Operational Transformation & Program Excellence Manager (Part-time)

AIRBUS U.S. Space & Defense•Arlington, VA

3d•Hybrid

About The Position

Airbus U.S. Space & Defense is seeking an Operational Transformation & Program Excellence Manager to join their team in a dynamic, part-time capacity. This role is designed for a versatile leader capable of balancing long-term organizational maturation with the immediate, high stakes demands of a critical software development project. This role will be a key architect of operational transformation, bridging the gap between business needs and efficient workflows. In the near term, you will drive program excellence through rigorous performance tracking and data-driven decision support, ensuring Agile delivery milestones are met with precision.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in business, engineering or another relevant field.
10+ years of increasing responsibility in Quality Compliance, Operations, and Project Management within the Aerospace and Defense industry.
Proven track record in overseeing software quality processes and ensuring adherence to established quality management frameworks.
Experience with project controls (EAC/ETC).
Expertise in ISO 9001 and AS9100 regulatory frameworks, including risk management and configuration control.
Familiarity with Agile methodologies, including tracking velocity, sprint health, and iterative delivery schedules.
Strong ability to influence without authority and lead technical teams toward organizational milestones.
Ability to translate complex technical and financial data into clear, accessible business processes and reports.
A proactive problem-solver comfortable pivoting between strategic operational transformation and tactical program excellence support.
Proficiency in Deltek Costpoint ERP, Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint, and Salesforce.
U.S. Citizenship required.
Ability to obtain and maintain a government security clearance.
Active DoD security clearance.

Nice To Haves

PMP, Lean Six Sigma (Green or Black Belt), Certified Scrum Master, Certified Lead Auditor, or CBPP credentials preferred.

Responsibilities

Track and analyze key performance metrics; provide deep-dive analysis of project performance.
Monitor project performance against schedule milestones, ensuring alignment between sprints, backlog progression, and overarching program goals.
Oversee the verification of software quality processes to ensure compliance with internal standards and project requirements.
Lead the analysis of manpower needs, identifying specialized skill gaps and ensuring resource allocation matches development velocity.
Drive action execution across cross-functional teams to resolve bottlenecks and maintain momentum.
Execute high-priority ad hoc tasks and synthesize complex project data into actionable insights to support leadership decision-making.
Manage, map, and continuously improve end-to-end business process documentation to ensure efficient, lean workflows.
Drive the journey toward achieving and maintaining ISO 9001 quality certification; conduct gap analyses and implement necessary QMS frameworks.
Project manage high-impact CI initiatives using Airbus Operating System and Lean Manufacturing methodologies to enhance agility and efficiency.
Support organizational transformation by analyzing current states, designing change strategies, and building data-driven proposals to secure leadership approval and guide cross-functional implementation.
Collaborate with IT and Business Operations to leverage automation tools, ensuring seamless integration of systems like ERP and CRM into daily operations.
Other duties as assigned