Director of Business Operations 1

Northrop Grumman; Linthicum (MD); On-site; USD 176,000 - 306,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Life and disability insurance

Savings plan

Company paid holidays

Job summary

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Director of Business Operations to lead day-to-day operations, drive efficiency, and align people, processes, and systems with strategic goals.

The role requires extensive leadership experience, strong analytical and financial skills, and the ability to manage cross-functional programs while traveling up to 25% and maintaining a U.S. Secret clearance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field required.
• 10+ years of progressive experience in operations or program management.
• 3–5+ years in a leadership role managing teams and budgets.
• Proven track record in driving process improvement and efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations and drive operational excellence.
• Lead cross-functional teams, optimize workflows and align systems with goals.
• Manage budgets and resources, including forecasting and financial tracking.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives (Lean, Six Sigma).
• Partner with Finance and other departments to support planning cycles.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical thinking

Financial acumen

Communication

Strategic planning

Travel up to 25%

Clearance readiness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration/Operations Management/Engineering

MBA or related Master’s degree

Tools

Excel

Dashboards

ERP/CRM systems

Job description

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: Relocation assistance may be available

CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes

CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret

TRAVEL: Yes, 25% of the Time

Description

At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history.

The Director of Business Operations 1 is responsible for overseeing day to day business operations, driving operational excellence, and ensuring that people, processes, and systems are aligned to achieve organizational goals. This role leads cross functional teams, optimizes workflows, manages budgets and resources, and implements continuous improvement initiatives to improve quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.

This position can be based out of Roy, UT; Huntsville, AL; Northridge, CA; McLean, VA; Linthicum, MD; Plymouth, MN; or Palm Beach Gardens, FL.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership & Strategy

• Develop and execute operational strategies that support the organization’s short and long term objectives.
• Translate strategic goals into operational plans with clear priorities, metrics, and timelines.
• Monitor operational performance and recommend adjustments to meet or exceed targets.

Process Improvement & Efficiency

• Analyze existing processes, identify bottlenecks, and implement improvements to increase productivity and reduce cost.
• Establish and maintain standard operating procedures (SOPs) and best practices across departments.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives (e.g., Lean, Six Sigma) to drive operational excellence.

People Management & Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop managers and staff within the operations function.
• Set performance expectations, conduct regular reviews, and create development plans.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and high performance.

Financial & Resource Management

• Develop and manage operational budgets; monitor expenses against plan, to include NCTA and department budgets.
• Optimize allocation of resources (people, tools, vendors) to maximize ROI.
• Partner with Finance to forecast operational needs and support planning cycles.

Cross Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with departments such as Business management, HR, Engineering, and Supply Chain to secure required resources for Future Concepts programs.
• Serve as a key point of contact between executive leadership and operational teams.
• Lead and/or support cross functional projects and initiatives.

Data & Performance Management

• Define and track key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure operational effectiveness.
• Prepare and present regular operational reports and insights to senior leadership.

Basic Qualifications

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, or related field required.

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive experience in operations, program management, or related roles.
• 3–5+ years in a leadership position managing teams and budgets.
• Demonstrated success in driving process improvement and operational efficiency.

Skills & Competencies

• Strong leadership and people management skills.
• Excellent analytical, problem solving, and decision making abilities.
• Proven ability to design and optimize processes and systems.
• Strong financial acumen and experience with budgeting, forecasting and financial tracking of programs
• Effective communicator with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization.
• High level of organization, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities.
• Proficiency with productivity and data tools (e.g., Excel, dashboards, ERP/CRM systems).
• Ability to travel up to 25%.
• Current U.S. Secret clearance, with ability obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

Education

• Master’s degree (MBA or related).

Experience

• Experience in industry, e.g., manufacturing, professional services, technology, aerospace/defense.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a U.S. TS/SCI clearance.

Primary Level Salary Range: $176,100.00 - $305,900.00

The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.

Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.

The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.

Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.