Lead Operations Program Manager - Deliver & Develop Teams

BAE Systems, Inc.; Aiken (SC); On-site; USD 121,000 - 205,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Dental & vision insurance

401(k) plan

Life and disability insurance

Paid time off

Employee assistance program

Job summary

The Lead Operational Program Manager at BAE Systems, Inc. in Aiken, SC serves as the primary strategic and tactical liaison between Program Management and the Weld and Machine operations on the shop floor.

This role translates program requirements into executable manufacturing plans, guides a team of OPMs, and drives on-time delivery by removing roadblocks and optimizing flow to the assembly line. Responsibilities span program integration, pre-production planning, risk management, quality

Qualifications

• Industry Experience: Extensive proven experience in manufacturing operations, program management, or industrial engineering, specifically within a heavy fabrication or aerospace/defense environment.
• Leadership: Minimum of 3+ years of experience in a lead or supervisory role, with a documented track record of developing direct reports and managing team performance.
• Operational Translation: Expert ability to translate complex program milestones into daily shop floor tasks and clear team objectives.
• Communication: Exceptional ability to communicate effectively across all levels of the organization, from shop floor operators to executive leadership.
• Problem Solving: A "solution-first" approach to leadership; the ability to present a problem accompanied by at least two viable options for resolution.
• Travel: Willingness to travel to internal customer sites as required to maintain relationship health and program alignment.

Responsibilities

• People Leadership & Team Development
• Direct Supervision: Provide direct management for two OPMs, including conducting performance reviews, setting clear KPIs, and managing daily workloads.
• Mentorship & Coaching: Act as a mentor to junior OPMs, coaching them on P&S processes, stakeholder management, and the "solution-first" approach to problem-solving.
• Resource Allocation: Balance task distribution and portfolio assignments across the OPM team to ensure optimal coverage and prevent burnout.
• Talent Pipeline: Identify skill gaps within the team and develop training plans to increase the technical and leadership proficiency of direct reports.
• Strategic Alignment: Act as the primary point of contact between Program Managers and the Weld/Machine operations teams to ensure alignment on delivery schedules and technical requirements of your program as well as overseeing the OPM team deliverables and requirements
• Executive Analysis: Lead and participate in Tier calls and Value Stream reviews, providing high-level critical analysis, early warning of systemic risks, and actionable mitigation options for the portfolio.
• Relationship Management: Build and maintain strategic relationships with program counterparts at internal customer sites, ensuring a deep understanding of end-customer needs and delivery pressures.
• Bids & Proposals: Direct the operational input for bids and proposals for the Aiken, SC site. Supervise and validate all operational inputs provided by the OPM team to ensure that manufacturing capabilities, lead times, and costs are accurately represented and consistent across all program estimates.
• Make-or-Buy Strategy: Lead "Make vs. Buy" decision-making processes. Oversee the analysis performed by the OPM team, evaluating internal capacity and technical capability against external sourcing options to optimize cost and risk.
• Portfolio Risk Mitigation: Establish a standardized process for monitoring material and component flow to identify potential shortages across all programs before they impact the line.
• Shortage & Surplus Mitigation: Proactively monitor material and component flow by partnering with the Planning and Materials team, to identify potential shortages before they impact the line. Manage surplus inventory to optimize shop floor space and cost, by aligning the production schedule strictly with the assembly line's the rate of customer demand (Takt time). If a build-up of finished parts that aren't scheduled for assembly for several weeks, provide guidance to the shop & materials team to pivot to a different priority.
• Priority Management: When conflicts arise between programs, develop and propose prioritization plans based on vehicle delivery dates and critical path analysis.
• Delivery Ownership: Own the "last mile" of delivery, ensuring that products from Weld and Machine operations are delivered to the assembly line on time and in the correct sequence.
• Quality Governance: Participation in quality reviews and Root Cause Corrective Action (RCCA) processes, ensuring that mitigation plans are implemented and sustained.
• Continuous Improvement (CI): Identify operational inefficiencies within the weld and machine functions. Lead or participate with OPM team in Lean/Six Sigma initiatives to reduce waste, improve throughput, and enhance first-pass yield.

Skills

Leadership

Program management

Operational translation

Communication

Problem solving

Travel willingness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Business/Operations Management

Job description

The Lead Operational Program Manager at BAE Systems, Inc. in Aiken, SC serves as the primary strategic and tactical liaison between Program Management and the Weld and Machine operations on the shop floor.

This role translates program requirements into executable manufacturing plans, guides a team of OPMs, and drives on-time delivery by removing roadblocks and optimizing flow to the assembly line. Responsibilities span program integration, pre-production planning, risk management, quality