vertical-aerospace - Aircraft Senior Production Manager

• Production Leadership & Strategy • Liaise with other stakeholders to develop and implement the company’s certification aircraft production strategy. • Oversee the entire production lifecycle, from component assembly to final aircraft integration. • Support long-term production strategy, including workforce growth, facility expansion, and industrialisation planning. • Identify operational risks, constraints, and opportunities for improvement, driving corrective actions where required. • Provide regular production status, KPI, risk, and recovery reporting to senior leadership. • In liaison with the Engineering Test team, manage the build, delivery, & ongoing maintenance of conforming test articles for certification and validation programmes. • Coordinate with engineering and testing teams to ensure timely availability of assets. • Safety, Compliance & Quality Assurance • Ensure accurate configuration control, build records, and production documentation required for certification evidence. • Work closely with Quality, Manufacturing Engineering, and Certification teams to implement robust quality control systems to ensure compliant production attestation. • Support audits, conformity inspections, and regulatory engagement. • Work with other stakeholders to apply, establish and maintain compliance with a POA as well as other aerospace quality standards (AS9100, Part 21, etc.). • Drive improvements in production processes, efficiency, cost, data quality, and standardisation through continuous improvement initiatives. • Ensure management of non-conformities, concessions and subsequent process improvements • Team Management & Development • Build and manage a high-performing production team, including supervisors and technicians, setting clear objectives, performance expectations, and development plans. • Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement. • Operational Coordination • Work closely with engineering, supply chain, quality assurance, and program management teams to build a culture of safety, quality, and accountability across all production operations. • Liaise with manufacturing engineering teams to ensure quality work instructions and a suitable delivery system • Ensure seamless integration of design changes into production processes. • Facility Setup & Management • Liaise with other stakeholders to assist with design, planning, and commissioning of production facilities for low and higher rate production • Ensure compliance with aerospace standards, safety regulations, and environmental requirements. • Establish processes, workflows, tooling, and equipment to support scalable production. • Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, innovative environment. • What can you expect from us? • We're on a mission. Where others see limits, we see opportunity, and we work at pace. Working at Vertical isn't your average role but for those seeking a challenge, a flexible, supportive organisation and an incredible team; working here is an opportunity to do the best work of your career. • Our approach promotes ingenuity and courage, while our environment builds success through diligence in safety and being open in the way we work. The only way we're going to assure the next chapter of aviation history is by working as a team, relentlessly, towards our goal.