Senior Director, Business Operations

AV; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 180,000 - 280,000; Full time

Job summary

AV in Arlington, VA seeks a Senior Director of Business Operations to serve as the principal operational and strategic partner to the Directed Energy VP. You will shape portfolio performance, financial outcomes, and long-term growth across all programs and product lines, driving execution and enterprise alignment.

You will lead cross-functional teams, oversee annual planning, manage risk and investments, and influence senior leaders to achieve profitability and scalability across the business

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in finance, engineering or related field.
• Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience.
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in a leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience supporting or managing P&L driven businesses.
• Must be a US citizen with the ability to obtain or maintain a security clearance.
• Strong background in long-range planning, annual operating plans, and executive business governance.
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and operate effectively as a deputy or executive officer.
• Experience engaging executive-level customers and leading complex, cross-functional initiatives.

Responsibilities

• Partner with the VP in driving Business Unit revenue growth and financial performance.
• Provide enterprise-level analysis of EAC trends, cost performance drivers, and financial risk posture to inform executive decision-making.
• Facilitate portfolio trade-space discussions regarding performance, resource allocation, and investment priorities.
• Support development and oversight of the Annual Operating Plan (AOP), long-range financial planning, and financial performance updates.
• Identify structural performance improvements that strengthen predictability, scalability, and profitability.
• Own Business Unit-level integration across Program Management, Engineering, Finance, Contracts, Supply Chain, and Growth functions to ensure cohesive portfolio execution.
• Establish and enforce operating rhythms, governance frameworks, and performance standards across the Business Unit.
• Lead and direct resolution of escalated cross-program risks impacting cost, schedule, or technical performance.
• Hold portfolio execution accountable to Business Unit strategic priorities, financial objectives, and performance commitments.
• Drive and oversee continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen execution discipline, scalability, and organizational effectiveness.
• Partner with cross functional teams and leadership to define and align portfolio capabilities, investment priorities, and pursuit strategies for strategic opportunities.
• Inform bid/no-bid decisions through financial, technical, and capacity analysis.
• Lead and shape proposal strategy development, including pricing strategy, margin targets, risk positioning, execution maturity assessments, and proposal reviews.
• Support customer engagements in partnership with cross functional team, representing portfolio performance, operational readiness, and strategic roadmap.

Job description

Summary

The Senior Director, Business Operations serves as the principal operational and strategic partner to the Directed Energy Vice President, shaping portfolio performance, financial outcomes, discipline execution, and long-term growth strategy across all Directed Energy programs and product lines.

Worker Type

Regular

Job Description

The Senior Director, Business Operations serves as the principal operational and strategic partner to the Directed Energy Vice President, shaping portfolio performance, financial outcomes, discipline execution, and long-term growth strategy across all Directed Energy programs and product lines.

The Senior Director partners in driving financial performance, program execution, proposal management, and enterprise alignment.

The role provides portfolio-wide visibility into performance trends, risk posture, and investment priorities while influencing both current execution and future opportunity positioning.

A critical component of this role's success is in supporting the VP and overall business unit's success for driving key success indicators for program execution.

Position Responsibilities

Portfolio Performance & Financial Strategy

• Partner with the VP in driving Business Unit revenue growth and financial performance.
• Provide enterprise-level analysis of EAC trends, cost performance drivers, and financial risk posture to inform executive decision-making.
• Facilitate portfolio trade-space discussions regarding performance, resource allocation, and investment priorities.
• Support development and oversight of the Annual Operating Plan (AOP), long-range financial planning, and financial performance updates.
• Identify structural performance improvements that strengthen predictability, scalability, and profitability.

Cross-Functional Integration & Governance

• Own Business Unit-level integration across Program Management, Engineering, Finance, Contracts, Supply Chain, and Growth functions to ensure cohesive portfolio execution.
• Establish and enforce operating rhythms, governance frameworks, and performance standards across the Business Unit.
• Lead and direct resolution of escalated cross-program risks impacting cost, schedule, or technical performance.
• Hold portfolio execution accountable to Business Unit strategic priorities, financial objectives, and performance commitments.
• Drive and oversee continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen execution discipline, scalability, and organizational effectiveness.

Growth Strategy & Market Alignment

• Partner with cross functional teams and leadership to define and align portfolio capabilities, investment priorities, and pursuit strategies for strategic opportunities.
• Inform bid/no-bid decisions through financial, technical, and capacity analysis.
• Lead and shape proposal strategy development, including pricing strategy, margin targets, risk positioning, execution maturity assessments, and proposal reviews.
• Support customer engagements in partnership with cross functional team, representing portfolio performance, operational readiness, and strategic roadmap.

Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience)

• Bachelor’s degree is required in finance, engineering or related field; or equivalent combination of education, training, and experience considered
• Minimum of 15 years of relevant experience required
• Minimum of 7 years of experience in a leadership role
• Demonstrated experience supporting or managing P&L driven businesses
• Must be a US citizen with the ability to obtain or maintain a security clearance
• Strong background in long-range planning, annual operating plans, and executive business governance
• Proven ability to influence senior leaders and operate effectively as a deputy or executive officer
• Experience engaging executive-level customers and leading complex, cross-functional initiatives

Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies

• Advanced degree, MBA or MS is highly preferred
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Prior experience supporting M&A activity strongly preferred.
• Strong analytical, critical thinking and interpersonal skills, with the ability to speak and write persuasively
• Demonstrated experience working with cross-functional teams; ability to develop and maintain internal and external trusting, professional relationships
• Uses vision to think beyond the immediate situation, explore multiple potential paths, and adapt decision-making style based on the situational circumstances
• Inspires, motivates, and empowers people to deliver organizational goals, while also delivering value back to employees