Cirrus Aircraft

Description

ZRG has been engaged to recruit an Executive Director – Real Estate & Facilities for Cirrus Aircraft.

For more details about this opportunity, please view the position profile by clicking on the cover image below.

Position Description:

The Executive Director – Real Estate & Facilities at Cirrus Aircraft in Duluth, MN, is responsible for managing the operations of the facility, including budget management, facility planning, and maintenance across all campus locations. This role involves overseeing the design, planning, construction, and maintenance of buildings and equipment, ensuring compliance with safety standards, and leading maintenance teams to support the organization's operational needs.

Responsibilities:

• Manage facility operations including budget management and facility planning.
• Direct the design, planning, construction, maintenance, and alteration of facilities.
• Plan, budget, and schedule facility modifications, including cost estimates and contracts.
• Develop long-range planning initiatives to support future needs and growth.
• Lead and engage building and mechanical maintenance teams for equipment installation and repair.
• Manage vendor and building maintenance contractors, negotiating contracts and ensuring service delivery.
• Inspect plant and evaluate the use of space and facilities, managing routine maintenance.
• Analyze HVAC systems, computer network wiring, lighting, and other factors.
• Develop long-range plans, conceptual designs, and documentation for campus facilities.
• Effectively communicate conceptual matters and ideas with a wide audience
• Demonstrates a proven ability to manage across the organization.
• Inspect construction and installation progress to ensure compliance with specifications.
• Oversee coordination of building space allocation and communication services. Help the team strategize and think through master facility planning, capital allocation, and site selection.
• Ensure all safety standards and policies are met, conducting regular observations for compliance.

About Cirrus:

Cirrus Aircraft was founded in 1984 by brothers Alan and Dale Klapmeier, who began developing the VK-30—a five-passenger kit plane—in their family’s barn in Baraboo, Wisconsin. That prototype first took flight in 1988, and as demand grew, Cirrus expanded its operations to Duluth, Minnesota, and later Grand Forks, North Dakota. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the company shifted from kit planes to certified light aircraft, launching the SR20 in 1998 and followed by the SR22 in 2000—models that redefined general aviation with their all-composite construction, glass cockpits, and the inclusion of CAPS (Cirrus Airframe Parachute System) as standard.

Cirrus is best known for its SR series (SR20, SR22, and the turbocharged SR22T), all featuring composite construction, advanced avionics, and groundbreaking safety innovations, including the industry-first standard ballistic parachute system—CAPS—that has saved hundreds of lives. The SR22 alone has seen over 8,200 units delivered by 2024, and together with its SR siblings, surpasses 10,000 — making it the most-produced general aviation aircraft of the 21st century. In 2016, Cirrus entered the jet market with the Vision SF50—also known as the Vision Jet—a single-engine, very light jet that became the first certified personal jet from a piston-aircraft maker. This aircraft is also equipped with CAPS and, in newer variants, the Safe Return autoland system developed with Garmin, tying together Cirrus’s ongoing commitment to safety and innovation.

Since being acquired by CAIGA (China Aviation Industry General Aircraft) in 2011, Cirrus has maintained its U.S.-based manufacturing and expanded its global footprint. The company has significantly grown its facilities—including a major Engineering and Innovation Center in Duluth, customer-focused “Vision Centers” (notably in Knoxville, TN), and several service, training, and sales locations across the U.S. and Europe. In recent years, Cirrus achieved record deliveries, becoming the world’s largest producer of piston-powered aircraft since 2013 and general aviation aircraft since 2022. Their product offerings now include additional safety enhancements: in 2025, they introduced the Safe Return autoland feature to their SR G7 piston series—making them the first piston aircraft with such an emergency self-landing system. Furthermore, Cirrus is at the forefront of sustainability efforts in general aviation, exploring unleaded fuel options and using sustainable aviation fuel in the Vision Jet’s engine.

Location:

Duluth, MN

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree and 12 years of experience in facilities management or equivalent education and experience.
• A minimum of 7 years of recent experience in leadership of people and projects.

Nice-To-Haves:

• Strong computer skills for project management and scheduling within Asset Essential Facilities software.
• Ability to demonstrate sound judgment and practical communication skills.
• Ability to manage stress and complete multiple projects simultaneously.
• General knowledge of HVAC, VRF, Chiller, and manufacturing equipment maintenance.
• Knowledge of industrial building operations.
• Strong troubleshooting skills for assessing buildings and production equipment.

Benefits:

• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Life insurance
• Short-term disability insurance
• Long-term disability insurance
• Flexible spending account
• 401K retirement savings plan
• Voluntary vision insurance
• Employee Referral Incentive Program
• Vacation and holiday pay
• Employee discounts at the company store and with partners.

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