Program Manager 4

TAI Engineers, LLC.; Houston (TX); Hybrid; USD 170,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

TAI Engineers, LLC is seeking a Program Manager 4 to lead large, complex ship design programs. You will oversee program planning, budgeting, scheduling, and resource deployment while coordinating with executives to deliver high-quality outcomes.

Strong leadership, communication, and government contracting knowledge are essential. You will manage executive-level relationships, forecast resources, and drive risk mitigation across multiple programs, ensuring on-time delivery within funding

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years of experience in program management, project engineering, production design, or technical program execution in a marine or government contracting environment.
• Minimum 5 years of shipyard construction experience.
• Expert knowledge of program planning, budget management, resource optimization, and schedule control for ship design programs.
• Advanced knowledge of ship design and construction practices, classification society requirements (ABS, DNV), and applicable government regulations (USCG, NAVSEA).
• Demonstrated ability to manage executive-level customer relationships, lead high-performing program teams, and resolve complex programmatic issues.
• Proficiency with project planning tools and ERP software (e.g., Primavera, Microsoft Project, Deltek).
• Excellent leadership, organizational, and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Leading the full program execution of large, complex, or multiple concurrent ship design programs to ensure goals are accomplished within prescribed time frames and funding parameters.
• Developing, owning, and managing comprehensive program plans including objectives, schedules, funding parameters, staffing requirements, risk registers, and contractual obligations.
• Serving as the senior customer interface for all assigned programs; managing executive-level customer relationships and ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction.
• Planning, forecasting, and deploying program resources — engineers, designers, project managers, and technical staff — to optimize performance across all program phases.
• Managing program budgets and cost performance; conducting trend and variance analyses and implementing corrective actions to maintain cost and schedule baselines.
• Leading development and management of program execution strategies including vendor and subcontractor support, contract management, and make/buy decisions.
• Proactively identifying, assessing, and managing program risks and issues; developing and implementing mitigation strategies and escalating critical issues as appropriate.
• Leading and coordinating all program staffing activities; directing the assignment, and performance management of program team members.
• Directing program teams across all disciplines; providing strategic guidance, mentoring, and accountability for program performance.
• Ensuring Company performance against all contractual commitments; managing scope change control and negotiating change orders with customers.
• Coordinating with department directors and discipline managers to resolve complex technical and resource conflicts across programs.
• Reviewing and approving program status reports, deliverable registers, earned value reports, and customer-facing documentation.
• Leading program reviews, milestone briefings, and technical interchange meetings with customers and executive leadership.
• Using financial reporting, earned value data, and performance measures to forecast program outcomes and develop proactive recovery plans.
• Ensuring all programs adhere to Company project methodology standards, quality requirements, and compliance obligations.
• Leading or contributing to proposal development including program plans, staffing estimates, and cost volume inputs.
• Driving continuous improvement of program management tools, processes, and reporting practices across the organization.
• Evaluating programs upon close-out; capturing lessons learned and implementing improvements.
• Adhering to all Company safety, environmental, quality assurance, and security programs.
• Mentoring Program Managers and project management personnel at all levels.
• Performing other related activities as directed.

Skills

Program management

Budget management

Resource forecasting

Schedule control

Leadership

Customer relationships

Communication

ERP software

Primavera

Microsoft Project

Deltek

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering/ Naval Architecture/ PM/ Business Administration

Master's Degree in Engineering Management or MBA (preferred)

PMP certification (preferred)

Tools

Primavera

Microsoft Project

Deltek

Job description

OVERVIEW

The Program Manager 4 is a senior program management role responsible for leading the execution of large, complex, or multiple concurrent ship design programs. Operating with full independence, this role manages and coordinates all activities of ship design programs related to new building, conversion, or repair projects to ensure that program goals are accomplished within the prescribed time frame and funding parameters. The Program Manager 4 has full accountability for program planning, resource forecasting and deployment, budget management, schedule performance, and customer satisfaction across all assigned programs. This role serves as the senior customer interface, provides strategic direction to program teams, and coordinates closely with department directors, discipline leads, and executive leadership to deliver high-quality outcomes across the program portfolio.

ABOUT TAI ENGINEERS, LLC

TAI is a total marine solutions company that provides engineering and production support services to a wide variety of customers in the US and abroad. TAI is a wholly owned subsidiary of S&B. TAI’s mission to deliver ‘Solutions that Enhance Value’ is the primary focus of any project that TAI undertakes. Since TAI’s founding in 1993, it has brought many vessels to fruition and has more than 5,000 designs in its library. TAI is ISO 9001-2015 Certified for Design, Engineering, Integrated Logistics and Program Management Services. TAI is GSA listed to provide engineering services and vessels to the US Government and we are a prime contractor on NAVSEA's SeaPort NxG program.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Manages a team of Program Managers, Project Managers, Project Engineers, and technical personnel across one or more programs. Responsible for work direction, performance guidance, and professional development of assigned staff. Coordinates with department heads and discipline directors to assign and optimize personnel deployment across programs.

EDUCATION:

Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Naval Architecture, Project Management, Business Administration, or related technical management field from an accredited college or university. Master's Degree in Engineering Management or Business Administration is preferred. PMP certification is strongly preferred.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE:

Requirements: Minimum 10 years of experience in program management, project engineering, production design, or technical program execution in a marine or government contracting environment, including demonstrated leadership of large or complex multi-discipline programs. Minimum 5 years of shipyard construction experience. Expert knowledge of program planning, budget management, resource optimization, and schedule control for ship design programs. Advanced knowledge of ship design and construction practices, classification society requirements (ABS, DNV), and applicable government regulations (USCG, NAVSEA). Demonstrated ability to manage executive-level customer relationships, lead high-performing program teams, and resolve complex programmatic issues. Proficiency with project planning tools and ERP software (e.g., Primavera, Microsoft Project, Deltek). Excellent leadership, organizational, and communication skills.

Preferred Skills: PMP certification (Project Management Institute) or equivalent. Experience with U.S. Government contracts (NAVSEA, USCG, Army Corps of Engineers) and familiarity with FAR/DFARS requirements. Experience with earned value management (EVM) or EVMS-compliant reporting.

TYPICAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Leading the full program execution of large, complex, or multiple concurrent ship design programs to ensure goals are accomplished within prescribed time frames and funding parameters.
• Developing, owning, and managing comprehensive program plans including objectives, schedules, funding parameters, staffing requirements, risk registers, and contractual obligations.
• Serving as the senior customer interface for all assigned programs; managing executive-level customer relationships and ensuring high levels of customer satisfaction.
• Planning, forecasting, and deploying program resources — engineers, designers, project managers, and technical staff — to optimize performance across all program phases.
• Managing program budgets and cost performance; conducting trend and variance analyses and implementing corrective actions to maintain cost and schedule baselines.
• Leading development and management of program execution strategies including vendor and subcontractor support, contract management, and make/buy decisions.
• Proactively identifying, assessing, and managing program risks and issues; developing and implementing mitigation strategies and escalating critical issues as appropriate.
• Leading and coordinating all program staffing activities; directing the assignment, and performance management of program team members.
• Directing program teams across all disciplines; providing strategic guidance, mentoring, and accountability for program performance.
• Ensuring Company performance against all contractual commitments; managing scope change control and negotiating change orders with customers.
• Coordinating with department directors and discipline managers to resolve complex technical and resource conflicts across programs.
• Reviewing and approving program status reports, deliverable registers, earned value reports, and customer-facing documentation.
• Leading program reviews, milestone briefings, and technical interchange meetings with customers and executive leadership.
• Using financial reporting, earned value data, and performance measures to forecast program outcomes and develop proactive recovery plans.
• Ensuring all programs adhere to Company project methodology standards, quality requirements, and compliance obligations.
• Leading or contributing to proposal development including program plans, staffing estimates, and cost volume inputs.
• Driving continuous improvement of program management tools, processes, and reporting practices across the organization.
• Evaluating programs upon close-out; capturing lessons learned and implementing improvements.
• Adhering to all Company safety, environmental, quality assurance, and security programs.
• Mentoring Program Managers and project management personnel at all levels.
• Performing other related activities as directed.

LANGUAGE SKILLS:

Ability to read, analyze and interpret general business periodicals, professional journals, technical procedures or governmental regulations. Ability to draft reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of clients, managers, designers, and engineers.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS:

Ability to work with mathematical concepts such as probability and statistics, plane and solid geometry, trigonometry, Boolean logic, basic calculus, and methods of numerical approximation. Ability to apply mathematical concepts to provide practical solutions to engineering problems.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Role may sometimes require conducting or participating in a field trip to shipyard or construction site. This requires the ability to hear, as well as the ability to stand, walk, reach, climb and balance, clear close and distance vision, depth perception and the ability to focus. Lifting up to 25 pounds may be required.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

Normal work environment will be a business office with moderate noise. Occasionally, may visit or be temporarily assigned to work at a construction site, production facility, or shipyard. This may require exposure to outdoor weather conditions, loud noise, work near moving mechanical parts, electrical energy, construction equipment, vibration, fumes, chemicals and airborne particles.

Equal Opportunity Employer, EEO Disability and EEO Vet/Disabled Employer: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or status as a protected veteran.

“Know Your Rights” Poster:

https://www.eeoc.gov/poster

TAI’s EEO/AA policy:

https://www.taiengineers.com/eeo

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