Ducommun

Sr. Manager, BD & Program Operations

Ducommun$120K — $150K *
Aerospace & Defense
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or a related field required.
  • 8+ years of experience in business development, program management, or commercial operations in manufacturing, aerospace, or defense environments.
  • Prior leadership experience in managing cross-functional teams required.
  • Proven ability to handle complex customer relationships and commercial activities.
  • Experience in highly regulated manufacturing environments preferred.

Responsibilities

  • Lead business development strategies to drive revenue growth and market expansion.
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with customers to enhance business opportunities.
  • Identify and evaluate new business opportunities across aerospace, defense, and adjacent markets.
  • Coordinate cross-functional efforts for proposal and quotation processes to ensure competitive responses.
  • Manage program performance metrics to ensure customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
  • Serve as a liaison between customers and internal teams for seamless communication and collaboration.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational efficiency and the customer experience.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health benefits package including medical, dental, and vision coverage.
  • Retirement savings plan with company matching contributions.
  • Generous paid time off policy and paid holidays.
  • Professional development and training opportunities.
  • Flexible work arrangements and potential for remote work.
Full Job Description
Sr. Manager, BD & Program Operations

The Senior Manager,Business Development & Program Operations serves as the operational leaderresponsible for customer growth, program execution, and commercial performanceacross the business. Reporting to the Director of Business Development &Programs, this role bridges business development activities and programmanagement execution to ensure customer satisfaction, profitable growth, andsuccessful delivery of customer commitments.

The position providesleadership and oversight to the Program Management organization through directmanagement of the Program Management Manager while partnering closely withOperations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Finance to drive business results.

This role is responsiblefor supporting new business pursuits, developing customer relationships,managing commercial performance, overseeing program execution, and ensuringalignment between customer expectations and operational capabilities.

Job Summary

Business Development &Customer Growth
  • Support the execution ofbusiness development strategies to achieve revenue growth and market expansionobjectives.
  • Develop and maintainstrong relationships with existing and prospective customers.
  • Identify and evaluatenew business opportunities within aerospace, defense, and adjacent markets.
  • Partner with theDirector of Business Development & Programs on strategic account planningand growth initiatives.
  • Support customer visits,business reviews, trade shows, and industry networking activities.
  • Coordinate and leadcross-functional proposal and quotation activities.
  • Ensure timely andcompetitive responses to customer RFQs and business opportunities.
  • Monitor market trends,customer requirements, and competitive activity.

Program ManagementLeadership
  • Provide leadership anddirection to the Program Management Manager and Program Management organization.
  • Establish programmanagement standards, processes, and performance expectations.
  • Review programperformance metrics including schedule adherence, margin performance, deliveryperformance, and customer satisfaction.
  • Ensure effectivecommunication and coordination across customer programs.
  • Escalate and resolveprogram risks and issues impacting customer commitments or business performance.
  • Drive accountability forprogram execution and customer deliverables.

Commercial & Operational Leadership
  • Serve as a key liaison between customers and internalfunctional teams.
  • Support contract review, change management, andcustomer negotiations.
  • Monitor bookings, backlog, revenue performance, andprogram profitability.
  • Collaborate with Operations and Supply Chain teams toalign customer demand with operational capacity.
  • Support forecasting, sales planning, and businessreporting activities.
  • Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhancecustomer experience and operational efficiency.

Leadership & TeamDevelopment
  • Coach, mentor, anddevelop the Program Management Manager and broader Program Management team.
  • Foster a culture ofaccountability, customer focus, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
  • Support talentdevelopment, succession planning, and organizational capability building.
  • Promote strongcross-functional relationships throughout the organization.


Required Experience and Education
  • Bachelor's degree inbusiness administration, Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, orrelated field required.
  • 8+ years of progressiveexperience in business development, program management, account management, orcommercial operations within manufacturing, aerospace, or defense environments.
  • Demonstrated experienceleading customer-facing programs and cross-functional teams.
  • Prior people leadershipexperience required.
  • Experience managingcomplex customer relationships and commercial activities.
  • Experience withaerospace, defense, or highly regulated manufacturing environments stronglypreferred.

Knowledge, Skills, andAbilities
  • Strong business acumenand commercial mindset.
  • Ability to balancecustomer needs with operational capabilities and business objectives.
  • Excellent leadership,coaching, and team development skills.
  • Strong project andprogram management capabilities.
  • Excellent negotiation,communication, and presentation skills.
  • Ability to influenceacross functions and organizational levels.
  • Strong analytical andproblem-solving abilities.
  • Proficiency with ERPsystems, CRM platforms, and Microsoft Office applications.


Key Performance Indicators
  • Revenue growth
  • Bookings and backloggrowth
  • Customer satisfactionand retention
  • On-time deliveryperformance
  • Program marginperformance
  • Quote turnaround and winrates
  • Program execution metrics
  • Team engagement anddevelopment
  • Strategic account growth

Travel Requirements: Approximately 20-30%travel, including customer visits, industry events, supplier meetings, andbusiness reviews.

23301 S. Wilmington Ave
Carson, California, 90745
United States

About Ducommun

Ducommun Incorporated is a publicly traded company that operates in the aerospace and defense industry. The company was founded in 1849 as a hardware store and has since evolved to become a leading provider of engineering and manufacturing services to the aerospace and defense industries. Ducommun is headquartered in Carson, California and has operations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company is committed to providing innovative solutions to its customers and has a strong focus on research and development. Ducommun is listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol DCO.
Learn more about Ducommun
Size
2,480 employees
Market Cap
$598.6 million
Industry
Net Income
$29.1 million
Founded
1849
5 Year Trend
+3.2%
Revenue
$628.9 million
NASDAQ

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