:

The Copper River Family of Companies provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

Create a Job Alert

Interested in building your career at The Copper River Family of Companies? Get future opportunities sent straight to your email.

First Name

Last Name

Preferred First Name

Phone

Resume/CV

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

Cover Letter

Accepted file types: pdf, doc, docx, txt, rtf

What is your desired salary?

Preferred Name

How did you hear about us?

Address

Are you currently or have you ever been employed by the Copper River Family of Companies?

Select...

In compliance with federal law, all persons hired will be required to verify identity and eligibility to work in the United States and to complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire. Will you be able to provide documentation to verify your identity and eligibility to work in the United States?

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification

For government reporting purposes, we ask candidates to respond to the below self-identification survey. Completion of the form is entirely voluntary. Whatever your decision, it will not be considered in the hiring process or thereafter. Any information that you do provide will be recorded and maintained in a confidential file.

As set forth in The Copper River Family of Companies’s Equal Employment Opportunity policy, we do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.

Gender

Select...

Are you Hispanic/Latino?

Select...

Race & Ethnicity Definitions

If you believe you belong to any of the categories of protected veterans listed below, please indicate by making the appropriate selection. As a government contractor subject to the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment Assistance Act (VEVRAA), we request this information in order to measure the effectiveness of the outreach and positive recruitment efforts we undertake pursuant to VEVRAA. Classification of protected categories is as follows:

A "disabled veteran" is one of the following: a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.

A "recently separated veteran" means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.

An "active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran" means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.

An "Armed forces service medal veteran" means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Veteran Status

Select...

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Form CC-305

Page 1 of 1

OMB Control Number 1250-0005

Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
Blind or low vision
Cancer (past or present)
Cardiovascular or heart disease
Celiac disease
Cerebral palsy
Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
Diabetes
Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
Intellectual or developmental disability
Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
Short stature (dwarfism)
Traumatic brain injury

Disability Status

Select...

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

Director, Production Operations

Apply for this job

Voluntary Self-Identification

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability