Program Operations Manager
About The Position
The Program Operations Manager leads the execution and integration of Operations across program stakeholders, ensuring quality, cost, schedule, and production performance objectives are met. The role serves as the primary Operations interface to Program Management and coordinates factory, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, and other cross-functional inputs into program execution plans. The position leads strategic Operations planning for development and production programs, including operational priorities and schedules for Make assemblies, alignment of Buy material requirements, and identification and resolution of risks and conflicts. It also plans transitions from development into production, covering manufacturing readiness, capacity, capital, material, tooling, and resources. The manager coordinates Operations strategies and requirements for program gate reviews, supports proposals and Basis of Estimates (BOEs), and owns the Program Operations budget and Estimate at Completion (EAC). Responsibilities include forecasting, cost and schedule risk identification, corrective actions, capital planning, affordability, cost reduction, and constraint management. The role presents Operations performance at management and program reviews, supports Operational Security (OPSEC), resolves complex cross-functional issues, and leads teams through influence without direct reporting authority. This is an onsite, U.S.-based role in Goleta, California. U.S. citizenship and an active, existing DoD Secret clearance are required after day one.
Requirements
- University degree or equivalent experience and at least 8 years of relevant experience, or an advanced degree in a related field and at least 5 years of experience.
- At least 5 years of experience in an Operations, Manufacturing, Program Management, and/or Supply Chain role.
- Experience supporting proposals, estimating, and/or developing Basis of Estimates (BOEs).
- U.S. citizenship; only U.S. citizens are eligible for the required security clearance.
- Active and existing DoD Secret security clearance required after day one.
Nice To Haves
- Experience managing cost and schedule performance.
- Experience developing and managing program budgets, forecasts, and Estimates at Completion (EACs).
- Experience transitioning development programs into production in the Aerospace & Defense environment.
- Experience with Make/Buy/Where decisions and program gate-review processes.
Responsibilities
- Lead Program Operations execution and integration across stakeholders to achieve quality, cost, schedule, and production performance objectives.
- Serve as the primary Operations interface to Program Management, integrating factory, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering, and other inputs into consolidated program execution plans.
- Lead strategic Operations planning for development and production programs, identifying risks, constraints, resource needs, and execution-improvement opportunities.
- Establish and maintain operational priorities and schedules for Make assemblies and align Buy material requirements with production execution.
- Identify, assess, communicate, and drive resolution of operational risks and conflicts affecting program requirements, cost, schedule, or production commitments.
- Lead Operations planning for transitions from development into production, including manufacturing readiness, capacity, capital, material, tooling, and resource requirements.
- Develop and coordinate Operations requirements and strategies for program gate reviews and ensure approved actions and strategies are implemented through production.
- Serve as the Operations point of contact for proposals, estimates, and BOEs, aligning proposed strategies, costs, assumptions, risks, and execution challenges with Operations leadership and factory stakeholders.
- Own the Program Operations budget and EAC, including forecasts, cost and schedule risk identification, and corrective actions.
- Support capital planning, affordability, cost-reduction, and constraint-management strategies.
- Prepare and present Operations performance at Monthly Management Reviews and other program or leadership reviews, communicating status, risks, recovery plans, and decisions needed.
- Support OPSEC requirements and collaborate with stakeholders to influence future program security strategies.
- Use cross-functional relationships, data, and fact-finding to define and drive solutions when requirements or paths forward are not fully established.
- Lead and influence cross-functional teams without direct reporting authority.
- Identify and resolve complex operational issues involving multiple functions or stakeholders.
Benefits
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
- Life insurance
- Short-term disability
- Long-term disability
- 401(k) match
- Flexible spending accounts
- Flexible work schedules
- Employee assistance program
- Employee Scholar Program
- Parental leave
- Paid time off
- Holidays
- Annual short-term and/or long-term incentive compensation programs may be available, depending on position level and collective-bargaining coverage.
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Manager
