Program Manager, Strategic Partnerships

Saildrone • Alameda, CA

40d

About The Position

Saildrone is seeking a Program Manager, Strategic Partnerships to join our Programs & Partnerships team. Reporting directly to the Chief Business Officer (CBO), you will play a critical role in acting as the single-threaded owner for Saildrone’s most strategic partner relationships and ensuring predictable, on-time, on-cost execution across complex, multi-year programs. Your work will directly impact delivery performance, partner trust, and Saildrone’s expansion in national security and defense markets. We are looking for a senior program leader who creates clarity from ambiguity, operates with a high bar for ownership and accountability, and independently drives execution across highly cross-functional, mission-critical initiatives in a fast-paced environment.

Requirements

• 12+ years of experience leading complex technical programs, including ownership of customer-facing, mission-critical initiatives.
• Proven success managing executive-level partner relationships in defense, aerospace, maritime, or national-security environments.
• Deep experience managing cost, schedule, scope, and risk across multi-disciplinary engineering organizations.
• Strong executive presence with the ability to influence, negotiate, and drive alignment at all levels.
• Ability to operate independently as a single point of accountability in fast-moving, ambiguous environments.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, including executive-level briefings.
• Familiarity with government, classified, export-controlled, or highly regulated contracting environments strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the executive point of contact for assigned strategic partner, owning senior-level relationships and day-to-day program execution.
• Own a portfolio of complex projects, from contract award through delivery, acceptance, sustainment, and expansion.
• Lead cross-functional execution across engineering, operations, manufacturing, supply chain, finance, legal, security, and field teams.
• Establish and maintain integrated master plans, schedules, and budgets to ensure predictable delivery.
• Anticipate, surface, and mitigate technical, schedule, cost, contractual, and operational risks.
• Drive structured program, partner, and executive reviews with clear accountability and decision-making.
• Partner closely with business development and executive leadership to identify follow-on opportunities, program extensions, and new strategic initiatives.
• Represent the partner internally and Saildrone externally with authority, credibility, and clarity.

Benefits

• Generous Time Off: Competitive Paid Time Off (PTO) accrual plus a robust annual holiday schedule and paid sick leave ensure you can rest, reset, and sustain performance over time.
• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Premium, multi-tier Medical, Dental, and Vision plans with significant company contributions for employees and dependents—providing security and peace of mind.
• Shared Ownership in the Mission: Equity grants are a core part of our compensation, allowing you to participate in the long-term value you help create through meaningful, operational work.
• Retirement Savings: Access to a 401(k) retirement plan with flexible pre-tax and Roth payroll contribution options supports long-term financial planning.
• Investment in Your Growth: We support your continuous learning through an annual professional development reimbursement program, empowering you to sharpen your skills and stay ahead of the curve in a rapidly evolving field.
• Relocation Support: For eligible roles, we offer relocation assistance to help bring the world’s best talent to our mission-critical locations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed