Vice President of Operations

The Vice President of Operations will be a foundational leadership hire, responsible for owning and scaling day-to-day operations across aircraft acquisition, teardown, inventory, repair management, and engine lease assets, with full P&L responsibility for operations. This role is ideal for a hands-on aviation operations leader who can “talk airplanes” at a deep level and is excited to help build a high-growth platform for the long term.?

Location and Travel

• Primary location: Oklahoma City, OK (HQ). This is an on-site role; no remote or hybrid option.
• Travel: Regular travel to Cedar Rapids, IA (several days per month initially, tapering as things stabilize), plus periodic travel to key industry events (NBAA, MRO Americas, rotorcraft events such as HAI) and to selected aircraft inspections.?

Key Responsibilities

Operational leadership and P&L ownership

• Own the operations P&L, including budgeting, cost efficiency, service levels, and capital spending in your remit, in close partnership with the CEO and CFO.
• Translate strategic goals (e.g., scaling from ~40M to 100M in revenue) into concrete operational plans, priorities, and KPIs across two primary locations and multiple revenue streams.?
• Build and lead a high-performing operations organization while preserving the Company’s informal, respectful culture.?

Aircraft acquisition, recovery, and teardown

• Lead end-to-end aircraft acquisition operations: recovery, ferrying, and disassembly, including oversight of outsourced retrieval teams and evaluation of future insourcing opportunities.?
• Partner with the existing acquisition team to increase both volume and value of aircraft acquired (goal: 20–30 aircraft per year), moving upmarket into larger business jets.?
• Ensure aircraft move rapidly from “parking lot” capital to disassembled, tagged, and saleable inventory, compressing cycle times and improving cash conversion.?

Inventory management and warehousing

• Oversee inventory management and warehousing across Oklahoma City and Cedar Rapids, ensuring high inventory accuracy, strong location control, and efficient physical flows.?
• Drive improvements in inventory turns and working capital efficiency, with particular focus on the parts trading business where capital is deployed into individual parts.?
• Optimize facility layout, material flow, and throughput to support higher aircraft and parts volume without major new greenfield investment.?

Repair management and vendor relationships

• Own repair management for all parts and components sent to external shops, with a mandate to reduce average repair TAT from ~120 days toward ~90 days.?
• Build and deepen relationships with key MROs and repair vendors, leveraging projected spend to improve pricing, turnaround, and priority status.
• Provide technical oversight to challenge shops where needed, validate scopes of work, and ensure repairs support margin and cash objectives.?

Engine and lease pool strategy

• Oversee maintenance and management of engine lease assets as Company builds an engine lease pool to capture more margin from engines rather than selling immediately to intermediaries.?
• Evaluate options for preserving, leasing, parting out, or selling engines to end users, providing clear recommendations on risk, return, and market positioning.
• Serve as an internal expert or “clearing house” for engine offers and market intel, helping the organization distinguish between good and poor offers and avoid costly missteps.?

Technical qualifications

• Deep, credible understanding of aircraft and engine types, which engines go on which platforms, and ability to discuss systems, structures, and key components with A&Ps and technical staff.?
• Strong preference for FAA A&P certification; other relevant technical credentials and experience will be considered when paired with significant hands-on aircraft maintenance or MRO experience.?
• Hands-on hangar experience is essential. You have spent meaningful time in hangars and on shop floors and genuinely enjoy that environment.
• Experience in one or more of the following: aviation aftermarket, aircraft parts distribution, MRO/repair, teardown/demanufacturing, aerospace distribution, or closely related industrial distribution environments.?
• Exposure to engines and engine maintenance/overhaul, and ideally prior experience managing or operating an engine lease pool, is highly desirable.?
• Experience with aircraft retrieval logistics and cost management is a plus.?
• Familiarity with quality systems and certifications (e.g., ASA), safety practices, and regulatory considerations is beneficial.?

Leadership and soft skills

• Detail-oriented, structured thinker who brings data-backed options and recommendations, not just problems.
• High-energy, hands-on leader who is comfortable “in the weeds” early on – touching airplanes and parts, working closely with frontline staff without degrees – while building scalable processes and teams for the longer term.?
• Strong relationship builder with OEMs, shops, MROs, customers, and suppliers; comfortable representing the Company at industry events and in technical/commercial discussions.
• Cultural fit with an informal, Midwestern environment
• Comfortable working closely with a non-micromanaging CEO and a financially sophisticated CFO, willing to “grab them by the ear” when details matter, and confident enough to challenge assumptions respectfully.?