Undersea Program and Strategy Manager

Barber-Nichols Inc.; Northern (KY); Hybrid; USD 145,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

401(k) with company match and profit分享

Paid time off and holidays

Parental leave

Job summary

Barber-Nichols Inc. seeks an Undersea Program and Strategy Manager to lead a cornerstone government program across the full lifecycle, interfacing with Navy offices and NUWCs to deliver compliant products on schedule and within budget.

The role integrates engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, contracts, and finance. The ideal candidate has 6+ years in defense program management, FAR/DFARS experience, and strong executive communication; willing to travel up to 20% with security

Qualifications

• 6+ years of program or project management experience on complex engineered products.
• Experience with FAR/DFARS and government contracts.
• Proven ability to manage cost, schedule, and deliverables for production programs.
• Executive-level communication and stakeholder management.
• Willingness to travel up to 20% and obtain/maintain security clearance.

Responsibilities

• Lead cross-functional program teams and establish objectives, plans, and accountability.
• Interface with Navy program offices, NUWCs, and prime contractors for reviews.
• Oversee contract requirements, funding, and changes under FAR/DFARS.
• Monitor cost, schedule, technical, supply chain, and contract performance.
• Own risk and opportunity processes and implement recovery actions.

Skills

Program management

Executive communication

Cost/schedule/risks ownership

FAR/DFARS experience

Ability to travel

Education

Bachelor's degree in engineering/business/program management

PM certifications: PMP/PgMP

Lean Six Sigma Green/Black Belt

Job description

All Jobs > Undersea Program and Strategy Manager

About Barber-Nichols:

Barber-Nichols (BN) is a premier provider of custom turbomachinery solutions serving the Defense, Aerospace, Cryogenics, and Energy industries. Our team consists of industry leaders who collaborate closely with equally accomplished customers to deliver technologies that advance their markets and establish enduring partnerships. At BN, we foster a results-driven environment that values professional growth, rewards achievement, and supports innovation. From designing the blower for NASA’s Dragonfly mission to Saturn’s moon Titan to engineering critical components for the U.S. Navy’s MK-48 program, BN’s portfolio spans some of the most exciting and impactful projects in the world. For those seeking to contribute to impactful projects alongside a highly skilled team, BN offers an exceptional place to build your career.

Position Summary:

The Undersea Program and Strategy Manager leads a cornerstone government program across the full program lifecycle and is accountable for customer outcomes, contract performance, and business results. This role serves as the primary Barber-Nichols (BN) interface with Navy undersea program offices, Naval Undersea Warfare Centers (NUWCs), prime contractors, and other government stakeholders. The Program Manager integrates engineering, operations, supply chain, quality, contracts, and finance to deliver compliant products and services on schedule, within budget, and to technical requirements.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the cross-functional integrated program team; establish clear objectives, work plans, decision rights, cadence, and accountability.
• Build trusted relationships with Navy program offices, NUWC organizations (including Newport and Keyport, as applicable), warfare centers, contracting activities, prime contractors, and end-user representatives.
• Serve as the primary customer interface for programmatic matters; prepare and lead program reviews, technical and schedule reviews, executive briefings, and customer communications.
• Interpret and execute contract requirements under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), Defense FAR Supplement (DFARS), contract clauses, statements of work, specifications, data-item descriptions, and CDRL requirements in partnership with functional leaders.
• Manage contract type and funding constraints, including fixed-price and cost-reimbursement work, options, incremental funding, deliverables, milestones, and change authorization.
• Track and communicate cost, schedule, technical, supply-chain, and contractual performance; analyze variances and lead timely recovery plans.
• Own the program risk and opportunity process, including identification, quantitative assessment, mitigation planning, escalation, and closure.
• Control scope and configuration changes; evaluate customer direction, prevent unauthorized work, and coordinate requests for equitable adjustment, claims support, and contract modifications with Contracts.
• Ensure timely, accurate completion of customer deliverables, reports, invoices/milestone evidence, and records required by the contract.
• Partner with Supply Chain, Quality, and Export Compliance to meet applicable requirements, which may include ITAR/EAR, CMMC/NIST SP 800-171, supply-chain controls, and government property management.
• Identify and lead corrective actions and continuous improvements that strengthen program execution and customer confidence.
• Foster a positive, accountable culture consistent with BN's core values and perform other duties assigned by the Director of Program Management.

Requirements

Required Qualifications:

• 6+ years of relevant experience in program or project management for complex engineered products, including significant responsibility for defense or other U.S. Government contracts.
• Demonstrated experience managing programs under FAR and DFARS requirements and working effectively with Contracts, Finance, Quality, Engineering, Operations, and Supply Chain.
• Experience owning cost, schedule, scope, risk, customer commitments, and contract deliverables for production programs.
• Working knowledge of contract types, change management, government funding, proposal development, and program financial forecasting.
• Bachelor's degree in engineering, business, program management, or a related discipline; equivalent relevant experience may be considered.
• Executive-level communication, negotiation, relationship-management, planning, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to lead through influence in a matrixed organization.
• Ability to translate technical, contractual, and financial information into clear decisions and recovery actions while maintaining attention to detail under deadline pressure.
• Ability to travel up to 20% and engage regularly with Navy, warfare-center, prime-contractor, and supplier stakeholders.
• Must be authorized to work in the United States without employer sponsorship and be able to obtain and maintain the security clearance and site/customer access required for assigned work.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Direct experience supporting U.S. Navy undersea warfare programs and established working relationships with relevant program executive offices, program offices, NUWC Newport, NUWC Keyport, or related Navy laboratories and warfare centers.
• Prior Navy program-management experience, such as service in a Navy program office, Warfare Center, acquisition command, or closely aligned prime-contractor role.
• Experience as a Program Manager on a major defense development and production program, including customer reviews, contract modifications, and subcontractor management.
• Active U.S. Department of Defense Secret clearance or recent eligibility for reinstatement.
• PMP or PgMP certification; Lean Six Sigma Green Belt or Black Belt experience.

Compensation and Benefits

The salary range for this role is $145,000 - $170,000 and is commensurate with the applicant’s experience. This range represents the anticipated minimum and maximum base for this position. The final compensation for this position will be set based on the applicant’s qualifications (education, training and/or experience related to this role), and therefore, may fall outside the range shown, depending on the circumstances.

Barber-Nichols offers a comprehensive benefits package including:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• FSA and HSA with company paid HSA quarterly contributions
• Disability, Life, and AD&D Insurance
• 401(k) with 4% Company Match and Profit Sharing
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan (NYSE: GHM)
• Generous PTO and Paid Holidays with an option to purchase additional PTO
• Performance-based bonus program
• Paid Parental Leave, Military Leave, Jury Duty, and Bereavement Leave

ITAR Requirements:

To conform to U.S. Government commercial space technology export regulations, including the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), 8 U.S.C. § 1324b(a)(3), applicants for employment at Barber-Nichols must be a U.S. citizen or national, lawfully admitted for permanent residence into the U.S. (i.e., current green card holder), or lawfully admitted as a refugee or granted asylum under 8 U.S.C. § 1157-1158. Security clearance is required for this position.

Equal Opportunity Employer:

Barber-Nichols is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer committed to a workplace free from discrimination, harassment, and retaliation of any type. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other protected status as defined by law. Barber‑Nichols will ensure individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

Barber‑Nichols participates in E-Verify, the federal program for electronic verification of employment eligibility.