Program Management Associate Director

Iridium Satellite • Reston, VA

18h • Hybrid

About The Position

Iridium is seeking a Program Management Associate Director for its Bumblebee program. This role involves working with senior management to establish strategic plans and objectives for supporting a mission-critical Ground Segment infrastructure for government satellite operations. The position is within the National Security Missions group, focusing on full-lifecycle ground architecture. The role offers an opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge space technologies in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment and requires an active TS/SCI Clearance.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, mathematics, or science required
• 12+ years of U.S. Government (USG) program/project management experience, preferably supporting Department of Defense (DoD) and/or Intelligence Community (IC) satellite or ground segment programs
• 5–7 years of engineering or technical foundation experience sufficient to credibly lead multidisciplinary teams and engage in informed program-level trade discussions
• Demonstrated experience managing programs using Scaled Agile (SAFe) or hybrid delivery frameworks
• Proven ability to manage cost, schedule, and performance baselines across complex, multi-vendor programs with competing priorities and firm deadlines
• Strong executive communication skills — able to distill complex program status, risks, and recommendations into clear, confident briefings tailored to diverse audiences
• Strategic thinker with sound judgment and decisiveness, able to assess ambiguous situations and drive effective solutions
• Track record of building trusted relationships with senior leadership, customers, and cross-functional teams to achieve shared program outcomes
• Proactive mindset — consistently identifies process improvements, shares knowledge, and raises the performance of those around them
• Active TS/SCI Clearance (A U.S. Security Clearance that has been active in the past 24 months is considered active)
• Be a U.S. citizen

Nice To Haves

• Advanced degree preferred
• Project Management Accreditation (APMP, PMI or equivalent)

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end program execution for ground segment development, ensuring cost, schedule, and performance baselines are met across all satellite operations deliverables and contract milestones.
• Own program financial performance, managing budgets, funding profiles, and Estimates to Complete while proactively surfacing variances and corrective actions to senior leadership.
• Serve as the primary customer interface, leading program status reviews, change board discussions, and stakeholder engagements to maintain alignment on ground segment priorities and mission timelines.
• Drive risk and opportunity management by maintaining the program risk register, ensuring mitigations are funded and resourced, and escalating critical items ahead of major decision gates.
• Manage cross-functional dependencies and subcontractor performance, holding internal teams and vendors accountable to integrated schedule commitments and contract deliverable quality.
• Ensure contract compliance and deliverable acceptance, working closely with contracts, finance, and quality assurance to meet all contract deliverables, and performance indicator targets.
• Partner with senior leadership to shape program strategy, including growth planning, follow-on positioning, and alignment of ground segment investments with broader organizational and customer objectives.
• Lead proposal development and capture efforts for follow-on contracts, modifications, and new business pursuits, driving win strategies, basis of estimates, and management volume development.
• Deliver clear, concise briefings to executive leadership and customers on program health, emerging risks, resource needs, and key decisions requiring action.
• Build, develop, and retain a high-performing program team, setting priorities, removing obstacles, and fostering accountability across engineering, operations, and delivery staff.

Benefits

• Award-winning and innovative satellite communications company
• Opportunity to work on mission-critical Ground Segment infrastructure for government satellite operations
• Center of a National Security Missions group dedicated to full-lifecycle ground architecture
• Work alongside a highly skilled, cross-functional team solving complex, real-world challenges
• Contribute to cutting-edge space technologies in a fast-paced, high-visibility environment
• Exciting and innovative workplace
• Challenged to think outside the box and collaborate on new, bold ideas and solutions
• Passionate teams making an impact around the world
• Empowering and inclusive culture
• Opportunity to truly make a difference in the world
• Celebrates employees

What This Job Offers

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