Director, Operations Planning & Performance

Virgin Galactic; Truth or Consequences (NM); On-site; USD 127,000 - 203,000; Full time

Job summary

Virgin Galactic is seeking a Director of Operational Planning & Performance (OPP) to lead end-to-end mission planning, performance oversight, airspace coordination, and cross-functional governance. You will manage external partnerships, align teams, and ensure mission readiness while driving timely execution and accountability across all programs.

You will chair readiness reviews, develop planning tools, and provide escalation paths to maintain schedule integrity and operational resilience in a

Qualifications

• 10+ years in mission operations, integrated operations planning, airspace management, airline/aviation operations, aerospace operations, or space operations.
• Bachelor's degree in management (esp. operations), engineering, finance, or other quantitative discipline or equivalent experience.
• Demonstrated success leading cross-functional operational planning or performance organizations.
• Strong analytical mindset with experience in operational modeling, forecasting, and performance metrics.
• Excellent relationship-management skills with external agencies.
• Strong technical understanding of U.S. national airspace structure, restricted airspace operations, or range operations.
• Experience scaling operations in fast-growth or first-of-kind environments.
• Demonstrate willingness to adjust thinking and behavior.
• Ability to communicate in a manner that is timely, respectful, and open to other ideas

Responsibilities

• Lead long-range mission planning, including sequencing, capacity modeling, infrastructure usage, and operational constraints.
• Own the integrated operational plan that aligns Spaceline Mission, Technical Operations, Safety, Astronaut Operations, and related mission-support teams.
• Chair or support Mission Readiness Reviews and Post Mission Reviews driving cross-functional corrective actions and improvement initiatives.
• Develop planning tools, forecasts, and models that support data-driven decision-making and scenario planning.
• Serve as the primary operational interface with NMSA for runway and airspace access, scheduling, and coordination.
• Serve as the operational lead for IROPs, ensuring safe, timely responses to disruptions such as airspace changes, vehicle readiness delays, infrastructure constraints, weather impacts, or unplanned maintenance.
• Coordinate real-time decision-making across Spaceline Mission, Technical Operations, Safety, Astronaut Operations, and NMSA to restore mission schedule integrity.
• Maintain IROP playbooks, escalation pathways, and communication protocols that provide clarity during operational disruptions.
• Lead structured recovery planning, scenario modeling, and post-event analysis to improve operational resilience and reduce recurrence.
• Provide leadership with clear situational awareness during IROPs, outlining options, trade-offs, and recommended recovery actions.
• Establish and maintain mission performance dashboards, including schedule reliability, throughput, readiness metrics, and post-mission insights.
• Lead a team of Program Managers responsible for driving operational efficiency projects, performance metrics, cross-functional initiatives, and long-range planning support.
• Coach,train, and transferexpertiseto your team todriveprojects to completion.
• Foster a culture of open/honest communication, transparency, and accountability.
• Demonstrate management and development skills, ability to manage large projects, prioritize effectively, and communicate with stakeholders

Skills

Mission operations

Airspace management

Cross-functional leadership

Operational planning

Performance metrics

Stakeholder management

Communication

Data analysis

Team leadership

Adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree in management/engineering/finance/quantitative discipline

Job description

The Director of OPP leads the end‑to‑end planning, performance oversight, airspace coordination, team leadership, and operational governance that enable safe and consistent mission execution. This leader manages key external partnerships, and ensures that all airspace, infrastructure, and operational constraints are fully integrated into mission planning. You will set the operational rhythm for our spaceline, align cross‑functional teams, oversee mission performance data, and ensure the organization is mission‑ready at all times. Maintain focus on timeliness and execution of tasks and deliverables every day. Support the company strategy by holding ourselves and one another accountable for getting the work done.

Responsibilities

• Lead long‑range mission planning, including sequencing, capacity modeling, infrastructure usage, and operational constraints.

• Own the integrated operational plan that aligns Spaceline Mission, Technical Operations, Safety, Astronaut Operations, and related mission‑support teams.

• Chair or support Mission Readiness Reviews and Post Mission Reviews driving cross‑functional corrective actions and improvement initiatives.

• Develop planning tools, forecasts, and models that support data‑driven decision‑making and scenario planning.

• Serve as the primary operational interface with NMSA for runway and airspace access, scheduling, and coordination.

• Serve as the operational lead for IROPs, ensuring safe, timely responses to disruptions such as airspace changes, vehicle readiness delays, infrastructure constraints, weather impacts, or unplanned maintenance.

• Coordinate real‑time decision‑making across Spaceline Mission, Technical Operations, Safety, Astronaut Operations, and NMSA to restore mission schedule integrity.

• Maintain IROP playbooks, escalation pathways, and communication protocols that provide clarity during operational disruptions.

• Lead structured recovery planning, scenario modeling, and post‑event analysis to improve operational resilience and reduce recurrence.

• Provide leadership with clear situational awareness during IROPs, outlining options, trade‑offs, and recommended recovery actions.

• Establish and maintain mission performance dashboards, including schedule reliability, throughput, readiness metrics, and post‑mission insights.

• Lead a team of Program Managers responsible for driving operational efficiency projects, performance metrics, cross‑functional initiatives, and long‑range planning support.

• Coach,train, and transferexpertiseto your team todriveprojects to completion.

• Foster a culture of open/honest communication, transparency, and accountability.

• Demonstrate management and development skills, ability to manage large projects, prioritize effectively, and communicate with stakeholders

Required Skills and Experience

• 10+ years in mission operations, integrated operations planning, airspace management, airline/aviation operations, aerospace operations, or space operations.

• Bachelor's degree in management (esp. operations), engineering, finance, or other quantitative discipline or equivalent experience.

• Demonstrated success leading cross‑functional operational planning or performance organizations.

• Strong analytical mindset with experience in operational modeling, forecasting, and performance metrics.

• Excellent relationship‑management skills with external agencies.

• Strong technical understanding of U.S. national airspace structure, restricted airspace operations, or range operations.

• Experience scaling operations in fast‑growth or first‑of‑kind environments.

• Demonstrate willingness to adjust thinking and behavior.

• Ability to communicate in a manner that is timely, respectful, and open to other ideas

#LI-ID1

The annual U.S. base salary range for this full‑time position is $126,900.00–$203,075.00. The base pay actually offered will vary depending on job‑related knowledge, skills, location, and experience and take into account internal equity. Other forms of pay (e.g., bonus or long term incentive) may be provided as part of the compensation package, in addition to a full range of medical, financial, and other benefits, dependent on the position offered. For more information regarding Virgin Galactic benefits, please visit https://vgcareers.virgingalactic.com/global/en/benefits

Who We Are

Virgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers with its advanced air and space vehicles. We are making the dream of space travel a reality, delivering spaceflight at an unprecedented frequency, with the development of next generation space vehicles.

Export Requirements

To conform to U.S. Government export regulations, applicant must be a U.S. Person (either a U.S. citizen, a lawful permanent resident or a protected individual as defined 8 U.S.C. 1324b(a)(3) or be able to obtain the required authorization from either the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Department of Commerce. The applicant must also not be included in the list of Specifically Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons maintained by the Office of Foreign Assets Control. See list here .

EEO Statement

Virgin Galactic is an Equal Opportunity Employer; employment with Virgin Galactic is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, gender identity, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.

Drug Free Workplace

Virgin Galactic is committed to a Drug Free Workplace. All applicants post offer and active teammates are subject to testing for marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, PCP, and alcohol when criteria is met as outlined in our policies. This can include pre‑employment, random, reasonable suspicion, and accident related drug and alcohol testing.

Phoenix Employment Requirements

For individuals seeking employment at our Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport facility, employment is contingent upon you obtaining and maintaining a TSA authorized security badge. This includes initial and annual mandatory background checks that are governed by TSA, and conducted by the Phoenix Mesa Gateway Airport badging office.