Director of Programs 2 – Mission Enabling Products

Northrop Grumman • San Diego, CA

13d • $266,300 - $399,500 • Onsite

About The Position

Northrop Grumman Space Systems’ Mission Enabling Products Business Unit is seeking a Director of Programs for its Propulsion, Aerospace Services & Structures Operating Unit. The position may be based at the Commerce, California, or San Diego, California, facility. It is on-site and requires travel to other Northrop Grumman locations and to customer and supplier sites as needed. Relocation assistance may be available.

Reporting directly to the Mission Enabling Products Business Unit Vice President, the Operating Unit Director provides overall leadership for the business, program portfolios, and supporting staff. The role oversees a high-mix, high-volume portfolio of complex programs and is accountable for financial, planning, schedule, technical, and quality objectives, while advancing product-line efficiency and the organization’s position in aerospace and defense markets.

The Director leads program execution and risk management across both facilities, develops and mentors program managers, shapes business growth and customer relationships, and provides cross-functional and matrix leadership. The role also supports operational oversight, compliance, safety and quality, and planning for capital investment, facility sustainment, and modernization. The successful candidate must be able to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance with SAP eligibility and must be a U.S. citizen.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree.
• 15 or more years of industry program or project management experience, including responsibility for both execution and growth of a diverse program and new business portfolio.
• Experience leading diverse cross-functional teams through direct and indirect leadership and influence to develop and execute a vision and business strategy that achieves or exceeds program performance and financial objectives.
• Expertise in customer shaping and engagement, including developing winning strategies to position for future opportunities.
• Ability to resolve disputes through negotiation strategies that produce positive business outcomes while maintaining strong customer relationships.
• Strong record of disciplined program execution, including risk management, issue resolution, and performance to plan.
• Ability to build, develop, and lead program management teams, including delegation, coaching, and succession planning.
• Ability to lead in a cross-functional team environment and teach or mentor others to do the same.
• Strong formal and informal communication skills with internal and external management at all levels.
• Exceptional communication and collaboration skills, including the ability to influence across organizational boundaries and at executive levels.
• Ability to obtain and maintain a Top Secret clearance with SAP eligibility.
• U.S. citizenship.

Nice To Haves

• 10 or more years of experience managing complex programs and portfolios with significant new business capture and growth responsibilities.
• Experience in aerospace, defense, or adjacent industries.
• Knowledge of Northrop Grumman internal processes, procedures, and organizational structure.
• Ability to develop and present strategies, business cases, and program status to senior customers and internal executive audiences.
• Current Top Secret clearance with SAP eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Propulsion and Structures Operating Unit and its high-mix, high-volume portfolio of complex programs.
• Ensure financial performance, including profit and loss and return on invested capital, as well as Annual Operating Planning, Long Range Strategic Planning, schedule, technical, and quality objectives.
• Drive product-line streamlining and strengthen the Operating Unit’s presence in aerospace and defense markets.
• Drive disciplined program execution, risk management, and performance management across programs at both facilities.
• Lead, mentor, and develop program managers, establishing clear expectations, accountability, and development paths.
• Help program managers strengthen partnerships and collaboration with functional teams and deepen customer intimacy.
• Champion an inclusive, high-integrity culture that supports engagement, collaboration, safety, teamwork, continuous improvement, innovation, and high performance.
• Maintain and improve employee morale and communication across organizational levels and functions; coach and mentor leaders and team members.
• Support employee career growth, work satisfaction, and retention.
• Provide clarity in priorities, roles, expectations, decisions, organizational changes, and strategic direction; delegate to support leadership development and organizational speed.
• Shape and execute the Operating Unit’s growth strategy, including identifying, capturing, and executing new business opportunities.
• Engage internal and external customers and partners to strengthen relationships, understand emerging requirements, and position the company for long-term success.
• Provide indirect leadership to supporting disciplines to align their work with Operating Unit, Business Unit, and Space Systems goals.
• Collaborate with Business Development, Engineering, Operations, and other stakeholders to align capabilities and investments with customer needs and competitive positioning.
• Coordinate with Business Unit leadership and other company sites to leverage enterprise capabilities, share best practices, and drive improvement.
• Support day-to-day Operating Unit oversight with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Mission Assurance, EHS, Security, HR, and other functional partners.
• Help ensure compliance with federal, state, and local regulations, including environmental, safety, labor, security, and site-specific requirements.
• Assist with planning and prioritizing capital investments, facility sustainment, and modernization initiatives.
• Promote a strong safety and quality culture, support safe operations, and ensure timely resolution of safety and quality issues while enabling compliant and efficient innovation.

Benefits

• Health insurance coverage.
• Life and disability insurance.
• Savings plan.
• Company-paid holidays.
• Paid time off for vacation and/or personal business.
• Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus.
• Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for long-term incentives.
• Relocation assistance may be available.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director