Operations Manager - Navy Surface Warfare Center

The Leading Niche; Port Hueneme (CA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

The Leading Niche is seeking an experienced Operations Manager (Manager, Operations IV) to provide leadership for NSWC PHD programs under the FPMS contract at Port Hueneme. The role emphasizes operational leadership, program management support, and process improvement across government departments and contractor personnel.

The ideal candidate will have DoD program experience, strong project management skills, and a proven ability to coordinate across multiple departments and stakeholders to

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in a related field is required.
• 8–10 years of progressive operations/program or project management experience.
• Experience coordinating across departments and stakeholders.
• Strong leadership and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide operational management support for NSWC PHD programs and initiatives.
• Coordinate day-to-day operational activities to ensure efficient execution of requirements.
• Develop and implement operational plans, schedules, milestones, and performance metrics.
• Monitor program execution for alignment with timelines and priorities.
• Coordinate resources and activities across multidisciplinary teams and Government departments.
• Identify challenges and suggest corrective actions to improve performance.
• Support development of short- and long-term operational strategies.
• Assist lifecycle management of program requirements from planning to closeout.
• Maintain continuity and adjust to changing mission priorities.

Skills

Leadership

Project management

Analytical

Communication

Problem solving

Stakeholder management

Data analysis

Power BI

Jira

Confluence

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration / Operations Management / Project Management / Engineering Management

Tools

Power BI

Jira

Confluence

Microsoft Project

Job description

Description

We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager (Manager, Operations IV) to provide operational leadership, program management support, and process improvement expertise for the Naval Surface Warfare Center, Port Hueneme Division (NSWC PHD), under the Financial and Program Management Support Services (FPMS) contract.

The Operations Manager will be responsible for coordinating and overseeing operational activities, supporting program execution, monitoring organizational performance, managing resources, and ensuring effective communication across Government departments, stakeholders, and contractor personnel.

The selected candidate will support a wide range of operational and program management initiatives, including project planning, schedule management, performance reporting, stakeholder coordination, process improvement, and organizational efficiency.

This position requires a highly organized and analytical professional with demonstrated experience managing complex operations, supporting Department of Defense (DoD) programs, and implementing strategies that improve program performance and mission effectiveness.

The ideal candidate will possess strong leadership, project management, business operations, and communication skills, with experience supporting Navy or other federal Government organizations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Operations and Program Management

• Provide operational management support for programs and initiatives across NSWC PHD departments and supported organizations.
• Coordinate day-to-day operational activities to ensure efficient execution of assigned program requirements.
• Support the development and implementation of operational plans, project schedules, milestones, and performance objectives.
• Monitor program execution to ensure activities remain aligned with established requirements, timelines, and organizational priorities.
• Coordinate personnel, resources, and project activities across multidisciplinary teams and Government departments.
• Identify operational challenges, resource constraints, and performance deficiencies, recommending appropriate corrective actions.
• Support development of short- and long-term operational strategies to improve organizational effectiveness.
• Assist in managing program requirements throughout the project lifecycle, including planning, execution, monitoring, and closeout.
• Maintain operational continuity and coordinate adjustments to changing mission requirements and priorities.

Project Planning and Execution

• Support project planning, scheduling, execution, and performance monitoring activities.
• Develop and maintain project schedules, milestone trackers, action-item logs, and status reports.
• Coordinate project resources and activities to ensure successful completion of assigned tasks.
• Monitor project performance against established schedules, deliverables, and objectives.
• Identify project risks, dependencies, and potential delays, recommending mitigation strategies.
• Coordinate meetings between project teams, Government stakeholders, and other relevant organizations.
• Support application of established project management methodologies, including Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, and Critical Path techniques, as appropriate.
• Facilitate project reviews, status meetings, and planning sessions to maintain stakeholder alignment.
• Support documentation of project outcomes, lessons learned, and opportunities for improvement.

Operational Performance and Process Improvement

• Analyze existing operational processes, procedures, and workflows to identify opportunities for increased efficiency.
• Develop recommendations to streamline operations, reduce inefficiencies, and improve organizational performance.
• Support business transformation, continuous process improvement, and quality management initiatives.
• Evaluate performance metrics, operational data, and program outcomes to assess organizational effectiveness.
• Identify trends, operational risks, and areas requiring management attention.
• Develop and implement process improvement initiatives in coordination with Government stakeholders.
• Support preparation and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), desk guides, instructions, and operational documentation.
• Recommend improvements to resource allocation, workflow management, and operational coordination.
• Monitor the implementation and effectiveness of approved process improvements.

Data Analysis and Performance Reporting

• Collect, analyze, and interpret operational and program performance data from Government-approved databases, spreadsheets, and reporting systems.
• Develop metrics, dashboards, reports, and performance indicators to support leadership decision-making.
• Identify operational trends, performance gaps, and opportunities for improvement through data analysis.
• Prepare executive summaries, management presentations, charts, and other visual reporting materials.
• Support development and maintenance of interactive dashboards using Power BI or comparable tools.
• Track project milestones, action items, resource utilization, and operational performance.
• Provide data-driven recommendations to improve efficiency, accountability, and program outcomes.
• Ensure operational reporting is accurate, timely, and aligned with Government requirements.

Stakeholder and Customer Support

• Coordinate operational activities and communications among Government departments, program offices, and contractor personnel.
• Establish effective working relationships with Government customers, technical personnel, and organizational leadership.
• Support meetings, briefings, and coordination activities involving internal and external stakeholders.
• Collect and evaluate stakeholder feedback to identify operational challenges and improvement opportunities.
• Facilitate communication and information sharing among multiple organizations and functional teams.
• Respond to operational inquiries and coordinate resolution of customer concerns.
• Support preparation of management briefings, program status reports, and operational recommendations.
• Maintain accurate records of stakeholder communications, action items, and assigned responsibilities.

Administrative and Business Operations Support

• Coordinate operational support activities involving training requests, procurement actions, and internal business processes.
• Support tracking and management of procurement requests and purchase requisitions in Government systems.
• Monitor operational requests from initiation through completion, ensuring timely processing and resolution.
• Coordinate with appropriate departments to resolve administrative and operational issues.
• Support maintenance of program documentation, tracking systems, and Government records.
• Assist with development and implementation of operational policies, procedures, and internal controls.
• Ensure business operations and support activities are performed in accordance with applicable Government procedures.

Quality Assurance and Compliance

• Support operational compliance with contract requirements, organizational policies, and applicable Government regulations.
• Monitor the quality, accuracy, and timeliness of operational deliverables.
• Identify operational deficiencies and recommend appropriate corrective actions.
• Support development and implementation of quality management procedures.
• Ensure sensitive Government information is handled in accordance with applicable security requirements.
• Maintain appropriate documentation to support Government reviews, assessments, and performance evaluations.
• Promote accountability, continuous improvement, and adherence to established operational standards

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Project Management, Engineering Management, or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Minimum of 8–10 years of progressively responsible operations, program management, or project management experience, preferably supporting federal Government or DoD programs.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex operational activities, resources, workflows, and organizational initiatives.
• Experience supporting program execution, project planning, schedule management, and performance monitoring.
• Strong understanding of operational management principles, business process improvement, and organizational efficiency.
• Experience developing management reports, performance metrics, operational assessments, and executive-level presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate activities across multiple departments, personnel groups, and organizational stakeholders.
• Experience identifying operational risks, performance deficiencies, and opportunities for process improvement.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and project management software.
• Strong leadership, analytical, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication abilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities, adapt to changing requirements, and meet established deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience supporting NAVSEA, NSWC Port Hueneme, or other U.S. Navy organizations.
• Previous experience managing operational support activities under federal Government contracts.
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.
• Master's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Project Management, or a related discipline.
• Familiarity with FAR and DFARS requirements.
• Experience supporting Navy program management, business operations, or technical services organizations.
• Knowledge of Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, and other established project management methodologies.
• Experience using Microsoft Project, Power BI, Jira, Confluence, or similar project management and reporting systems.
• Experience supporting organizational process improvement or business transformation initiatives.
• Familiarity with Navy Enterprise Resource Planning (N-ERP) and other Government business systems.
• Experience overseeing operational activities involving geographically dispersed teams or multiple Government departments.
• Experience supporting continuous improvement, quality management, and operational