EVP – Operations Transformation — Space-Systems Division

The mandate

A space-systems division is recovering programmes whose cost growth originates in late engineering release, interface rework, material shortages and repeated test preparation. Individual teams optimise their own queues, but incomplete work moves downstream and returns at greater cost. The incumbent operations leader is due to leave; the planned replacement EVP will create stable flow across the full build-and-test system.

Approximately 700 employees and material partners work across engineering operations, manufacture, assembly, integration, test, supply, quality and facilities from London across the wider region. The EVP owns operations transformation, delivery, productivity, industrial systems, facilities and frontline capability, reporting to the Group Chief Executive or nominated sponsor. Design, quality, safety and security authorities retain independent decisions.

The recovery begins with physical and digital flow observation. The EVP will trace representative hardware and software through release, kitting, assembly, integration, test and acceptance. Queue age, missing inputs and rework loops should be visible. A schedule status cannot conceal work waiting without an accountable next action.

Engineering release quality is an operating constraint. Drawings, bills, software, interfaces and test requirements must be sufficiently mature for the next step. The EVP will establish entry criteria with engineering and prevent production from accepting incomplete packages merely to protect start dates.

Material readiness needs configuration discipline. Kits may appear complete while parts have wrong effectivity, missing certificates or unresolved concessions. Operations will use positive readiness and escalate shortages early. Cannibalisation and uncontrolled substitution are not sustainable recovery methods.

Integration planning will recognise shared facilities and specialist staff. Clean areas, environmental chambers, electrical ground support and authorised operators create finite capacity. The EVP will sequence programmes through constraint-based plans and show which work moves when priorities change.

Test readiness requires evidence. Procedures, configuration, software, instrumentation, safety, customer witnesses and anomaly routes should be approved before occupancy. Entering test prematurely consumes scarce slots and creates misleading milestone activity. Readiness exceptions need named authority and risk.

Defect and non-conformance handling must accelerate without weakening independence. Triage will distinguish containment, use-as-is, repair and design correction. Ageing, recurrence and downstream effect will drive priority. Productivity measures cannot reward closing records before corrective work is complete.

Rework cost will be attributed to source process, not the team performing repair. This is essential for investment and accountability. The EVP will use evidence to improve design release, supplier control, workmanship or test preparation rather than blame the visible final stage.

Supplier flow will be integrated with internal need dates and quality evidence. Expediting should not produce early deliveries that increase storage or obsolescence. Critical suppliers will receive stable signals, rapid engineering decisions and recovery governance. Alternative sources require full qualification.

Workforce capability will map authorised skills by operation and shift. Specialists who troubleshoot unique hardware or test assets need successors. The EVP will protect mentoring time, cross-train through observed work and reduce overtime only after stable coverage exists.

Digital work instructions and production systems will support controlled execution. Changes require version and effectivity. Operators need accessible current evidence at the point of use. Local spreadsheets and annotations will be examined for unmet process needs before removal.

Benefits will come from repeatable flow, not deferred work. Cost reduction, schedule recovery, working capital and capacity release will have separate baselines. The EVP will verify that unfinished work or risk has not moved beyond the measurement boundary.

The replacement transition will capture active commitments and operational knowledge from the incumbent, then test them independently. Leaders will be accountable for cross-functional outcomes and early escalation, not local utilisation.

What you will own

• Engineering-to-test operating flow.
• Entry, material and test readiness.
• Integration facilities and constraint sequencing.
• Defect, rework and root-source improvement.
• Supplier and configuration-linked delivery.
• Workforce capability and controlled instructions.
• Cost, schedule and capacity benefits.
• Operations leadership and succession.

The first 12 months

Within 30 days, trace priority builds, identify hidden queues and protect scarce integration and test capacity. Complete critical incumbent handover.

By month five, implement readiness gates, source-based rework accounting and constraint management. Stabilise suppliers and develop specialist coverage.

At twelve months, reduce rework hours by 35%, improve on-time test entry by 30 percentage points and cut work-in-progress age by 25%. Ninety-five per cent of formal test starts should meet complete readiness evidence, with programme-cost benefits visible in forecasts and no quality or safety override.

What the sponsor will examine

• Work entering each stage with complete inputs.
• Material readiness including effectivity and evidence.
• Shared test capacity governed by explicit choice.
• Defect cost returned to its originating process.
• Digital instructions current at point of use.
• Benefits not created by shifting unfinished work.

The person

You bring 22–28 years in space, aerospace or complex high-reliability operations, including enterprise transformation authority. Your record includes engineering release, integration, environmental test, supplier recovery and material programme-cost reduction.

Candidates should demonstrate a flow recovery that survived normal workload and a premature test start they stopped. The permanent role is onsite in London with site, supplier and customer engagement. Required security and export eligibility applies.

Compensation and terms

Base compensation is GBP 250,000–340,000 plus annual incentive and long-term participation linked to cost recovery, test readiness, flow, quality and leadership. The permanent onsite London appointment reports to the Group Chief Executive or nominated executive-committee sponsor. Planned succession includes a controlled handover.

Confidentiality

The division, programmes, hardware, software, facilities, suppliers, customers and recovery data remain confidential. Further disclosure follows eligibility, conflicts and signed confidentiality. Applicants must not approach space organisations or programme personnel to identify the client.