Sr. Director, Programs

The Senior Director of Programs provides leadership and oversight for a portfolio of defense programs, with full accountability for profit and loss (P&L), execution performance, and strategic alignment. This role leads a team of Directors and Program Managers and serves as the primary portfolio authority for program governance, financial performance, and delivery excellence. The Senior Director is responsible for translating corporate strategy and contracts into executable program plans, ensuring performance against contracts and the Annual Operating Plan (AOP), while maintaining disciplined execution through established program management frameworks. This leader ensures programs are appropriately staffed, teams are trained and developed, risks are actively managed, and commitments to customers are met in compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements. Acting as a key interface between customers, executive leadership, and cross-functional partners, the Senior Director of Programs drives operational rigor, financial integrity, and continuous improvement across the portfolio while building a strong leadership bench to support long-term business growth.

Essential Functions

• Provide overall leadership and accountability for a portfolio of defense programs, with full profit and loss (P&L) responsibility, ensuring financial performance meets or exceeds Annual Operating Plan (AOP) commitments.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Directors and Program Managers, establishing clear performance expectations, accountability, and succession planning in alignment with AEVEX goals.
• Ensure programs are executed in compliance with contract requirements, customer expectations, regulatory standards, company policies, and KPIs.
• Conduct monthly Program Management Reviews (PMR) for all programs within the portfolio and provide summary status to senior leadership.
• Align portfolio strategy with corporate and business unit strategic objectives, translating long-term vision into executable program plans.
• Provide strategic and financial input to the Annual Operating Plan (AOP), long-range planning, and investment prioritization processes.
• Drive execution against AOP commitments, including revenue, margin, cash flow, schedule, and customer satisfaction metrics.
• Ensure the portfolio is appropriately staffed, balancing workload, skills, and cost efficiency across programs.
• Establish and sustain a robust talent development and training framework to ensure program teams possess the required technical, leadership, and compliance capabilities.
• Identify, assess, and actively manage program risks and opportunities, implementing mitigation and recovery plans as needed.
• Serve as a senior interface with customers, partners, and internal stakeholders, fostering trust, transparency, and long-term relationships.
• Ensure compliance with the AEVEX Quality Management System (QMS) and applicable Government standards for all portfolio efforts.
• Champion continuous improvement in program management processes, tools, and best practices across the portfolio.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Operations, Finance, Supply Chain, Contracts, and Business Development to ensure integrated execution.
• Work with Business Development to support capture, proposal development, and transition activities for new program wins as required.
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Regular and reliable attendance on a full time basis [or in accordance with posted schedule].
• Responsible for exhibiting professional behavior with both internal and external business associates that reflects positively on the company and is consistent with the company's policies and practices.
• Embodies AEVEX’s cultural values and aligns daily actions with department goals and company culture.

Qualifications

• Current Secret DoW clearance with ability to obtain/maintain a Top Secret/SCI DoW clearance, U.S. Citizenship required.
• Demonstrated experience managing large, complex program portfolios with full P&L accountability.
• Proven track record leading and developing senior leaders (Directors, Program Managers, and cross-functional teams).
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, earned value management (EVM), and margin management.
• Deep understanding of government contracting environments, including FAR/DFARS, compliance, and customer oversight.
• Excellent executive-level communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization and with external customers.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; both written and verbal.
• Detail oriented with strong planning, organizational, project management, and