POSITION SUMMARYThe Director, Program Management Operations plays a critical role within the Program Management Office (PMO), supporting the delivery of complex aerospace programs and high-visibility business projects. This position ensures alignment between project execution and organizational goals by establishing effective project controls, driving cross-functional coordination, and maintaining strong governance practices. The role leads program projects from concept through completion, promoting a culture of accountability, transparency, and operational excellence. The ideal candidate is a highly experienced project leader capable of managing diverse initiatives involving contract negotiations, regulatory activities, construction, product development, IT systems, and operational process improvements.
KEY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES- Lead the on-time, on-budget delivery of strategic business projects with aggressive timelines.
- Define and document project scope, develop cost estimates, and build detailed project schedules for complex, cross-functional initiatives.
- Maintain effective project controls and manage risks, issues, changes, decisions, costs, resources, and timelines, ensuring alignment with business goals.
- Support the drafting and negotiation of contracts with suppliers and customers/innovators, ensuring feasible scope, timelines, and budgets.
- Manage multiple projects concurrently, prioritizing tasks and meeting deadlines while providing clear, transparent communication of project status, health, risks, and forecasts to leadership and stakeholders.
- Drive team effectiveness by identifying workload priorities, removing obstacles, and facilitating resolution of project-related issues.
- Balance competing project constraints-including scope, quality, schedule, funding, resources, and risk-to ensure project success.
- Serve as an SME to cross-functional teams, collaborating closely with Engineering, Operations, Finance, Procurement, Mission Services, and other internal partners to meet project objectives.
- Support customer reviews, project documentation, and contract-related activities.
- Apply and maintain agile project management methodologies throughout the project lifecycle where appropriate.
- Maintain standardized tools, templates, and reporting practices to support accurate project tracking.
- Identify opportunities for process improvement that enhance project communication, efficiency, and performance.
- Perform additional job duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
Education & Experience- Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Project Management, or a related field required.
- Master's degree (MBA or MS in Engineering/Management) preferred.
- PMP or PgMP certification strongly preferred.
- 15+ years of progressive project management experience, preferably within aerospace, defense, or other high-technology industries.
- Demonstrated success leading complex, cross-functional projects from initiation through completion, delivering on time and within budget.
- Strong understanding of project lifecycles, systems engineering principles, and commercial or government contract management.
- Proven leadership skills with the ability to influence without authority and effectively engage stakeholders at all organizational levels.
- Experience supporting external customer or supplier negotiations is a plus.
Core Skills- Passion for space and the mission
- Entrepreneurial, growth mindset
- High EQ and ability to collaborate within teams and cross-functionally
- Tech-solutioning in using systems and tools to move smarter and faster
Core Competencies:Embody our core values of
leadership,
innovation, and
teamwork. In addition, to perform the job successfully, an individual should demonstrate the following competencies:
- Accountability
- Technical Rigor
- Execution Discipline
- Pride of Delivery
Work Environment:Generally, an office environment, but can involve inside or outside work depending on the task.
Requirements- Must be able to complete a U.S. government background investigation.
- Management has the prerogative to select at any level for which the position is advertised.
- Proof of U.S. Citizenship or US Permanent Residency is a requirement for this position.
- Must be willing to work evenings and weekends as needed to meet critical project milestones.
Physical Requirements- Work may involve sitting or standing for extended periods (90% of the time)
- May require lifting and carrying up to 25 lbs. (5% of the time)
- Equipment and Machines
- Standard office equipment (PC, phone, printer, etc.)
