Senior Program Manager

Position Summary:

Senior Program Managers are responsible for management of complex contract programs within the Airbus U.S. Space Systems line of business (LOB) portfolio of space programs. This role serves as the primary customer interface and ensures that all facets of programs are executed to meet cost, schedule and performance commitments. Responsible for coordinating work of centralized functions (engineering, supply chain, finance, trade compliance, and legal) to ensure all requirements are satisfied. Often provides support to the strategy and new business development team for customer requests, capture and proposal efforts, to win business and increase revenues on new and existing programs.

Position Responsibilities:

Program Management: (45%)

• Serves as program manager for assigned space program(s).
• Responsible for program management including technical, cost, schedule and risk management for high dollar amount/high complexity/large team programs.
• Manages project planning, costing, scheduling and provide regular updates to Space Systems leadership. May be called upon to report to executive management from time to time.
• Provides daily project direction and support. Coordinates with team members (engineering, support functions) to plan, update, and execute program plans against cost and schedule, with risks and risk mitigation, and within budget.
• Develops detailed Work Breakdown Structures (WBS) and track and manage project costs against the program spend rate baseline.
• Works with master scheduler to develop schedules that identify major milestones, internal and external task dependencies, critical paths, and resources allocation requirements.
• Proactively tracks leading indicators, identifies issues or delays and recommend corrective actions as needed. Provides recommendations and implementation strategies to ensure project and program costs remain within the budget and schedule.
• Manages and updates project risks through a risk management plan that identifies, assess, documents, and mitigates program risks.
• Coordinates and manages projects and ensures Contract Data Requirements List (CDRLs) are completed. Manages internal, external, and international organizations to ensure strict adherence to timelines.
• Manages milestone progress and invoice for work accomplished

External, and Internal Production / Engineering (including software) Stakeholder Management: (25%)

• Develops and maintains strong relationships with customers, other external stakeholders, and internal production and engineering stakeholders, working in a collaborative partnership to ensure successful program execution and business growth. This includes working with internal support functions across the company - finance, contracts, compliance, security, export, configuration management, etc.
• Provides direct management of partners and affiliates, including program definition and scope, program reviews, deliverables, schedule and milestones management, risk management, payments, invoices.
• Establishes and maintains effective working relationships with subcontractors, suppliers, Airbus affiliates and other external stakeholders.

Finance/Earned Value, Contract, Supply Chain, Compliance, Security Coordination: (25%)

• Coordinates with finance, contracting, supply chain, compliance and security team members to ensure project are being managed per financial, contractual and compliance requirements, within project scope and budget and following the approved schedule
• Applies guidance and redirection as required to ensure programs stay on track
• Leverages individual project management and industry experience to contribute substantively to Airbus U.S. efforts to optimize company project management processes

Other Duties as Assigned: (5%)

Qualified Experience / Skills / Training:

Education:

• Required: Bachelor's degree in aerospace, systems, electrical, mechanical or thermal engineering or other STEM related scientific field.

• Preferred: Master's degree in engineering or business field

Certification(s):

• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification preferred.

Experience:

• Nine years (seven years with a master's degree) of progressive experience in aerospace, systems, electrical, mechanical, or thermal engineering.
• Experience in technical or business project management or of small teams.
• Experience managing projects and teams, for space flight hardware or technologies, for U.S. Government or commercial space customers, with successful execution (cost, schedule, performance).
• Experience working with subcontracts and supply chain teams highly desired.

Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities:

• Understanding of space systems, technologies, and products.
• Experience and familiarity with U.S. government contracts.
• Knowledge of program management metrics, tools, reporting methods .
• Direct experience with U.S. national security space programs is highly preferred.

Communication Skills (Spoken, Written, Influencing, Proficiency in Other Languages):

• Systems-thinker, entrepreneurial mindset and ability to perform in a fast-paced environment with complex issues and competing priorities.
• Excellent listening, comprehension, interpersonal, communication (verbal/writing), skills as responsible for daily communication in all forms.
• Excellent analytical and presentation skills; clear, concise, accuracy, and commitment to follow-up.
• Collaborative spirit, diplomacy skills with inclusive and personable approach.
• Professional demeanor, with ability to effectively engage and partner with stakeholders at all levels, internally and externally, from support functions to engineers to executive leadership to senior government officials.
• Ability to work in a diverse, geographically distributed team to achieve successful program execution.

Technical Systems Proficiency:

• Excellent PC skills, specifically Office 365, Microsoft Teams, Sharepoint
• Experience with MS Office suite, MS Project
• Familiarity with Salesforce, Costpoint, Deltek systems a plus

Travel:

• 20% domestic and international
• Ability to work extended hours on occasion, in support of requirements for program execution, proposals, customer events, international time zones, etc

Eligibility:

• U.S. Citizenship is required (This position is subject to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) which requires U.S. person status.)

Clearance:

• Ability to obtain and maintain a Government security clearance
• Active DoD security clearance at Top Secret/ SCI desirable.

Decision Making, Complexity:

• Able to manage multiple activities
• Able to act decisively while ensuring actions are legal, within contract boundaries, and ethical

Job Dimensions, Contributions to Success:

• Lead an industrial team to achieve programmatic success
• Ensure programs achieve cost, schedule, and performance objectives

Nature of Contacts:

• Role includes involved communication with internal and external parties on a daily basis.

Physical Requirements:

• Carrying: able to carry documents and/or electronic equipment up to 20lbs/9kg.
• Lifting: able to lift documents and/or electronic equipment up to 20lbs/9kg.
• Pushing/Pulling: able to push/pull items in office areas.
• Sitting: able to sit for extended periods of time at computer and in meetings.
• Squatting/Kneeling: able to occasionally squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items shelved on bottom shelves.
• Standing: able to stand for extended periods of time.
• Travel: able to travel independently and at short notice.
• Walking: able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces.