Senior Program Manager: Complex Systems

Northrop Grumman; Buffalo (NY); On-site; USD 176,000 - 263,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Plan

Savings Plan

Paid Time Off

Education Assistance

Training and Development

9/80 Work Schedule

Job summary

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems seeks a Senior Program Manager to lead a complex portfolio spanning engineering development, production, lab infrastructure, logistics and sustainment. You will coordinate across contracts, manage dependencies, and deliver on cost, schedule and technical requirements.

The role emphasizes strong cross-functional leadership, risk management, and clear customer communication. A Secret clearance is required or the ability to obtain one.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree with a minimum of 8 years of program management leadership experience OR Master's degree with a minimum of 6 years of program management leadership experience OR a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience in lieu of degree.
• Experience leading complex development, engineering services, production, logistics, sustainment, or other technically complex programs with direct ownership of cost, schedule, and technical requirements.
• Experience operating within a cross-functional execution environment.
• Experience managing program(s) using financial management and reporting tools (Earned Value Management, Risk & Opportunity Management).
• Experience managing customer facing execution.
• Ability to obtain and maintain Secret level government clearance.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end execution of a complex portfolio of programs
• Manage dependencies across other portfolios
• Build strong customer relationships based on transparency, disciplined execution and clear communication of risks, dependencies and tradeoffs
• Serve as a key leader in requirements definition, proposal development, contract negotiations and change management
• Establish disciplined programmatic control of engineering change, including assessment of technical, cost, schedule, contractual and downstream production impacts before commitments are made
• Maintain direct awareness of execution across subordinate programs and proactively remove barriers, resolve cross-program conflicts and drive closure of critical issues
• Forecast and achieve financial performance objectives across the portfolio while maintaining appropriate contractual scope discipline
• Prepare and present executive level briefings to internal and external stakeholders
• Owns and drives execution outcomes, maintain direct awareness of program health across all functions, and proactively remove barriers before they impact customer and business commitments
• Promotes a culture focused on outcomes, execution discipline, open communication, cross-functional alignment, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Understands organizational and contractual boundaries, establishes clear decision rights, and appropriately challenges requirements or commitments that create unacceptable program, technical or business risk
• Makes timely risk-informed decisions using facts and sound judgement in situations where information is incomplete
• Builds customer confidence through transparency and consistent execution
• Approaches difficult issues directly and professionally

Skills

Earned Value Management

Risk & Opportunity Management

Cross-functional leadership

Contract negotiations

Client relationship management

Cost control

Education

Bachelor's degree in related field

Master's degree in related field

12+ years of relevant experience in lieu of degree

Job description

Northrop Grumman Mission Systems seeks a Senior Program Manager to lead a complex portfolio spanning engineering development, production, lab infrastructure, logistics and sustainment. You will coordinate across contracts, manage dependencies, and deliver on cost, schedule and technical requirements.

The role emphasizes strong cross-functional leadership, risk management, and clear customer communication. A Secret clearance is required or the ability to obtain one.