Director, Programs (Tampa, FL)

AEVEX Corp.; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 180,000 - 260,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) retirement plan

Medical, Dental, Vision insurance

Professional development funds

Employee Assistance Plan

Job summary

AEVEX Corp. seeks a Director of Programs for Tactical Systems to lead a multidisciplinary team across a portfolio of DoD development and production programs.

You will drive on-time, on-budget execution while aligning with corporate goals and supporting business development efforts for strategic captures. The role emphasizes mentorship, training, and governance of the company’s QMS and government standards, with a focus on growth and customer alignment.

Qualifications

• 10-15 years program management experience including 10+ years managing a team.
• Experience with DoD contracts and acquisition programs.
• Ability to mentor and develop staff and manage a portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Lead, mentor, and manage a professional program management team and support personnel across all contracts.
• Ensure training, direction, and qualifications to succeed for program managers and staff.
• Oversee financial performance, staffing, on-time delivery, and customer satisfaction KPIs.

Skills

Team leadership

Mentorship

Program management

DoD programs

Financial planning & analysis

Communication skills

Strategic leadership

Education

Bachelor’s degree in related field

Tools

Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Project)

Job description

The Director of Programs for Tactical Systems is responsible for profit and loss across a portfolio of technical development and/or production programs. This role provides strategic leadership to a multidisciplined team, ensuring on-time and on-budget contract execution while aligning portfolio objectives with corporate goals. The Director fosters team compliance with AEVEX and industry standards through mentorship, training, and team building. Exceptional communication skills are essential to promote alignment with organizational vision, clarify roles and responsibilities, and set clear expectations. Additionally, the Director plays a key role in driving portfolio growth by actively collaborating with the business development team in strategic captures to sustain and expand the orders pipeline.

Essential Functions

• Lead, mentor, and manage a professional program management team and support personnel across all contracts.
• Ensure program managers and support staff have the training, direction, and qualifications to succeed both personally and professionally.
• Responsible for oversight and successful execution of all programs to ensure financial performance, staffing, on-time delivery, and customer satisfaction KPI targets are met.
• Conduct monthly Program Management Reviews (PMR) for all programs within the portfolio and provide summary status to senior leadership.
• Develop and maintain expert knowledge of all contracts and their financial status
• Responsible for oversight, review, and analysis of Annual Operating Plans (AOP) and updated forecasts for each program under their direction.
• Participate in business development efforts including proposal/RFI writing/review, identifying opportunities, participating in the capture process, and pipeline management.
• Ensure compliance with the AEVEX Quality Management System (QMS) and applicable Government standards for all portfolio efforts.
• Forge strong relationships with both internal and external customers to build trust through transparency and open dialogue.
• Support the development of the AEVEX Internal Research and Design (IRaD) roadmap to drive on-contract and new growth.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Regular and reliable attendance on a full time basis [or in accordance with posted schedule].
• Responsible for exhibiting professional behavior with both internal and external business associates that reflects positively on the company and is consistent with the company’s policies and practices.
• Embodies AEVEX’s cultural values and aligns daily actions with department goals and company culture.

Security Clearance

• Ability to obtain/maintain a Top Secret/SCI DoD clearance, U.S. Citizenship required.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Strong background in DoD systems development with emphasis on manned/unmanned aircraft, manned/unmanned maritime vessels, or communication systems.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; both written and verbal.
• Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are essential.
• Detail oriented with strong planning, organizational, project management, and analytical skills.
• Demonstrates professionalism and integrity at all times.
• Proficient in project financial planning and analysis
• Proficient in project schedule planning and analysis
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suites (Excel, PowerPoint, Project, etc.)
• Excellent presentation skills
• Directs and provides expert knowledge in the strategic function of the department.
• Develops short and long-term people and organizational strategy in alignment with AEVEX goals and direction.
• Leads with impact & influence. Establishes credibility, effectively persuades and develops others, and achieves important objectives collaboratively.
• Identifies, recruits, and retains top-notch talent.
• Champions AEVEX’s culture and empowers employees to take responsibility for their jobs and goals.
• Sets performance standards and encourages employee engagement and results through delegation, continuous feedback, goal setting, and performance management.
• Maintains transparent communication. Appropriately communicates organization information through department meetings, one-on-one meetings, and appropriate email, and regular interpersonal communication.
• Ability to develop and mentor/coach others.
• Strong relationship building and negotiation skills.

Education / Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree in related field or equivalent training.

Experience

• 10-15 years program management experience including 10+ years managing a team
• Experience working with streamlined Acquisitions programs and clear understanding of how to tailor process to success ensure execution with discipline
• Experience with the capture process and contribution to proposal content
• Experience executing DoD contracts

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties the employee is: Physical Requirements Frequently required to sit, and to reach to use computers and other office equipment Occasionally experience a high level of noise, adverse weather or temperature conditions Frequently required repetitive movements of wrists, hands, and/or fingers Note: For the purpose of this summary, occasionally is used to represent up to 1/3 of the time given to the work day, frequently represents 1/3 to 2/3 of the time and constantly represents 2/3 or more of the time.

About AEVEX

AEVEX, headquartered in Solana Beach, California, supports the U.S. national security mission and partner nation needs around the world by providing full-spectrum aviation, remote sensing, and analysis solutions. The company’s capabilities include custom design and engineering; rapid prototyping; sensor integration and sustainment; aircraft modification and certification; flight test instrumentation and support; mission operations service; advanced intelligence data processing, exploitation, and dissemination solutions; and tailored hardware and software mission-system tools. AEVEX uses agile and customized approaches to rapidly define, develop, and deliver specialized solutions for airborne special mission needs for the U.S. Government, partner nations, and commercial businesses. AEVEX has major offices in California, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia.

AEVEX provides a full suite of comprehensive benefits, including a 401(k)-retirement plan, comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability and Life insurance group coverage with a portion of the premiums paid by the company, professional development funds, and an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) with counseling, legal help, child and elder care support, among other benefits for qualified employees.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

AEVEX is an Equal Opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, religious creed, color, sex (including pregnancy, breast feeding and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, military and veteran status, marital status, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, physical disability, mental disability, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws.