Senior Director Programs

Job ID: 109359

 

DRS RADA Technologies, a subsidiary of Leonardo DRS, is focused on proprietary radar solutions and legacy avionics systems supporting the defense industry globally. The company is a global pioneer of AESA tactical radars for active military protection, counter-drone applications, critical infrastructure protection, and border surveillance. 

Job Summary

DRS RADA Technologies is seeking a strategic and results-oriented Senior Director of Programs to lead our company's program management function. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in managing and overseeing defense programs, demonstrating exceptional leadership skills and a strong track record of delivering successful outcomes. The Senior Director of Programs will be responsible for overseeing the full lifecycle of programs, from development through sustainment, and ensuring alignment with company objectives and customer requirements. This role will also involve providing strategic direction, managing program cost, schedule, and performance objectives, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.

Job Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and leadership for the company's program management function.
• Oversee the full lifecycle management of defense programs, including development, production, and sustainment.
• Ensure proper methods are followed to track program cost, schedules, and performance across the company's programs.
• Track all program cost, schedules, and performance against established program milestones; reporting the status to management stakeholders on a regular basis.
• Develop and implement recovery plans for yellow and red programs.
• Ensure program methodologies for the company and the program management directives are followed.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with existing customers, and obtain feedback on the company’s performance.
• Work closely with business development, marketing, and sales to enhance the business portfolio.
• This role will have profit and loss responsibility for the program portfolio it supports. 
• Lead all meetings and the integrated product team.
• Manage internal research and development programs.
• Develop internal relationships with management stakeholders.
• Manage Program Management development to include coaching, teaching, retaining, attracting, and mentoring for all programs.
• Lead monthly program reviews for the company.
• Conduct program reviews that identify root-cause and corrective action as well as continuous improvement and financial performance.
• Work closely with Business Development to provide future opportunities for existing customers and solutions for new customers.
• Understand and implement lean and process improvement principles.
• Develop processes for identifying, assessing, monitoring, and mitigating risk throughout the program lifecycle.
• Support, communicate, and defend the mission, values, and culture of the organization.

Qualifications

• Engineering or business degree required. Masters degree preferred.
• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience.
• Certification in Program Management preferred (i.e. PMP or DAU level 3)
• Advanced knowledge of program management tools and procedures
• Leadership and management skills, particularly influence management and conflict resolution
• Significant experience throughout the program lifecycle from development through sustainment to include proposal development, requirements decomposition, generation of system and subsystem statements of work and subcontracts, risk management, and continuous improvement efforts including implementation for cost reduction and performance improvement efforts
• Experience with earned value cost accounting and reporting; experience with metrics for assessing and reporting program progress, productivity and variance analysis
• Experience in finance, contracting, export regulations, engineering, logistics, manufacturing and supply chain management
• Excellent customer interface skills
• Advanced problem solving skills
• Excellent presentation skills)
• Demonstrated success in managing manpower planning, project reviews, scheduling and budget control
• Must have a successful track record in managing complex aerospace/defense programs such as a prime or sub contractor to a domestic or foreign military organization
• Must have excellent leadership and oral and written communication skills
• Must have a portfolio of programs in which financial objectives (profit, cash flow, revenue, bookings) were achieved
• Prefer experience with turnaround programs in which recovery was successful
• Ability to travel as needed
• U.S. Citizenship required.