Director, V-BAT Middle East & Asia-Pacific Programs (R6512)

Shield AI•Dallas, TX

About The Position

Shield AI is seeking a Program Director to lead a team of Program Managers delivering and sustaining unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems. The role is responsible for sustaining and growing the company’s Middle East and Asia-Pacific Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) programs and managing the portfolio to meet or exceed Annual Operating Plan objectives. The Director guides program execution, customer relationships, contract initiation and sustainment, team development, and improvements to DCS program management processes and tools. This position balances changing customer priorities across cost, schedule, and technical parameters, and coordinates stakeholders across functions to deliver programs with strong technical performance. The Director oversees program metrics and reporting, critical-path analyses, risk mitigation, resource prioritization, and schedule performance. The role reports directly to Shield AI’s Senior Director of Program Management.

Requirements

Program management experience with Direct Commercial Sales, Foreign Military Sales, or Department of Defense programs.
Proven experience building, growing, and leading a program team.
Deep expertise in project and program management.
Willingness and ability to travel internationally as needed.
Ability to focus on long-term business objectives.
Ability to independently manage advanced programs consisting of multiple interrelated projects.
Experience with scheduling tools such as Microsoft Project or Smartsheet.
Significant experience and strong skills with Microsoft Office Suite.
Strong leadership, time management, organizational, and team management skills.
Excellent interpersonal, verbal, and written communication skills.
Expert understanding of complex project financials.
Demonstrated record of hard work, trustworthiness, high standards, and kindness toward others.
Cleared background; offers are contingent on a background check and possible reference check.

Responsibilities

Lead a team to sustain and grow the company’s Middle East and Asia-Pacific Direct Commercial Sales programs.
Manage the portfolio of programs to meet or exceed company Annual Operating Plan objectives.
Deliver reliable performance in support of customer and end-user missions through program execution and team leadership.
Shape and codify processes and procedures for collaborating with, motivating, and managing stakeholders to deliver programs early, under budget, and with strong technical performance.
Balance shifting customer priorities related to program cost, schedule, and technical parameters.
Guide the initiation and sustainment of DCS contracts for Shield AI’s V-BAT systems.
Lead identification, development, and implementation of improvements to DCS program management processes and tools.
Provide hands-on project and program management as needed as the program grows.
Oversee customer relationships and act as the key escalation point for program, project, and operational performance issues.
Drive efforts to meet budget, schedule, and scope requirements.
Ensure accurate and timely tracking and reporting of budget, resource, and project management metrics.
Complete critical-path analyses, evaluate ways to accelerate execution, and mitigate identified risks.
Identify bottlenecks or delays and drive efforts to keep projects on schedule.
Partner with leadership to prioritize projects and manage resource utilization.
Hire and supervise project and program managers as needed to support international-sector growth.
Develop Program Managers who plan, schedule, and control complex projects spanning multiple organizations.
Provide leadership and support to DCS project and program managers to ensure projects follow applicable processes, policies, and procedures.
Oversee the distribution, prioritization, quality, and volume of the DCS Program Management team’s work.
Establish and lead an effective cadence of organized, well-facilitated meetings, including preparation and follow-up.
Foster accountability, program execution excellence, collaboration, and shared responsibility for outcomes.