Director, Program Management Europe and Africa V-BAT Programs

Vertical Mag; Dallas, Northern (TX, KY); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

Shield AI is seeking a Program Director to lead a team of Program Managers delivering UAV Direct Commercial Sales programs in Europe and Africa. You will drive flawless execution, shape processes, and balance cost, schedule, and technical priorities across a growing international portfolio.

The role requires aerospace program leadership, cross-functional collaboration, and strong budgeting skills, with willingness to travel internationally to support global operations.

Qualifications

• Experience leading programs in Aerospace/Defense domains.
• Proven ability to grow and lead a program team.
• Strong grasp of project scheduling, budgeting and risk management.
• Willingness to travel internationally as needed.
• Focus on long-term business objectives and complex project delivery.
• Experience managing multi-project programs with multiple interdependencies.
• Proficiency with MS Project or Smartsheet and MS Office.

Responsibilities

• Deliver flawless program execution and leadership across a team of PMs.
• Codify processes to improve collaboration and performance.
• Balance customer priorities across cost, schedule, and technical scope.
• Lead DCS contracts for V-BAT systems and related programs.
• Identify process improvements and ensure timely reporting of metrics.
• Manage customer relationships and escalate program issues as needed.
• Hire and develop PMs to support international growth.
• Provide leadership in project planning, scheduling, and control.

Skills

Program management

Leadership

Aerospace & defense

Travel international

Budget & finance

Cross-functional collaboration

Schedule management

Communication

Education

MBA or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Project

Smartsheet

Microsoft Office

Job description

Job Description

Shield AI’s mission is to protect service members and civilians with intelligent systems. We develop autonomy software and advanced aircraft to help U.S. and allied forces accomplish their missions in challenging environments.We are seeking a Program Director to lead a team of Program Managers in the delivery and sustainment of transformative unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) system Direct Commercial Sales programs in the Europe and Africa markets.

What Youll Do

• Deliver proven, exceptional, and reliable performance in support of customer/end-user’s mission through flawless execution of Program Management and team leadership.
• Shape/codify processes and procedures to effectively collaborate, motivate, and manage relevant stakeholders required to successfully deliver programs early, under budget, and with exceptional technical performance.
• Constantly drive a healthy tension between all functions to ensure a holistic approach to delivering on Shield AI’s commitments.
• Astutely balance and rebalance shifting customer priories related to cost, schedule, and technical parameters of programs.
• Guide the initiation and sustainment of DCS contracts for Shield AI’s V-BAT systems.
• Lead the identification, development, and implementation of process improvements for DCS program management processes and tools
• Provide hands‑on management of projects/programs as needed while the program grows
• Oversee customer relationships and act as the key escalation point for programs, projects, and operational performance issues
• Drive efforts to attain budget, schedule, and scope requirements
• Drive the accurate and timely tracking and reporting of budget, resource, and project management standard metrics
• Complete critical path analyses including the evaluation of potential means to accelerate the pace or mitigate identified risks
• Identify potential bottlenecks or delays in programs and drive efforts to ensure projects stay on schedule
• Partner with leadership to guide prioritization of projects and utilization of resources
• Hire and supervise a team of project and program managers as needed to support Shield AI’s rapid growth in the international sector
• Develop highly effective Program Managers responsible for planning, scheduling and controlling the activities of complex projects spanning multiple organizations
• Provide the necessary leadership and support to DCS project and program managers to manage projects in line with project management processes and associated policies and procedures
• Oversee the distribution, prioritization, quality and volume of the DCS Program Management team’s work
• Establish and lead a consistent cadence of well‑organized, well‑facilitated, and effective meetings, including driving all preparation and follow up activities
• Support an environment where accountability and program execution excellence are core
• Foster and facilitate collaboration and shared accountability for outcomes with Leadership
• Report directly to Shield AI’s Senior Director of Program Management

Required Qualifications

• Program Management experience with Aerospace and Defense programs
• Proven experience building, growing, and leading a program team
• Deep expertise in project and program management
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally as needed
• Ability to focus on long-term business objectives
• Ability to run advanced projects/programs consisting of multiple interrelated projects, in a manner that is largely self-directed
• Experience with scheduling tools such as Microsoft Project or Smartsheet.
• Significant experience and excellent skills with Microsoft Office Suite
• Excellent skills in leadership, time management, organization, team management
• Excellent interpersonal skills and verbal and written ability
• Expert understanding of complex project financials
• A demonstrated record of working hard, being a trustworthy teammate, holding yourself and others to high standards, and being kind to others

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience managing dynamic aircraft demonstrations in an international environment
• Experience in field of unmanned aerial vehicles Training, logistics, operations, and maintenance experience
• Masters Degree in Business AdministrationLI-KK1LF

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield

Shield AI is a venture-backed defense-tech company with the mission of protecting service members and civilians with intelligent systems. Its products include Hivemind autonomy software, V-BAT and X-BAT aircraft, and Aechelon simulation and synthetic reality technologies. With offices and facilities across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific, Shield