VCM Director of Operations, New Construction Shipbuilding

TOTE Resources LLC•Philadelphia, PA

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Operations – New Construction Shipbuilding provides strategic and operational leadership for multiple vessel construction programs across domestic shipyards. This position is responsible for leading a team of Program Managers and cross-functional project teams to ensure new vessel construction projects are delivered safely, on schedule, within budget, and in compliance with contractual, regulatory, quality, and environmental requirements. The Director of Operations serves as the senior operational liaison between shipyards, government agencies, design partners, and executive leadership, driving consistent execution across multiple build locations while fostering a culture of Safety, Risk Mitigation, Operational Excellence, Accountability, and Continuous Improvement. This position serves as the TOTE Services’ authority on shipbuilding contract execution and commercial negotiations throughout the construction lifecycle. This individual must possess exceptional expertise in shipbuilding contracts, commercial risk allocation, and dispute resolution, enabling TOTE Services to protect its interests while maintaining productive relationships with shipbuilders, suppliers, classification societies, and Government/commercial customers. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in U.S. shipbuilding and contracting, with demonstrated expertise in cost, schedule, and performance oversight on large-scale programs. At TOTE Services, we value hard work, integrity, and an unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service. We invest in our people by providing access to a broad range of training and development programs, along with meaningful opportunities for career growth. While our teams support some of the nation’s most complex and demanding maritime projects, we are equally committed to fostering a healthy work-life balance, recognizing that the long-term success of our company depends on the well-being of our employees. TOTE Services is a company within the TOTE Group, which is part of the Saltchuk family of brands. Saltchuk is building the best family of transportation and distribution companies in North America.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Naval Architecture, Business Administration, Construction Management, or a related discipline.
Minimum of ten (10) years of progressive experience within the commercial or government shipbuilding industry.
Demonstrated success leading complex vessel construction programs simultaneously.
Extensive experience negotiating and administering shipbuilding contracts throughout the construction lifecycle.
Deep understanding of shipbuilding commercial practices, contract structures, change management, warranty provisions, claims, risk allocation, and dispute resolution.
Proven experience managing executive-level relationships with shipyards, customers, suppliers, and government organizations.
Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, cost control, profitability analysis, and risk management.
Willingness and ability to travel extensively to domestic shipyards and customer locations.

Nice To Haves

Experience with fixed-price, cost-reimbursable, and commercial shipbuilding contracts.
Experience supporting Government programs, including U.S. Navy, MARAD, USCG or other Federal agencies.
Familiarity with ABS, USCG, SOLAS, and other applicable maritime regulations and classification requirements.
Project Management Professional (PMP) certification or equivalent executive program management credentials.

Responsibilities

Promote the TOTE Services safety culture and adhere to all safety guidelines. Make safety a priority in everything we do.
Provide strategic leadership and operational oversight for multiple concurrent high-value shipbuilding programs.
Direct and mentor Program Managers responsible for individual vessel construction programs.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, continuous improvement, and operational excellence.
Present accurate, timely, and actionable program status, risks, and recommendations to executive leadership.
Standardize program management processes, procedures, reporting, and governance across multiple shipyards and vessel programs.
Establish consistent project controls, performance metrics, forecasting methodologies, and reporting standards.
Promote organizational consistency while recognizing the unique characteristics of individual shipyards and vessel programs.
Ensure lessons learned are captured and incorporated into future projects.
Serve as an expert for shipbuilding contract interpretation, administration, and execution.
Lead complex commercial negotiations with domestic shipbuilders throughout the life of each construction contract.
Evaluate contractual trade-offs and negotiate commercially advantageous solutions while protecting the Company's long-term interests.
Develop negotiation strategies and risk mitigation approaches that balance schedule, cost, technical performance, warranty obligations, risk allocation, and customer expectations.
Support proposal development, contract formation, contract modifications, and claims management activities.
Travel to shipyards nationwide to negotiate complex commercial issues and facilitate resolution of contractual disputes.
Oversee financial performance across all assigned programs, including forecasting, cash flow, contingency management, and profitability.
Monitor contract performance and ensure financial exposure is appropriately managed.
Partner with Finance and Program Management teams to improve forecasting accuracy and financial discipline.
Support executive decision-making through accurate operational and financial analysis.
Maintain executive-level relationships with shipbuilders, customers, government agencies, classification societies, and key industry partners.
Represent the Company during executive meetings, negotiations, program reviews, and dispute resolution sessions.
Build collaborative relationships while effectively advocating for TOTE Services’ contractual and commercial interests.
Lead, mentor, and develop Program Managers and cross-functional project teams.
Support succession planning strategies for key operational positions.