Job Description SummaryThe Lead Customer Operations Manager drives end-to-end operational performance for assigned engine programs and serves as the primary interface between customer needs and internal execution teams. You will lead cross-functional planning and issue resolution across manufacturing, quality, engineering, and supply chain to deliver on Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC) commitments.

Job Description

Job Title

Lead Services Specialist 1 - Customer Order and Fulfillment (Lead Customer Operations Manager)

Company Intro/About GE Aerospace

GE Aerospace is a world-leading provider of jet engines, components, and integrated systems for commercial and military aircraft. We advance aviation technology with a relentless focus on Safety, Quality, Delivery, and Cost (SQDC), partnering with customers and internal teams to deliver reliable outcomes that keep fleets mission-ready.

Site, Business, OR Functional Area Overview

This role is based in Arkansas City, Kansas and sits within Fulfillment Operations supporting customer order execution for assigned engine programs and customers. The position works closely with on-site operations and planning teams and partners across manufacturing, quality, engineering, sourcing, and supply chain to ensure customer commitments are delivered with strong execution discipline and transparent communication.

Role Overview

The Lead Customer Operations Manager drives end-to-end operational performance for assigned engine programs and serves as the primary interface between customer needs and internal execution teams. In this role, you will lead cross-functional planning and issue resolution to deliver customer commitments aligned to SQDC priorities.

Success requires a strong operating cadence, data-driven prioritization, and the ability to influence across teams to remove constraints, mitigate risk, and improve delivery performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Customer Order Fulfillment Ownership: Serve as the lead point of contact for contract execution, order status, commitments, and issue resolution; ensure timely, accurate communication to customers and internal teams.
• Cross-Functional Execution: Partner daily with operations, planning, engineering, and frontline leaders to remove constraints and deliver customer commitments.
• Program Cadence & Reviews: Provide data, insights, and updates for program management reviews (on-site and at customer locations as needed).
• Planning & Transactions Support: Support forecasting, planning, billing, and collection activities for assigned programs and customers.
• Data-Driven Risk Management: Use SAP (or similar ERP) and other internal/external data to identify risks and opportunities, generate mitigation plans, and track actions to closure.
• Operational Analytics: Build and maintain analyses in Microsoft Excel to manage priorities, constraints, recovery plans, and delivery performance.
• Lean / Standard Work Execution: Embed standard work and lean principles into daily execution; lead meetings, manage operating metrics, and drive continuous improvement.
• Productivity Leadership: Serve as the focal point for productivity initiatives, tracking status, business impact, and follow-through.
• Cross-Functional Leadership: Lead cross-functional teams across manufacturing, quality, engineering, sourcing, and planning to improve program performance, mitigate risk, and deliver customer commitments.
• Customer Portals & Reporting: Maintain accurate order status and required reporting through customer portals/systems in coordination with internal teams.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university OR high school diploma/GED with 4+ years of Project Management or Production Planning experience
• Experience: 3+ years of experience in one or more of the following: Manufacturing Operations, Materials Management, Production Planning, Project Management OR GE Leadership Program graduate in lieu of experience
• Technical Skills: Ability to use SAP (or similar ERP) and Microsoft Excel to support operational decision-making

Additional Information

Preferred Qualifications:

• Program/project leadership experience (planning, documenting, and executing projects)
• Materials management experience (forecasting, master scheduling, planning, fulfillment)
• Experience with SIOP (Sales, Inventory & Operations Planning)
• Strong stakeholder management and executive-level communication skills
• Demonstrated problem-solving and continuous improvement mindset

Travel: Up to 10%

Note: To comply with U.S. immigration and other legal requirements, it is necessary to specify the minimum number of years’ experience required for any role based within the USA. For roles outside of the USA, to ensure compliance with applicable legislation, the JDs should focus on the substantive level of experience required for the role and a minimum number of years should NOT be used.

Closing

At GE Aerospace, we are committed to fostering an inclusive workplace that values diversity and empowers employees to thrive. This role requires access to U.S. export-controlled information. Therefore, for applicants who are not asylees, refugees, lawful permanent residents, or U.S. Citizens (i.e., not a protected individual under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3), otherwise known as a U.S. Person), final offers will be contingent on the ability to obtain authorization for access to U.S. export-controlled information from the U.S. Government.

This role requires access to U.S. export-controlled information. Therefore, employment will be contingent upon the ability to prove that you meet the status of a U.S. Person as one of the following: U.S. lawful permanent resident, U.S. Citizen, have been granted asylee or refugee status (i.e., a protected individual under the Immigration and Naturalization Act, 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3)).

Additional Information

GE Aerospace offers a great work environment, professional development, challenging careers, and competitive compensation. GE Aerospace is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, national or ethnic origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by law.

GE Aerospace will only employ those who are legally authorized to work in the United States for this opening. Any offer of employment is conditioned upon the successful completion of a drug screen (as applicable). Employees may also be subject to random and reasonable-suspicion drug and alcohol testing.

Relocation Assistance Provided: No