Position Summary:
The Senior Program Manager (Sr. PM) is responsible for planning, monitoring, and managing programs from initiation through completion, overseeing key activities such as resourcing, staffing, progress reporting, and overall program performance. This highly visible leader serves as the primary point of contact for customers; manages all contractual aspects, oversees program changes and ensures customer satisfaction. This role leads integrated program teams, effectively facilitating communication and collaboration between internal functions, customers, and suppliers. This high-impact role offers an exciting opportunity with a focus on 2 critical areas that have high business impact and leadership visibility - (1) financial management of multiple programs with the goal of ensuring performance against committed financial targets and (2) schedule management of complex programs across multiple disciplines - design, engineering, manufacturing, test, logistics and delivery. This is an excellent opportunity for significant impact on our company's growth and strategic positioning in the defense sector. The ideal candidate will thrive in a fast-paced environment, demonstrate strong leadership skills with the ability to navigate complexities, and have a passion for delivering cutting-edge technology solutions to our aerospace and defense customers.
Position Responsibilities:
- Own product quality, cost, schedule, and performance on contracts.
- Lead multiple projects and teams simultaneously within common processes and procedures.
- Drive complex program planning, cost estimating, budgeting, financial tracking, resourcing, and monitoring of short term and long-term multiple- disciplinary teams and project objectives.
- Deliver projects on time by effectively guiding cross-matrixed teams through clear communication, empowerment, and expectation setting.
- Contribute to new business capture and proposal efforts. Proactively seek and identify new business opportunities and revenue streams, leveraging existing customer relationships and business strategies to identify potential areas for growth.
- Lead the development of new proposals, initiating launch strategies and overseeing negotiations to secure new opportunities.
- Ensure precise alignment between customer contracts and proposals, establishing cohesion critical for successful project execution.
- Effectively communicate and translate customer requirements across the organization, fostering clarity and alignment among all stakeholders.
- Establish comprehensive project plans, assigning accountability for major milestones, action items, and customer deliverables, ensuring clarity and accountability within the team.
- Manage project schedules: adeptly and proactively mitigate schedule-related risks, ensuring optimum customer satisfaction.
- Articulate project-level financial successes or deficiencies, initiating risk mitigation strategies, and implementing lessons learned for long-term profitability.
- Lead and recommend improvements in existing business processes, driving continuous enhancement and efficiency within the organization.
- Perform additional duties as assigned to drive the vision, fulfill the mission, and support the values of the organization.
Skills & Abilities:
- Proven track record in innovation demonstrated through successful new product/process development projects.
- Demonstrated understanding of the Estimate at Complete (EAC) process.
- Demonstrated knowledge of supply chain and material management; ensuring seamless coordination to meet production schedules and optimize efficiency.
- Experience with manufacturing operations, production workflows, quality standards, and driving efficiency improvements to meet delivery timelines and customer expectations.
- Demonstrated strong customer focus by integrating customer needs and feedback into project strategies, resulting in enhanced customer satisfaction.
- Applied comprehensive knowledge of business contracts, laws, and ethics in professional contexts, contributing to informed decision-making and ethical practices.
- Extensive experience in operational domains including scheduling, procurement, manufacturing, test engineering, and quality systems, evidenced by successful project implementations or roles undertaken.
- Led and executed significant corporate process improvement initiatives, driving enhanced efficiency and performance within the organization.
- Proficient in financial analysis, including interpreting income statements, balance sheets, and conducting return on investment analysis, applying financial insights to program management and decision-making.
- Actively engages in professional development through memberships and industry-relevant certifications, ensuring up-to-date knowledge in Program Management and Industry standards.
- Demonstrates strong influence-management, negotiation, and assertiveness skills, effectively navigating complex situations and negotiations.
- Strong communication, leadership, presentation, and interpersonal skills are required to enable an effective interface with other departments, all levels of management, professional and support staff, customers, potential customers, and government representatives.
- Superior ability to organize and manage multiple priorities, ensuring efficient task management and project execution.
- Commitment to company values and employee development, reflecting dedication to organizational culture and growth.
- Willingness and ability to travel as required for business needs.
- Must have working knowledge of DoD Acquisition Framework and associated design milestones.
- Must have working knowledge of Earned Value Management.
- Must be adept in Microsoft Office Suite including working knowledge of MS Project.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree (BS/BA) in Engineering, Sciences, Business or a related field, and extensive program management experience. PMP certification and/or advanced degree (MS/MBA) preferred.
- Extensive knowledge and hands-on experience in utilizing program management tools, methodologies, and industry standards, showcasing over 10 years of experience in successfully bringing new products through development and production phases.
- Demonstrated understanding and application of earned value management (EVM) practices, evidenced by effective reporting and management of multiple DoD programs.
- Technical ability to read engineering drawings and top-level design work products.
- Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, supply chain execution, production planning, and program performance management.
- Experience managing schedules, risks, budgets, and customer deliverables in fast-paced, highly regulated environments.
- Proven people management skills, leadership abilities, and conflict resolution expertise, with a strong track record of leading high-performance teams and resolving conflicts effectively.
- Proficiency as a talented proposal writer and mentor in proposal reviewing, demonstrating success in leading captures.
- Ability to obtain and maintain a US Government security clearance, as required.
Work Environment:
- Office Environment: Requires physical capability to work in an office environment including sit/stand up to 9 hours a day and use basic office tools such as a computer, copier/printer, etc. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Hours: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM Monday – Thursday; Friday 7:30 AM – 4:00 PM with additional hours as needed to meet demand. Occasional off-shift hours may also be required to provide support to operations.
- 9/80 work schedule.
- Occasional travel may be required.
- Office located in Lititz, PA, with occasional visits to Lancaster facility.