Job DescriptionBAE Systems is hiring a Program Manager- Weapon Systems Program Execution to support the Combat Mission Systems (CMS) business. The Program Excellence team provides strategic and thought leadership to Project, Program, and Portfolio Management for the CMS business area with annual sales of approximately $3B and over 200 program managers. This organization serves as a recognized subject matter expert in program management responsible for improving program execution across the enterprise (rather than directly managing a single program). Leveraging extensive experience leading complex, high-risk ("red") programs, this role partners with program teams to strengthen execution, reduce risk, improve predictability, and drive successful program outcomes. This role provides independent assessments and helps establish best practices across the enterprise. This role also supports the Program Management capability for CMS and improve Program Management Processes, Training, Tools, and Measures. The role will report to the Director of Weapon Systems Program Execution.
Because this role involves a combination of collaborative/in-person and independent work, it will take the form of a hybrid work format, with time split between working onsite and remotely (averaging 3 days onsite weekly).
For this position, we will consider someone working out of Louisville, KY.
Responsibilities:
- Serve as a subject matter resource to program managers and functional leaders on program execution, planning, and risk management
- Provide independent assessments of program health, identifying execution risks and recommending corrective actions before issues impact cost, schedule, or technical performance
- Evaluates program baselines, integrated master schedules, earned value performance, staffing plans, and risk registers to ensure realistic executable plans
- Serve as an organization lead in program recovery, leveraging firsthand experience leading high-risk ("red") programs to successful execution
- Deploy to critical or underperforming programs to stabilize execution and improve program performance
- Identify systemic issues across programs and recommend enterprise improvements to process, governance, training, and tools
- Establish and maintain enterprise program management best practices, standard work, and execution playbooks
- Facilitate lessons learned and ensure successful practices are captured and implemented across the portfolio
- Support proposal teams by providing program execution expertise, transition planning, and execution strategy
- Develop metrics and dashboards that provide meaningful insight into program health and execution maturity
- Maintain performance excellence within the integrated systems and ensure the planning, architecture, processes, tools, testing, and continuous improvements promote current and future effectiveness
- Collaborate and communicate with other program control and execution teams at all levels to evaluate key performance of current cost and schedule integration process and help facilitate change
- Promote consistency across all programs within CMS, ensure existing and improved processes remain in compliance with EVMS System Description and DOD Earned Value Management System Interpretation Guide
- Support internal and external project control surveillance activities, including working proactively with program teams to prepare/train teams, mock interviews, mitigating risk of discrepancy reports, developing corrective action plans, and driving program teams and the organization to closure on actions
- Maintain familiarity with industry practices, trends, and applications to enhance the organization's capabilities
- Support cross-sector and BAE Systems, Inc. program management initiatives
- Support CMS Program Management in Lifecycle Management
Required Skills and Education- Bachelor's Degree and minimum of 8 years leading complex defense, aerospace, or automotive programs
- Successful experience recovering or leading high-risk ("red") programs
- Proven track record of recovering underperforming programs by improving cost, schedule, technical performance, customer confidence, and execution predictability
- Strong working knowledge of:
- Program Management principles
- Earned Value Management System (EVMS)
- Integrated Master Scheduling and Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB)
- Risk and Opportunity Management
- Proposal transition and program startup
- Government contracting requirements
- Demonstrated ability to influence without direct authority
- Strong communication and presentation skills
- Experience leading cross-functional teams in a matrix organization
- Experience in Knowledge Management and training large groups/organizations
Preferred Skills and Education- Master's Degree
- Expertise in Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS)
- Expertise in Performance Measurement Baseline (PMB)
- Expertise in Data Analytics and Reporting
- Experience in Data Visualization, including Power BI
- Experience in Defense Contracting
- Experience in Training Content development and improvement
- Experience in Budgeting and Costing
- Experience in Design/Development Programs
- Experience in Stage Gate and Design Reviews
- Experience in Change Management across different functions
