Vertex Inc

Sr. Director, USAF and SOCOM Portfolio

Vertex Inc • $150K — $180K *
Indianapolis, IN 46227In-Person
Aerospace & Defense
11 - 15 years of experience
1 week ago
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field.
  • At least 15 years of experience in defense or national security program management or operations.
  • Successful track record in growing business in international defense markets.
  • Experience leading programs from capture to execution and sustainment.
  • Proven relationship-building skills with senior government and industry stakeholders.
  • Strong leadership and communication skills with presentation proficiency.
  • Willingness to travel 40-50%, including to challenging environments.

Responsibilities

  • Develop and execute a comprehensive growth strategy for USAF and SOCOM programs.
  • Identify and create new business opportunities in the defense sector.
  • Lead capture activities focusing on win strategies and proposal oversight.
  • Build and manage strategic relationships with government and industry entities.
  • Oversee a $250M portfolio of programs, ensuring performance meets all requirements.
  • Implement standardized processes for program governance and management.
  • Act as the principal escalation point for program issues and customer concerns.

Benefits

  • Opportunity to lead a high-stakes portfolio with significant impact.
  • Engagement with high-level government and industry partners.
  • Access to international markets and the potential for business expansion.
  • Involvement in innovative program management methodologies.
  • Possibility for professional growth in a fast-paced, strategy-focused environment.
Full Job Description
Overview

The Senior Director, Program Management - USAF and SOCOM Portfolio is responsible for leading growth activities and program execution of the USAF and SOCOM Portfolio. This role will create and grow new business opportunities, develop a comprehensive USAF and SOCOM pipeline, and execute the awarded contracts. The Senior Director will manage a team of 4-6 senior Program Managers and will drive the capture, stand-up, and lifecycle management of new programs, ensuring flawless execution, customer satisfaction, and profitable growth.

Responsibilities

Business Growth & International Strategy
  • Develop and execute a multi-year growth strategy for USAF and SOCOM Programs, aligned with M&S and V2X strategic objectives.
  • Identify, qualify, and shape new business opportunities.
  • Lead capture activities for targeted pursuits, including win strategy, teaming, pricing, and proposal oversight.
  • Develop and manage strategic relationships with USG stakeholders, platform OEMs, and key industry players.
  • Coordinate closely with Business Development, Capture Management, and functional leaders to build a qualified pipeline and drive orders, revenue, and margin growth.

Program & Portfolio Leadership
  • Lead a $250M portfolio of programs from concept through execution and sustainment, ensuring performance to scope, cost, schedule, quality, and technical requirements.
  • Stand up and mature new program capabilities, including rapid prototyping, production, integration, fielding, and depot-level sustainment.
  • Implement and enforce standardized program management processes, governance, and performance metrics across all assigned programs.
  • Conduct program reviews, risk and opportunity assessments, and corrective action planning to ensure successful program outcomes.
  • Serve as the senior escalation point for program issues and customer concerns, driving timely resolution and continuous improvement.

Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Serve as a primary senior interface with USAF, SOCOM, Industry Partners, and international partners for USAF and SOCOM Portfolio programs.
  • Maintain regular engagement with customer leadership to understand mission needs, anticipate requirements, and ensure high levels of satisfaction.
  • Represent V2X at trade shows, conferences, and industry forums to promote capabilities and build market presence.
  • Advocate for customer mission priorities within V2X, ensuring solutions are tailored to regional operational environments and threat landscapes.

Financial & Contractual Management
  • Own P&L performance of assigned international programs and growth initiatives.
  • Partner with Contracts, Finance, Legal, and Supply Chain to structure, negotiate, and manage complex international contracts, subcontracts, and strategic alliances.
  • Establish and manage program baselines; oversee EACs, forecasts, and financial reports in accordance with V2X policies.
  • Identify and implement actions to protect and improve revenue, margin, cash flow, and overall financial performance.

Qualifications

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field.
  • Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in defense or national security program management, business development, or operations.
  • Demonstrated success in:
    • Growing new business in foreign (non-U.S.) defense or security markets.
    • Establishing and leading new programs from capture through execution and sustainment.
  • Demonstrated ability to build trusted relationships and effectively engage at senior levels with government and industry stakeholders.
  • Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
  • Ability and willingness to travel up to approximately 40-50%, including to austere or high-threat locations as required.
  • Ability to obtain and maintain any required security clearance.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
  • Advanced degree (e.g., MBA, MS in Engineering, or related field).
  • Prior experience with rapid reaction, agile acquisition, urgent operational requirements (UOR), or quick reaction capability (QRC) programs.
  • Background in complex systems integration, mission systems, C5ISR, unmanned systems, or similar defense technology domains.
  • Prior military service or direct experience supporting deployed operations or contingency environments.

KEY COMPETENCIES
  • Strategic, entrepreneurial mindset with demonstrated ability to build and scale new businesses.
  • Strong program management discipline (cost/schedule control, risk and opportunity management, EVMS or equivalent).
  • Cultural agility and the ability to operate effectively across diverse international environments and stakeholder groups.
  • Decisive, action-oriented leadership with a bias for execution in fast-paced, ambiguous settings.
  • High level of integrity and commitment to compliance, ethics, and mission success.

About Vertex Inc

Vertex Inc is a leading provider of tax technology and services, enabling companies of all sizes to realize the full strategic potential of the tax function by automating and integrating tax processes, while leveraging advanced and predictive analytics of tax data. Vertex provides cloud-based and on-premise solutions that can be tailored to specific industries for every major line of tax, including income, sales and consumer use, value added and payroll. Vertex also offers solutions for tax data management, compliance and reporting, tax research, and planning and analysis. The company was founded in 1978 and is headquartered in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania.
Learn more about Vertex Inc
Size
1,200 employees
Market Cap
$2.2 billion
Industry
Business Services
Net Income
-$78.9 million
Founded
1978
Revenue
$374.6 million
NASDAQ
VERX
* Ladders Estimates

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