Director of Programs, Mission Systems Products

Sierra Nevada Corporation; Plano (TX); Hybrid; USD 160,000 - 210,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision plans

401(k) with 150% match up to 6%

Life insurance

3 weeks paid time off

Tuition reimbursement

Job summary

Sierra Nevada Corp is seeking a Director Programs to lead major aerospace and defense programs, ensuring cost, schedule, and performance objectives are achieved. You will manage customer relationships, coordinate with corporate teams, and drive risk management and reporting across a multi-location portfolio.

The role requires extensive program management experience, a Top Secret clearance, and a track record of delivering complex, mission-critical systems under tight deadlines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Management, Finance or related field.
• 10–12+ years of relevant experience; 7+ years demonstrated program management experience.
• Experience leading a portfolio with PMs and multi-location teams.
• Strong relationships with large and small suppliers; collaboration focus.
• Experience with proposals, business plans, and basis of estimates.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning, execution, and management of aerospace programs to meet cost/schedule objectives.
• Establish and maintain relationships with key customers and stakeholders as primary contact.
• Oversee development of planning, tracking, and reporting mechanisms for program delivery.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate risks; ensure issues are tracked and resolved.

Skills

Program management

Aerospace/defense

Strategic planning

Cost management

Schedule management

Stakeholder management

Leadership

Top Secret clearance

Proposal development

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Management, Finance or related field

Job description

The ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance), Aviation, and Security (IAS) business area is a leader in ISR and aviation, it is a leading prime manned and unmanned aircraft systems integrator for innovative, high-performance ISR and aviation systems. Its end-to-end Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities encompass design, integration, test, certification, ground/flight training and complete logistics support. IAS tailors solutions to customer cost, performance, and schedule requirements and designs to consistently exceed expectations – with an unrivaled record of on time and on (or under) budget deliveries. SNC has led thoughtful and disruptive change in the aerospace and defense industry for the past 60 years and now, we’re applying this tenacity and expertise to the U.S. Air Force’s (USAF) Survivable Airborne Operations Center (SAOC) mission. Join the SNC-led SAOC team and be a part of exciting and meaningful work to modernise and deliver the next-generation SAOC aircraft trusted by the President, Secretary of Defense and Chairs of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to ensure continued critical command, control and communication during national emergencies. If you’re passionate about building the airborne command post of the future, consider SNC for your next mission. Learn more about NC3 and SAOC here. Are you looking to advance your career and flex your leadership and program management skills in a fast-paced and rewarding organization? Join us! The Director Programs will lead strategic business operations for key programmatic aspects at SNC. This role requires a visionary leader responsible for overseeing customer relationships, cost management, schedule adherence, technical planning, and execution. The Director Programs will ensure program performance objectives are achieved through meticulous tracking and reporting, risk assessment, and resolution of issues. This position involves close coordination with corporate entities, fostering innovation, and deploying complex solutions in a mission-critical environment. The incumbent will be responsible for providing program status updates, reviewing proposals, and negotiating with stakeholders to ensure that projects meet financial and timeline constraints.

Responsibilities

• Lead strategic planning, execution, and management of aerospace and defense programs to ensure achievement of customer satisfaction, cost, and schedule objectives.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with key customers and stakeholders, acting as the main point of contact for program-related inquiries.
• Oversee and guide the development of technical planning, tracking, and reporting mechanisms to ensure successful program delivery.
• Identify, assess, and mitigate program risks while ensuring issues are tracked and resolved efficiently.
• Provide leadership, guidance, and oversight in all phases of resource planning and allocation, in coordination with other corporate entities.
• Lead and mentor a high-performing team to foster innovation, develop new solutions, and enhance overall program performance.
• Monitor and control program budgets, expenditures, and resource allocation to optimize financial performance.
• Ensure compliance with industry regulations and company policies.
• Present regular status updates, reports, and proposals to senior management and stakeholders.
• Negotiate contracts, agreements, and terms with suppliers, subcontractors, and customers to ensure favorable outcomes for the organization.

Qualifications

• You Must Have: Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Management, Finance or a related field
• Relevant experience may substitute for required education
• Typical 10-12+ years of relevant experience; 7+ years demonstrated program management experience
• Thorough knowledge and understanding of program management, aerospace and/or engineering programs in the context of mission system development and aircraft modification.
• Prior experience leading a portfolio with a team of Program Managers and other critical functions residing at multiple locations; ability to recruit employees; assign, direct, and evaluate their work; and oversee career development, succession planning, performance management coaching, mentoring, as well as promoting self-start initiatives and accountability
• Highly experienced in developing and maintaining relationships with large-company and small business suppliers that promote collaboration, multi-company teamwork aligned to a common objective, and delivering high quality, on-plan results.
• Responsible for high-level relationship management internally (executive leadership, peers, support functions, and subordinates) and external customers; Interact internally with leaders and customers on business matters and partners with functional leadership towards success and continuous improvement
• Experience directing the preparation of proposals, business plans, specifications, and approves basis of estimates and rough order of magnitudes for potential pursuits and ensuring all resources such as engineering, manpower, production and facilities are available to support the program
• Demonstrated working knowledge of managing the cost, schedule and technical performance requirements of multiple programs through an EMD lifecycle
• Proven track-record developing, communicating and executing to meet financial forecasts
• Extensive experience with the development of tactical and strategic business growth strategy
• Responsible for customer engagement, and the overall management of the customer relationship to satisfy contractual requirements and identify new business opportunities
• Responsible for high-level relationship management internally (executive leadership, peers, support functions, and subordinates) and external customers; Interact internally with leaders and customers on business matters and partners with functional leadership towards success and continuous improvement
• Responsible for customer satisfaction, maintaining customer communication, and the overall management of the customer relationship to determine needs, requirements and new business opportunities
• Ability to manage complex situations, delegate authority, lead and inspire your team, drive innovative thinking, instill collaboration, drive for success, challenge status quo and demonstrate ability to adapt to dynamic situations
• Proven experience and skills in team building, time management, conflict resolution, communication, briefing, presentation, strategic thinking, marketing, and literacy in the program management disciplines
• Familiarity with managing projects requiring Earned Value Management
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to clearly express technical concepts in verbal and written forms; ability to tailor conversations to adapt to technical vs. non-technical audiences
• Proven ability to solve highly complex problems with significant business impact
• Shows strong decision-making skills by clearly stating the BLUF (bottom line up front), highlighting what matters most, simplifying complex information, & making timely, well-reasoned decisions that drive the biggest impact (80/20).
• Current/Active Top Secret clearance with the ability to obtain/maintain higher levels.

We Prefer

• Previous ownership of P&L responsibilities
• Previous management experience that includes understanding in Financial Management, Business Operations, Strategic Planning, Contracts, Risk Management, and Proposal Development
• Significant experience successfully managing suppliers of complex components and systems
• Experience with Nuclear Command, Control, and Communications (NC3) Mission Systems hardware and/or software development and integration
• Experience with FAA and Military Certification Projects
• Ability to motivate others with a shared sense of vision or purpose.
• Ability to quickly grasp technical concepts and understand complex technical and program interdependencies

Essential Functions

• Ability to travel up to 25% of the time.
• Work predominantly in an office environment, with flexibility for hybrid work arrangements as needed.
• Prolonged periods sitting at a desk and working on a computer.
• Ability to lift up to 20 lbs occasionally for handling program materials or equipment.
• Strong hand/finger dexterity for computer work.
• Occasional exposure to manufacturing environments, requiring adherence to safety protocols.
• Effective communication and presentation skills for regular interactions with team members, customers, and senior management.

This posting will be open for application for a minimum of 5 days and may be extended based on business needs.

SNC offers annual incentive pay based upon performance that is commensurate with the level of the position.

SNC offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more.

Benefits

• medical
• dental
• and vision plans
• 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%
• life insurance
• 3 weeks paid time off
• tuition reimbursement
• and more

IMPORTANT NOTICE

This position requires current/active Top Secret U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. Citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations, and illegal drug use. Learn more about the background check process for Security Clearances.

SNC is a global leader in aerospace and national security committed to moving the American Dream forward. We’re known and respected for our mission and execution focus, agility, and disruptive and rapid innovation. We provide leading edge technologies and transformative solutions that support our nation’s most critical security needs. If you are mission-focused, thrive in collaborative environments, and want to make our country stronger with state-of-the-art technologies that safeguard freedom, join our team! SNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an environment free of discrimination. Employment decisions are made based on merit without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law. SNC is a trusted global leader in aerospace and national security. Our innovative solutions enable connected protection through command, control and communications systems, as well as ISR, cyber, electromagnetic spectrum management, and other high capabilities for systems across all domains – sea, land, air, space and cyber. As a longstanding leader in defense technology, SNC is the optimum intersection of commercial, defense and non-traditional contractors. We are one of the only privately owned mid-tier A&D contractors and we pride ourselves on our ability to invest early and often to ensure mission success on or ahead of schedule. It’s part of our mission to always stay one step ahead; working on solutions today to solve the problems of tomorrow. Founded in 1963, SNC is owned by Chairwoman Eren Ozmen and CEO Fatih Ozmen.

SNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an environment free of discrimination. Employment decisions are made based on merit without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.