Program Manager I

Elbit America•Choctaw, MS

About The Position

The Program Manager I is an entry-level program management position that works under the supervision of a more senior program leader. The role is responsible for planning and executing assigned smaller projects or programs throughout the program lifecycle, including cost, schedule, quality, customer satisfaction, and technical performance. The position uses successful execution to support future growth and communicates with customers proactively, with minimal oversight, to build trust by meeting commitments and quality standards. The Program Manager I forecasts sales, new business, and gross profit for assigned projects or programs to support business-unit operational goals. The role directs smaller program teams or Integrated Product Teams and uses Earned Value and other techniques to identify issues and monitor performance. It applies company policies, procedures, and program-management best practices while coordinating with customers, leadership, finance, operations, engineering, suppliers, and other stakeholders.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required.
1–3 years of functional experience using the relevant skill set required.
Ability to analyze, evaluate, and interpret information effectively.
Ability to build and maintain constructive customer relationships.
Ability to understand industry trends and customers' strategies, strengths, and weaknesses.
Knowledge or experience in the applicable technical area or product line.
Familiarity with the five project-management phases: Initiate, Plan, Execute, Monitor & Control, and Close.
Demonstrated ability to complete projects or programs on time, within scope and budget, delivering a quality product and high customer satisfaction.
Ability to guide a team with minimal oversight in following disciplined internal processes aligned with industry-standard tools, and to hold others accountable.
Basic understanding of Earned Value Management, program planning, risk management, and requirements management.
General knowledge and understanding of program budgeting.
Experience with negotiations, collaborative problem-solving, conflict management, meeting facilitation, and applying tact and diplomacy with internal and external customers and foreign personnel.
Proficiency with MS Office applications, including Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Visio, Outlook, and Project.

Nice To Haves

CAPM, PMP, or equivalent certification.

Responsibilities

Hold self and team accountable for high performance standards and manage changing priorities with some oversight.
Communicate project or program objectives to the team and explain how the program supports company and business-area strategic plans.
Lead development of detailed project or program plans using company policies, procedures, and program-management best practices.
Lead assigned project teams in accordance with project or program plans.
Prepare and interpret risk and opportunity analyses and financial reports, anticipate problems, take corrective action, and plan for management reserves.
Work with finance and Business Area leadership to forecast new business, sales, and gross profit for annual operating plans.
Establish project budgets and hold Control Account Managers accountable for adherence.
Identify continuous-improvement opportunities and foster an entrepreneurial, collaborative workforce to meet customer requirements.
Build and maintain customer relationships, anticipate customer needs, address issues, and maintain open communication.
Serve as the primary customer point of contact and assure satisfaction with product performance, delivery, cost, and contracted scope.
Provide Business Area leadership and customers with program-performance details, risk assessments, improvement opportunities, and recommended solutions.
Coordinate with marketing personnel as requested and assist with preparing and implementing marketing plans and proposals.
Apply strategic thinking to anticipate challenges, align program objectives with organizational goals, and balance long-term value with near-term priorities.
Assist in developing contract-negotiation strategies with customers, suppliers, and affiliates to achieve financial objectives.
Understand contractual obligations, communicate requirements to stakeholders, and ensure obligations are met by identifying and mitigating risks.
Plan and execute programs according to contractual obligations, directly or indirectly managing multiple suppliers, affiliates, or peer organizations.
Conduct internal and external program reviews to monitor execution, inform management, and collect feedback, risk-assessment inputs, and improvement opportunities.
Create, maintain, and present Program Scorecards.
Coordinate with Operations and Engineering on design-for-manufacturability efforts and smooth transition to production for development programs.
Support internal and external technical discussions to ensure technical requirements are met.
Promote company policies and best practices to achieve program quality goals.
Perform other job-related tasks as assigned by the manager.