Program Manager

Guided Search Partners; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 110,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Guided Search Partners seeks an experienced Program Manager to lead multiple aerospace and defense manufacturing programs from award to delivery. You will serve as the main customer contact, ensuring programs meet deadlines, budgets, and contract requirements while upholding quality standards.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years in program management within aerospace/defense or manufacturing, with strong leadership, cross-functional coordination, and a proven ability to improve delivery performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or related field.
• 5+ years in program or project management within aerospace, defense, or manufacturing environments.
• Experience managing customer-facing manufacturing programs and complex deliverables.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production scheduling, and supply chain processes.
• Familiarity with government contracts and defense industry requirements, including FAR/DFARS, preferred.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and project management tools.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, and customer requirements.

Responsibilities

• Manage aerospace and defense programs from contract award through completion and final delivery.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers, maintaining strong relationships and ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Develop and maintain program schedules, budgets, forecasts, and resource plans.
• Monitor program performance to ensure milestones, deliverables, cost targets, and quality expectations are achieved.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams, including engineering, manufacturing, production, quality, supply chain, procurement, and finance.
• Identify program risks, production challenges, and potential delays while implementing corrective action plans.
• Monitor program financial performance, including revenue, profitability, labor costs, and material expenditures.
• Review customer contracts, purchase orders, specifications, and statements of work to ensure compliance with requirements.
• Lead internal and external program status meetings and provide regular updates to customers and senior leadership.
• Manage engineering changes, scope changes, and customer requests while evaluating their impact on cost and schedule.
• Ensure compliance with applicable aerospace and defense industry standards, government contract requirements, and company procedures.
• Support proposal development, contract negotiations, and new program launches as needed.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve operational efficiency, program execution, and customer satisfaction.

Skills

Program management

A&D industry

Customer relations

Budget forecasting

Cross-functional leadership

ERP/MRP systems

Engineering drawings

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

MS Project

SAP

Job description

We are seeking an experienced Program Manager to oversee and manage multiple aerospace and defense manufacturing programs from initial contract award through final delivery. This individual will serve as the primary point of contact for customers while ensuring programs are executed on time, within budget, and in accordance with contractual requirements and quality standards.

The ideal candidate will have experience managing complex manufacturing programs, preferably within the aerospace, defense, or government contracting industries. This person must possess strong leadership, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to coordinate cross-functional teams and drive program performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage aerospace and defense programs from contract award through completion and final delivery.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers, maintaining strong relationships and ensuring customer satisfaction.
• Develop and maintain program schedules, budgets, forecasts, and resource plans.
• Monitor program performance to ensure milestones, deliverables, cost targets, and quality expectations are achieved.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams, including engineering, manufacturing, production, quality, supply chain, procurement, and finance.
• Identify program risks, production challenges, and potential delays while implementing corrective action plans.
• Monitor program financial performance, including revenue, profitability, labor costs, and material expenditures.
• Review customer contracts, purchase orders, specifications, and statements of work to ensure compliance with requirements.
• Lead internal and external program status meetings and provide regular updates to customers and senior leadership.
• Manage engineering changes, scope changes, and customer requests while evaluating their impact on cost and schedule.
• Ensure compliance with applicable aerospace and defense industry standards, government contract requirements, and company procedures.
• Support proposal development, contract negotiations, and new program launches as needed.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives to improve operational efficiency, program execution, and customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Operations Management, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of experience in program or project management within aerospace, defense, or manufacturing environments.
• Experience managing customer-facing manufacturing programs and complex deliverables.
• Strong understanding of manufacturing operations, production scheduling, and supply chain processes.
• Experience managing program budgets, financial forecasts, and profitability.
• Familiarity with government contracts and defense industry requirements, including FAR/DFARS, preferred.
• Experience with ERP/MRP systems and project management tools.
• Ability to interpret engineering drawings, technical specifications, and customer requirements.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and problem-solving abilities.

Preferred Qualifications

• PMP certification or equivalent project management certification.
• Familiarity with AS9100 quality management systems and ISO standards.
• Experience with aerospace manufacturing processes, machining, composites, assemblies, or other precision manufacturing operations.
• Experience managing multiple programs simultaneously.

Desired Attributes

• Strong leadership and decision-making skills.
• Excellent customer-facing communication and relationship-building abilities.
• Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.
• Financially minded with a focus on program profitability.
• Proactive approach to problem-solving and risk management.
• Ability to influence and collaborate across multiple departments.
• Accountable, organized, and results-driven.