Director, Program Management - Shipbuilding

Hanwha Defense USA, Inc.; Arlington, Northern (VA, KY); Hybrid; USD 155,000 - 205,000; Full time

Job summary

Hanwha Defense USA, Inc. in Arlington, VA, seeks a Director of Program Management – Shipbuilding to lead execution of shipbuilding programs and support new pursuits. Based at HDUSA HQ, you will interface with U.S.

Navy/Coast Guard customers and coordinate between program requirements and shipyard execution. You will own cost, schedule, technical performance, and quality on assigned programs while advancing program management processes and controls across the portfolio.

Qualifications

• Twelve+ years of shipbuilding/naval or defense program management experience.
• Five+ years in a program management or supervisory role.
• Direct interface with U.S. Navy/Coast Guard program offices; established relations within NAVSEA/PEOs/USCG offices.
• Knowledge of Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) and CPR/IPMR data interpretation.
• Knowledge of FAR/DFARS, shipbuilding contract types, and government proposal processes.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with MS Office; scheduling tools (MS Project, Primavera) preferred.

Responsibilities

• Leads and collaborates with shipyard program managers on cost, schedule, technical performance, and quality.
• Interfaces with U.S. Navy and Coast Guard counterparts; maintains regular communication on status, risks, and opportunities.
• Supports capture and proposal efforts with content, BOE inputs, staffing plans, and risk assessments.
• Documents milestones, budgets, and staffing needs; coordinates updates with internal teams.
• Serves as liaison to Hanwha affiliates for program initiatives and readiness reviews.
• Prepares status reports, dashboards, and decision-quality materials for leadership and customers.
• Executes and matures program management processes, EVMS, IMS, and risk management across programs.
• Maintains risk/opportunity registers and tracks mitigation actions to closure.
• Monitors subcontractor performance; coordinates with Supply Chain and Contracts on corrective actions.
• Supports EAC development, variance analysis, and forecasting with Finance.

Skills

Program management

Leadership

Communication

Analytical thinking

MS Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Engineering

Master's degree or PMP certification preferred

Tools

Microsoft Project

Primavera

Job description

Arlington, VA, US

Salary Range: $155,000.00 To $205,000.00 Annually

Director, Program Management – Shipbuilding

Position Overview

The Director, Program Management – Shipbuilding is responsible for the execution of assigned shipbuilding and shipbuilding-related programs and for supporting the capture and preparation of new program pursuits. Based at HDUSA headquarters, the Director serves as onsite program management interface with U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard customers and as the headquarters link between program requirements and execution at HDUSA shipyards and affiliates.

The Director is accountable for cost, schedule, technical performance, and quality on assigned programs, for the reporting and controls that make that performance visible to leadership and the customer, and for advancing program management processes and initiatives across the shipbuilding portfolio. This position supports, and reports to, the Senior Vice President, Program Management – Shipbuilding.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Leads, supports, and collaborates closely with the shipyard program managers program execution, including cost, schedule, technical performance, and quality. Ensures compliance against contract requirements and escalation of issues to HQ.
• Acts as a principal working-level customer interface with U.S. Navy (e.g. PAE Maritime, NAVSEA, SUPSHIP) and U.S. Coast Guard (Acquisition Directorate / CG-9 and associated program offices) counterparts. Builds and sustains customer relationships and maintains a regular communication cadence on program status, risks, issues, and opportunities.
• Supports capture and proposal efforts in accordance with the approved capture strategy, contributing program management volume content, basis of estimate inputs, staffing and milestone plans, and risk assessments. Participates in gate and color team reviews.
• Assesses and documents milestones, budgets, and matrix support necessary to pursue and execute approved programs. Coordinates these products and their updates with internal counterparts.
• Serves as the headquarters liaison to Hanwha Philly Shipyard and other Hanwha affiliates and sites, supporting program initiatives, readiness reviews, production planning, and issue resolution.
• Prepares program status reporting, dashboards, and decision-quality materials for HDUSA leadership, customer reviews, and affiliate engagements.
• Supports the implementation and maturation of program management processes, tools, and controls, including EVMS, integrated master schedules, risk and opportunity management, and program review cadence. Drives adoption across assigned programs.
• Maintains program risk and opportunity registers, leads periodic risk reviews, and tracks mitigation actions to closure.
• Monitors cost, schedule, and quality performance of subcontractors and suppliers on assigned programs, coordinating with Supply Chain and Contracts on corrective action.
• Supports financial performance of assigned programs, including estimate at completion (EAC) development and review, variance analysis, and coordination with Finance on forecasts and program reporting.
• Coordinates across Contracts, Finance, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Security to ensure program execution complies with contract requirements and HDUSA policy, including export control, security, and information handling requirements.
• Mentors program management and program control staff, and may supervise a small team as the organization matures.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications / Experience

• At least twelve (12) years of related experience in shipbuilding, naval or maritime programs, or defense program management
• Five (5) years in a program management or supervisory role required
• Demonstrated experience interfacing directly with U.S. Navy and/or U.S. Coast Guard program offices; established working relationships within NAVSEA, the PEOs, the USCG Acquisition Directorate, or the Washington, DC naval acquisition community
• Working knowledge of Earned Value Management Systems (EVMS) and the ability to interpret CPR/IPMR data and integrated master schedules to support management decision-making
• Working knowledge of FAR/DFARS, shipbuilding contract types, and government solicitation and proposal processes
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite or related software; experience with scheduling and program management tools (e.g., Microsoft Project, Primavera) preferred

Education

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering or other industry-related field required
• Master's degree or PMP certification preferred

Special Knowledge / Skills

• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Strong briefing skills, including the ability to develop and deliver clear, persuasive materials for senior government and industry audiences
• Extensive knowledge of the principles, procedures, and best practices of shipbuilding and defense program management
• Ability to operate effectively in a matrixed organization and with international affiliates
• Ability to travel domestically on a regular basis, including to shipyard and customer locations
• Active U.S. security clearance preferred; must be eligible to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance

Physical Demands / Work Environment

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear and use hands to finger, handle, and feel. The employee is required to reach with hands and arms and have adequate mobility to stand, walk, sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to fifty (50) pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. Ability to travel.

Hanwha Defense USA is committed to pay transparency and equitable compensation practices. The salary range listed for this position represents a good faith estimate of the base pay we reasonably expect to offer for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant skills/experience, education and certifications, market conditions, geographic location and internal pay equity. In addition to base salary, employees may be eligible for discretionary annual bonuses, benefits, and other forms of compensation as part of Hanwha Defense USA's total rewards package.

Hanwha Defense USA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.