SPMB - Senior Program Manager Distributed Build and New Build

Gulf Copper; Galveston (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

Gulf Copper in Galveston, TX seeks a Senior Program Manager for Distributed Build & New Construction to lead growing shipbuilding-related programs, starting with HII distributed-build and expanding to ASC and US new-build activities.

You will strengthen project management capabilities, manage schedules, risks, and interface with HII, suppliers, and internal teams, while ensuring ITAR compliance and effective program controls across multi-organizational programs.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, PM, Construction Management or related field.
• Significant project-management experience in a complex industrial environment (e.g., shipbuilding, marine construction, defense, aerospace, heavy manufacturing, or oil & gas).
• Must be a US Citizen eligible to work in the United States and eligible to access ITAR-controlled information.
• Demonstrated experience managing integrated schedules, risks, project controls, and multi-organizational project interfaces.
• PMP certification; prior shipbuilding/NAVSEA/USCG/HII experience; background in modular construction, ERP systems, or digital project-control tools.

Responsibilities

• Establish a clear program baseline and monitor actual progress against planned progress.
• Identify schedule slippage, emerging risks, and drive timely resolution of outstanding issues.
• Coordinate interfaces between work packages, organizations, and support regular program reviews.
• Identify resource constraints, support recovery plans for at-risk milestones, and implement lessons learned.
• Develop and implement IMS, short-term look-ahead schedules, and milestones tracking.
• Track progress, man-hours, and productivity metrics.
• Maintain risk/opportunity registers, manage change controls, and perform cost/schedule impact assessments.
• Build management dashboards, conduct forecasting, and perform trend analysis.
• Review and enhance distributed-build processes in planning, production reporting, engineering/quality interfaces, document control, material control, and supply-chain interfaces.
• Improve non-conformance management, issue escalation paths, meeting structures, and project close-out procedures.
• Lead efforts to ensure ITAR requirements are properly incorporated into day-to-day project execution.
• Partner with compliance/legal teams to ensure project teams understand applicable ITAR restrictions.
• Identify ITAR-controlled information, equipment, drawings, and documentation, establishing proper access controls.
• Ensure appropriate separation of US-person and non-US person activities where required.
• Provide a US-based operational interface between US programs and the broader international/Finnish new-build organization.
• Translate international project requirements into practical US execution while maintaining ITAR boundaries.
• Develop project-management processes, construction readiness criteria, and organizational frameworks for future ASC construction in Texas.
• Support production planning, modular/distributed-build management, and integration between engineering, procurement, and production.

Skills

Program & schedule management

ITAR/export controls knowledge

Cross-functional communication

Data-driven / highly organized

Commercial awareness

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering/Business/PM/Construction Management

PMP certification

Tools

ERP systems

Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) platforms

Data analytics tools

Digital project-control dashboards

Job description

Overview and Purpose:

The Senior Program Manager - Distributed Build & New Construction will provide senior, hands-on project management support to the Company's growing new-build activities, initially focusing on the HII distributed-build program and subsequently expanding into the Company's US new-build portfolio, including the Arctic Security Cutter (ASC) Program.

The immediate requirementsisto strengthen project management capability around program and production progress monitoring, schedule and milestone management, project controls, process improvement, ITAR compliance, and interface management between Gulf Copper, HII, and other partners. The role will initially work closely with the existing HII Project Manager and develop into a broader leadership position within the New Build organization.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities:

This positionis responsible forthe following: Other duties may be assigned.

HII Distributed-Build Program Management

• Establish a clear and reliable program baseline and monitor actual progress against planned progress.

• Identify schedule slippage, emerging risks, and drive timely resolution of outstanding issues.

• Coordinate interfaces between work packages, organizations, and support regular program reviews.

• Identify resource constraints, support recovery plans for at-risk milestones, and implement lessons learned.

Projects Controls & Reporting

• Develop and implement integrated master schedules, short-term look-ahead schedules, and milestones tracking.

• Track progress, man-hours, and productivity metrics.

• Maintain risk/opportunity registers, manage change controls, and perform cost/schedule impact assessments.

• Build management dashboards, conduct forecasting, and perform trend analysis.

Process Improvement

• Review and enhance distributed-build processes in planning, production reporting, engineering/quality interfaces, document control, material control, and supply-chain interfaces.

• Improve non-conformance management, issue escalation paths, meeting structures, and project close-out procedures.

ITAR and Export-Controlled Compliance

• Lead efforts to ensure ITAR requirements are properly incorporated into day-to-day project execution.

• Partner with compliance/legal teams to ensure project teams understand applicable ITAR restrictions.

• Identify ITAR-controlled information, equipment, drawings, and documentation, establishing proper access controls.

• Ensure appropriate separation of US-person and non-US person activities where required.

International & Operational Interface

• Provide a US-based operational interface between US programs and the broader international/Finnish new-build organization.

• Translate international project requirements into practical US execution while maintaining ITAR boundaries.

ASC Construction Preparation

• Develop project-management processes, construction readiness criteria, and organizational frameworks for future ASC construction in Texas.

• Support production planning, modular/distributed-build management, and integration between engineering, procurement, and production.

Required Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Project Management, Construction Management, or related discipline (or equivalent practical experience).

• Significant project-management experience in a complex industrial environment (e.g., shipbuilding, marine construction, defense, aerospace, heavy manufacturing, or oil & gas).

• Must be a US Citizen eligible to work in the United States and eligible to access ITAR-controlled information.

• Demonstrated experience managing integrated schedules, risks, project controls, and multi-organizational project interfaces.

• PMP certification; prior shipbuilding/NAVSEA/USCG/HII experience; background in modular construction, ERP systems, or digital project-control tools.

Special Skills:

• Advanced program and schedule management skills using digital project control systems.

• Strong understanding of ITAR, US export controls, and government/defense program management.

• Excellent cross-functional communication skills, with the ability to interface with both front-line shop personnel and senior executives.

• Data-driven, highly organized, and adaptable in fast-paced, rapidly developing environments.

• Strong commercial awareness and issue resolution capabilities.

Necessary Equipment Operation:

• Standard office equipment (computer, phone, multi-function printers).

• Project management software, Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) platforms, and ERP/planning systems.

• Data analytics tools and digital project-control dashboards.

* An Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, or protected veteran status and will not be discriminated against on the basis of disability. Know Your Rights. If you'd like to view a copy of the company's affirmative action plan or policy statement, please email: [e-mail]. If you have a disability and you believe you need a reasonable accommodation in order to search for a job opening or to submit an online application, please e-mail: [e-mail].