Program Manager - PMO

Aspire MRO LLC•Fort Worth, TX

About The Position

The Program Manager (PM) is responsible for establishing and leading the Program Management Office (PMO) to ensure consistent, disciplined execution of project management practices across aircraft engineering, modification, and maintenance (MRO) programs. This role provides program-level governance, integration, and performance oversight, with accountability for schedule, cost, risk, and customer commitments. The PM does not directly manage production execution but works with stakeholders to ensure that all work is aligned to approved scope, properly planned, and delivered in accordance with program objectives. Production and technical teams retain responsibility for executing work in accordance with engineering task cards, technical data, and regulatory requirements. The PMO, led by the Program Manager, ensures transparency, coordination, and control across all program elements. In addition, the PM will lead business transformation initiatives, driving standardization, process improvement, and maturity of project management capabilities across the organization.

Requirements

10+ years of program/project management experience in aviation MRO, aerospace, or complex engineering environments
Proven experience operating within or establishing a PMO or program governance structure
Formal project management training or certification (PMBOK, PRINCE2, or equivalent)
Strong understanding of program controls (scope, schedule, cost, risk)
Demonstrated ability to influence cross functional teams without direct authority

Nice To Haves

Experience in aircraft modification, heavy maintenance, or multi-aircraft programs
Familiarity with aviation regulatory environments (FAA, EASA)
Experience leading transformation, process improvement, or operational excellence initiatives, including Lean, Six Sigma, or similar methodologies

Responsibilities

PMO Leadership & Governance
Establish, implement, and continuously improve the PMO framework, including tools, standards, and governance processes.
Drive consistent application of project management best practices across all programs and business units.
Define program governance structures, reporting cadences, and escalation pathways.
Ensure alignment between program objectives, customer requirements, and internal operational capabilities.
Scope Management
Ensure all work remains aligned with approved configuration and contractual scope.
Govern scope changes through structured processes, ensuring proper evaluation, approval, and documentation.
Schedule Management
Develop and maintain the integrated program master schedule.
Track dependencies across functions and aircraft inputs, identifying and resolving cross program bottlenecks.
Provide forward looking visibility on milestones, risks, and delivery performance.
Cost & Budget Control
Monitor program financial performance, including labor, material, and sub-contractor costs.
Track actuals against budget and forecast, highlighting variances and driving corrective actions.
Partner with finance and operations to ensure cost transparency and accountability.
Risk & Issue Management
Establish and maintain program level risk and issue registers.
Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate risks that impact schedule, cost, or delivery.
Drive cross-functional resolution of critical issues.
Customer & Stakeholder Management
Serve as the primary interface for program level communication with customers.
Provide accurate, timely, and transparent reporting on program performance.
Manage stakeholder expectations and ensure alignment on priorities, risks, and changes.
Coordinate internally across engineering, operations, supply chain, and quality to ensure a unified customer approach.
Change & Configuration Management
Lead structured change management processes for engineering, scope, and customer driven changes.
Ensure all changes are assessed for cost, schedule, and risk impacts prior to approval.
Maintain alignment between configuration, contractual requirements, and program execution.
Business Transformation & Continuous Improvement
Lead initiatives to mature PMO capabilities, tools, and ways of working across the organization.
Drive standardization, efficiency, and data driven decision making in program management.
Implement best practices (e.g., Lean, Agile, digital PM tools) to enhance delivery performance.
Support organizational change management to embed sustainable improvements.