Program Director - Modernization

MSM North America; Saint Petersburg (FL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 230,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, and vision coverage

401(k) plan with company match

Short-term and long-term disability

Life insurance

Job summary

MSM North America is hiring a Program Director – Modernization to lead complex modernization programs advancing defense-related capabilities. You will provide overall program leadership for cost, schedule, technical performance, contractual requirements, and customer commitments, while guiding cross-functional teams and senior stakeholders.

The ideal candidate brings significant experience managing defense, aerospace, manufacturing, or government programs and thrives in a fast-growing, regulated

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, program management, operations, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in program management, defense, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, engineering, or a related technical environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional programs with accountability for cost, schedule, performance, and customer commitments.

Responsibilities

• Lead modernization programs with end-to-end leadership for planning, execution, performance, delivery, and closeout.
• Drive integrated program execution across engineering, operations, supply chain, contracts, quality, and other functions.
• Manage customer relationships; serve as a senior interface with government, military, prime contractor, and other stakeholders.
• Own program performance by monitoring cost, schedule, technical performance, contractual requirements, milestones, risks, and deliverables.
• Translate customer requirements into executable program plans, priorities, milestones, and resource requirements.
• Lead risk and opportunity management and establish mitigation or action plans.
• Manage financial performance with budgets, forecasts, and revenue projections.
• Oversee contractual execution in alignment with contracts, regulations, and governance.
• Support proposals, customer discussions, and new modernization opportunities.
• Provide executive reporting and recommendations for senior leadership.
• Establish program-management processes, governance, and operating rhythms as the portfolio grows.

Skills

Program management

Cross-functional leadership

Executive communication

Risk management

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree (engineering, business, program management, operations)

Master's degree preferred

PMP/PgMP certification preferred

Tools

PM tools

Job description

MSM North America is hiring a Program Director – Modernization to lead complex modernization programs supporting the advancement, sustainment, and operational effectiveness of defense-related capabilities.

This role will provide overall program leadership and accountability for cost, schedule, technical performance, contractual requirements, and customer commitments. The Program Director will lead cross-functional execution and serve as a senior interface with customers, partners, suppliers, and company leadership.

The ideal candidate brings significant experience managing complex defense, aerospace, manufacturing, or government programs and is comfortable operating in a fast-growing, highly regulated environment.

What You'll Do

• Lead modernization programs. Provide end-to-end leadership for assigned modernization programs, including program planning, execution, performance management, delivery, and closeout.
• Drive integrated program execution. Coordinate engineering, operations, supply chain, contracts, quality, finance, business development, and other functional teams to ensure program objectives are achieved.
• Manage customer relationships. Serve as a senior program interface with government, military, prime contractor, and other customer stakeholders, maintaining strong communication and alignment throughout program execution.
• Own program performance. Monitor cost, schedule, technical performance, contractual requirements, milestones, risks, and deliverables and implement corrective actions when necessary.
• Support modernization planning. Translate customer requirements and operational needs into executable program plans, priorities, milestones, and resource requirements.
• Lead risk and opportunity management. Identify program risks, dependencies, and opportunities and establish mitigation or action plans to protect program performance.
• Manage financial performance. Partner with Finance to develop and manage program budgets, forecasts, estimates to complete, revenue projections, and financial performance.
• Oversee contractual execution. Work closely with Contracts and Compliance to ensure execution aligns with contractual requirements, customer commitments, applicable regulations, and internal governance.
• Support proposals and growth activities. Provide programmatic and technical input for proposals, estimates, customer discussions, follow-on opportunities, and modernization-related business development activities.
• Provide executive reporting. Develop clear program reviews, performance updates, decision materials, and recommendations for senior leadership.
• Build scalable program discipline. Establish appropriate program-management processes, reporting standards, governance, and operating rhythms as the organization and modernization portfolio continue to grow.

What You'll Bring

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, program management, operations, or a related field.
• 10+ years of progressively responsible experience in program management, defense, aerospace, advanced manufacturing, engineering, or a related technical environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex, cross-functional programs with accountability for cost, schedule, performance, and customer commitments.
• Experience working with U.S. Government, Department of Defense, military, prime contractor, or similarly regulated customers.
• Strong knowledge of program management, financial management, risk management, and integrated program execution.
• Proven ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and drive results in a matrixed environment.
• Strong executive communication, presentation, negotiation, and stakeholder-management skills.
• Ability to travel as required.

A master's degree and PMP, PgMP, or similar program-management certification are preferred. Experience with modernization, recapitalization, system upgrades, sustainment, capability development, or industrial-base expansion is also beneficial, particularly within ammunition, weapons systems, defense manufacturing, aerospace, vehicles, or other mission-critical defense platforms. Familiarity with FAR and DFARS, major subcontractor or supplier management, and transitioning programs into sustained execution is preferred.

What Success Looks Like

You will provide strong leadership and disciplined execution across modernization programs, ensuring customer commitments, program objectives, and business priorities remain aligned. You will anticipate and resolve risks, strengthen cross-functional execution, and help build scalable program-management capabilities as the modernization portfolio grows.

This role is well suited to an experienced defense program leader with strong business judgment, customer credibility, and the ability to translate complex technical and operational requirements into successful program execution.

Benefits & Culture

We believe a strong workplace is built on more than benefits. We are committed to fostering a professional, collaborative, and respectful environment where employees are valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.

We complement our workplace culture with a comprehensive benefits package designed to support the health, financial well-being, and work-life balance of our employees. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage; company-paid short-term disability, long-term disability, and life insurance; and the option to purchase additional voluntary life insurance.

To support long-term financial well-being, we offer a 401(k) plan with company match.

Employment Requirements

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of applicable pre-employment screening requirements.

This position may require access to export-controlled information, technical data, company systems, or customer information. The selected candidate must be eligible to access such information in accordance with applicable U.S. laws, regulations, contractual requirements, and company policies.

Equal Employment Opportunity

MSM North America is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.