1796 - Senior Program Manager/Director, Navy Programs & Growth

Sigma Defense Systems; Naval Air Station Patuxent River (MD); On-site; USD 170,000 - 220,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Dental and Vision Insurance

Medical Insurance incl. HSA/FSA/DFSA

Life and AD&D coverage

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

401(k) Matching

PTO 160 hours

12 Holidays

Educational Assistance

Highly Competitive Salary

Job summary

Sigma Defense Systems seeks a Senior Program Manager / Director, Navy Programs & Growth to lead on-site program management and growth initiatives at Patuxent River NAS, MD. You will serve as the senior on-site representative interfacing with government customers and industry partners, ensuring program execution and capture success.

The role requires extensive Navy/DoD program management experience, strong leadership, and the ability to drive opportunities across NAVAIR and related centers.

Qualifications

• Retired military O-6+, former GS-15+, or senior DoW contractor with Director-level or equivalent leadership experience.
• Extensive experience working within or directly supporting the NAVAIR engineering and acquisition organizations at Patuxent River.
• Strong understanding of Navy acquisition processes, systems engineering, program management, and defense contracting.
• Established professional relationships within the Patuxent River Government and industry communities.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex DoW programs, technical organizations, or major contracts.
• Proven ability to identify and develop business opportunities, cultivate senior customer relationships, and contribute to capture and growth strategies.
• Excellent executive-level communication, leadership, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.
• Prior senior leadership experience within NAVAIR, NAWCAD, Naval Surface Warfare Centers, PEOs, or other major Navy acquisition organizations.
• Existing relationships and familiarity with Government organizations and acquisition activities at Dahlgren and Fort Belvoir.
• Experience serving as a Program Manager, Program Executive, Engineering Director, Department Head, or equivalent senior leadership position.
• Demonstrated success in business development, capture management, and winning major DoW contracts.
• Experience transitioning new contract awards into successful program execution, including staffing, subcontractor integration, and financial management.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain strong relationships across NAVAIR, Naval Air Warfare Centers, Program Executive Offices (PEOs), and associated engineering and acquisition organizations.
• Identify, qualify, and shape new business opportunities across Patuxent River, Dahlgren, and Fort Belvoir, aligning company capabilities with emerging customer requirements and priorities.
• Support capture strategies, customer engagements, teaming arrangements, proposal development, and business growth initiatives.
• Provide senior-level program management oversight, ensuring alignment with contractual requirements, technical objectives, schedules, budgets, and customer expectations.
• Coordinate with company leadership, engineering teams, business development personnel, and external stakeholders to support successful program execution and growth.
• Identify emerging requirements, acquisition opportunities, program risks, and strategic partnerships to strengthen the company's presence in the region.
• Upon major contract award, assume primary responsibility for program execution, including personnel leadership, financial performance, subcontractor management, customer engagement, and contract deliverables.

Skills

Program leadership

NAVAIR experience

Business development

Capture management

Executive communication

Stakeholder management

Senior leadership

Relationship building

Education

Master's in engineering/acquisition/PM

Tools

Microsoft Project

Primavera P6

Excel

PowerPoint

Word

Power BI

SharePoint

Teams

Navy ERP

PIEE/WAWF

Jira

Confluence

Adobe Acrobat Pro

Job description

Sigma Defense is seeking a Senior Program Manager / Director, Navy Programs & Growth to join our team at Patuxent River NAS in MD. The hired candidate will support local program management and business development activities, serving as a senior on-site representative and primary interface with Government customers and industry partners.

This is a contingent position that is pending award of contract. This means that the position is subject to the successful awarding of a contract and will be confirmed once the contract is finalized. The candidate selected for this role will be offered the position on the condition that the contract is awarded to our organization.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled: Sigma Defense Systems is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability.

Requirements

• Retired military O-6+, former GS-15+, or senior DoW contractor with Director-level or equivalent leadership experience.
• Extensive experience working within or directly supporting the NAVAIR engineering and acquisition organizations at Patuxent River.
• Strong understanding of Navy acquisition processes, systems engineering, program management, and defense contracting.
• Established professional relationships within the Patuxent River Government and industry communities.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex DoW programs, technical organizations, or major contracts.
• Proven ability to identify and develop business opportunities, cultivate senior customer relationships, and contribute to capture and growth strategies.
• Excellent executive-level communication, leadership, organizational, and stakeholder management skills.
• Prior senior leadership experience within NAVAIR, NAWCAD, Naval Surface Warfare Centers, PEOs, or other major Navy acquisition organizations.
• Existing relationships and familiarity with Government organizations and acquisition activities at Dahlgren and Fort Belvoir.
• Experience serving as a Program Manager, Program Executive, Engineering Director, Department Head, or equivalent senior leadership position.
• Demonstrated success in business development, capture management, and winning major DoW contracts.
• Experience transitioning new contract awards into successful program execution, including staffing, subcontractor integration, and financial management.
• Must be a U.S. citizen.

Mandatory Certifications:

• PMP certification, DAWIA acquisition certification, or equivalent program management credentials.

Computer Programs/Software

• Microsoft Project
• Primavera P6
• Excel
• PowerPoint
• Word
• Power BI
• SharePoint
• Teams
• Navy ERP
• PIEE / WAWF
• Jira
• Confluence
• Adobe Acrobat Pro

Personnel Clearance Level

• Candidate must possess or have the ability to obtain an active Secret security clearance or higher.
• A clearance will not be sponsored.

Education Requirements

• Master's degree from an accredited college or university in an engineering, acquisition, program management, or related field of study.

Essential Job Duties (not all-inclusive)

• Develop and maintain strong relationships across NAVAIR, Naval Air Warfare Centers, Program Executive Offices (PEOs), and associated engineering and acquisition organizations.
• Identify, qualify, and shape new business opportunities across Patuxent River, Dahlgren, and Fort Belvoir, aligning company capabilities with emerging customer requirements and priorities.
• Support capture strategies, customer engagements, teaming arrangements, proposal development, and business growth initiatives.
• Provide senior-level program management oversight, ensuring alignment with contractual requirements, technical objectives, schedules, budgets, and customer expectations.
• Coordinate with company leadership, engineering teams, business development personnel, and external stakeholders to support successful program execution and growth.
• Identify emerging requirements, acquisition opportunities, program risks, and strategic partnerships to strengthen the company's presence in the region.
• Upon major contract award, assume primary responsibility for program execution, including personnel leadership, financial performance, subcontractor management, customer engagement, and contract deliverables.

Salary Range: $170,000 - $220,000 annually.

Benefits

• Dental and Vision Insurance
• Medical Insurance to Include HSA, FSA, and DFSA Plans
• Life and AD&D coverage
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• 401(k) Plan with Company Matching Contributions
• 160 Hours of Paid Time Off (PTO)
• 12 (Floating) Holidays
• Educational Assistance
• Highly Competitive Salary