Program Manager - Defense

Kennametal; Rogers (AR); On-site; USD 110,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Kennametal, a leader in industrial technology, seeks a Program Manager - Defense to oversee cross-functional programs from concept through execution across multiple plants and contracts.

You will lead scope, schedule, budget, and resource planning, coordinate with Manufacturing, Marketing, IT, and Finance, manage risks, and partner with the Defense Sales Team on opportunities and proposals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in science, engineering, or business.
• Minimum 5 years of demonstrated program management experience.
• Experience with cross-functional leadership and project coordination.
• Proven ability to manage scope, schedule, and budgets.
• Proficiency with MS Office, Teams, and project management software.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive program plans including scope, timeline, resources, and budget.
• Identify, track, and complete program requirements across functions.
• Ensure cross-functional teams understand contract scope and manage changes.
• Monitor and communicate program metrics and milestones to stakeholders.
• Conduct risk management and implement mitigations in project schedules.
• Support defense opportunities through proposals and long-term planning.

Skills

Project management

Cross-functional leadership

Risk management

Stakeholder communication

Team coordination

Scheduling & budgeting

Education

Bachelor's degree in science, engineering, or business

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Project

Job description

About Kennametal

With over 85 years as an industrial technology leader, Kennametal Inc. delivers productivity to customers through materials science, tooling and wear-resistant solutions. Customers across aerospace and defense, earthworks, energy, general engineering and transportation turn to Kennametal to help them manufacture with precision and efficiency. Learn more at kennametal.com. Follow @Kennametal: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.

Job Title: Program Manager - Defense

Location: Rogers, AR

Job Summary

This role is responsible for managing, through direct influence, the overall coordination and execution of project types that may include new product development, capital improvement investments, manufacturing process development and implementation efforts at various production plants and manufacturing footprint initiatives.

The primary role and responsibilities will include the leadership, planning, development, organization, and maintenance of the project timeline and resource plans for defined projects. This role will also act as the liaison between business functions (e.g., Manufacturing, Marketing, Technology, IT, Finance), identifying key stakeholders, and ensuring alignment are being facilitated among process owners.

Key Job Responsibilities

• Develop and implement comprehensive program plans, including scope, timeline, resources, and budget.
• Identification, distribution, tracking, and completion of program requirements
• Ensuring cross functional teams (technology, engineering, plant manufacturing, QA, CSRs, Supply Chain, Sales) understand and adheres to contract scope, and manages change through leading status activities and project management of each awarded contract, SOW, etc.
• Monitor, track and communicate key program metrics and milestones to all team members and stakeholders.
• Conduct proactive and comprehensive risk management to ensure risks are identified, impacts are known and communicated, and mitigations are planned into the project schedules.
• Support the Defense Sales Team in new business opportunities through current contracts and program execution with long term strategic planning, capture planning, and development of proposals and business plans

Desired Attributes

• Ability to manage projects to specified milestones and established schedules
• Excellent collaboration and interpersonal skills with ability to manage a project team daily and communicate effectively with segment leadership regarding status, awareness, and escalations
• Ability to resolve disputes and negotiate with positive outcome while maintaining good relationships within the organization
• Ability to manage communications with stakeholders through organized processes to ensure that program information is defined, collected, shared, understood, stored and retrieved in a manner that effectively meets program and stakeholder needs
• Conduct proactive and comprehensive risk management to ensure risks are identified, impacts are known and communicated, and mitigations are planned into the project schedules.
• Preferred experience in the aerospace/defense industry, Defense or NASAand or commercial Ammunition manufacturing, or U.S. Government contracts and customers and/or project management in other industries

Education, Work Experience, Skills, Certificates

• Bachelor's degree in science, engineering, or a business program
• 5 years of demonstrated experience as a program manager
• Process Engineering or Manufacturing Project Management
• Strong collaborator across all levels of the organization. Demonstrated success in Cross-Functional Leadership and teamwork to achieve a common goal
• Experience with Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Teams, Project Management Software (e.g., Microsoft Project), and demonstrated ability to learn other business software.
• Demonstrated and proven proficiency in program management principles required; PMP certification a plus.
• Must be a US Citizen and capable of obtaining a Secret security clearance level
• Able to travel 10% - 15%

Due to the nature of the operations at this facility, consideration as an applicant is limited to individuals who are either a US Citizen or a US Permanent Resident. An expression of interest from anyone who is not a US Citizen or a US Permanent Resident will not proceed for consideration as an applicant.

Kennametal Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.