Associate Director, Program Management

Iridium; Reston (VA); Hybrid; USD 175,000 - 228,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Stock options

Annual bonus

Health, dental, vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

Job summary

Iridium is seeking an experienced Associate Director, Program Management to lead a Space Development Agency project. You will establish strategic plans, manage a multi-million dollar program, and build a high-performing PM team to deliver complex technical outcomes that meet customer needs and contractual goals.

You will coach and mentor the team, engage senior management, and drive cross-functional collaboration across engineering, contracts, and operations, while maintaining rigorous financial

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, or science or related field.
• 12+ years of USG development/operational program management experience.
• 5+ years managing complex technical projects, preferably DoD/IC satellite programs.
• Excellent communication and leadership abilities.
• Willingness to travel up to 25%.

Responsibilities

• Build and develop a high-performing program management team.
• Develop and execute the program’s technical and delivery strategy.
• Ensure strong financial and contractual performance.
• Lead proposals for future contracts and customer briefings.
• Provide thought leadership on program design, risks, and improvements.

Skills

Communication skills

Team leadership

Mentoring

Strategic thinking

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, or science

Project Management Accreditation (APMP/PMI)

Job description

Overview

Iridium is an award-winning satellite communications company operating the world's only truly global voice and data network, delivering reliable connectivity anywhere on Earth. For more than 20 years, Iridium has powered mission-critical communications for governments, businesses, aviation, maritime, and the rapidly expanding Internet of Things.

Now part of Iridium, Aireon is the world’s only space-based air traffic surveillance system, providing real-time visibility of aircraft over oceans, the poles, and remote regions. Together, Iridium and Aireon are helping build a safer, more connected, and more efficient future for global aviation.

Join our team and help shape how the world stays connected. We foster a collaborative, inclusive culture where employees are empowered to innovate, grow professionally, and make a meaningful impact.

Responsibilities

What We’re Looking For:

If you are an experienced program management leader who is intrigued by space and satellites and enjoys leading teams in a fast-paced, customer-focused environment, then you will be excited about the Associate Director, Program Management opening with Iridium on a Space Development Agency (SDA) project. In this role, you’ll work with senior management to establish strategic plans and objectives for a high-impact program with a multi-million dollar impact to the company while leading a team responsible for delivering complex technical program outcomes. Your main focus will be to develop and execute the program’s technical and delivery strategy, ensure strong financial and contractual performance, and build a highly effective program management team. You’ll thrive in this role if you are passionate about coaching and developing employees, building strong customer relationships, and leading cross-functional teams to deliver solutions that meet customer needs and expectations.

This position requires an active/current Top Secret/SCI U.S. Security Clearance with the ability to obtain CI Polygraph (A U.S. Security Clearance that has been active in the past 24 months is considered active.)

What You’ll Do:

• Foster and develop a highly effective program management team to execute the program’s technical vision, deliver high-quality results and complex solutions, and meet customer, contractual, schedule, and financial objectives

• Mentor and train your team by evaluating employees’ performance, recognizing areas for improvement, providing ongoing coaching and development, and delivering reliable solutions to problems that may impact the team’s effectiveness

• Work with senior management to develop and execute strategic plans and objectives for the program, providing thought leadership on program design, delivery, risks, and continuous improvement opportunities

• Manage the coordination and delivery of multiple complex assignments, ensuring work is aligned to end goals and completed within established timelines, budgets, and quality expectations

• Ensure projects meet financial performance targets established in project pipeline budgets and Estimates to Complete, and that funds are expended appropriately to meet project objectives and contract deliverables

• Demonstrate expertise in program management and the team’s core functions to effectively lead requirements and planning activities, including configuration management practices, and proactively identify and resolve significant risks and issues

• Lead proposal development and execution for future contracts and amendments, and provide clear, confident briefings to customers, executive leadership, and other key stakeholders

Qualifications

What You’ll Need to Succeed:

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, mathematics, or science or related field

• 12+ years of relevant experience in U.S. Government (USG) development and/or operational program/project management experience, preferably in a large, global organization

• 5+ years’ experience in management of complex technical projects, preferably on Department of Defense (DoD) and/or Intelligence Community (IC) satellite or satellite ground programs

• 5-7 years of classical engineering experience

• Experience leading Scaled Agile projects

• Previous management experiencerequired

• Excellent communication skills, with the ability to convey products, deliverables, analyses, and/or issues clearly and confidently, and confidently recognize and adapt to different communication techniques

• Capable of being a strong motivator and source of direction for your team and role modelling commitment to your team’s goals

• Have a people-oriented mentality and be able to buildvaluable relationships andwork collaboratively with cross-functional teams and executive leadership

• The ability to confidently present [insert specifics], convince others of your point of view, andtailor your communication style to a wide range of audiences

• Be a strategic thinker who continuously looks for new and enhanced ways of doing things

• Possess the creativity, resourcefulness, and decisiveness needed to manage risks and respond to critical situations

• Havea strong senseof urgency in driving projects to completion and be motivated to achieve outcomes and results

• Can manage multiple or complex projects while adhering to deadlines and budget limitations

Things ThatWould beGreatif You Brought to the Table:

• Project Management Accreditation (APMP, PMI or equivalent)

We’ll also need you to:

• Be able to travel up to 25%

• This position directly performs under, supports, or is exposed to a U.S. government contract. To comply with the requirements of that U.S. government contract, applicants for this position must be U.S. citizens

Work Environment:

This position primarily works in an office setting and is largely sedentary with the majority of the position working with a computer. The role typically requires the use of basic office equipment such as a phone, video, computer, keyboard, mouse, and printer.

We believe in-person connection drives innovation, strengthens mentorship, and builds culture, while flexibility enables employees to do their best work. Under Iridium’s Hybrid Work Policy, employees are expected to work at least four days per week (approximately 80%) in an Iridium office to support collaboration, relationship‑building, and professional growth.

Additional Information

This job description outlines the general nature and level of work for this role and is not a comprehensive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Employees may be assigned additional responsibilities as needed.

Base Pay Range: $175,000 - $228,000 USD

Actual compensation will be determined based on a variety of factors and this range represents an estimate of compensation at the time of posting. Base salary is only one part of our compensation package for this role.You may also be eligible for company stock and annual bonus. Employee benefits also include medical, dental, and vision insurance coverage; 401(k) retirement plan options; paid time off and paid holidays; paid parental leave; and other discounts and perks.

Iridium is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including individuals with disabilities and protected veterans.