Sr Director, Office of Program Management

Fortem Technologies•Lindon, UT

About The Position

The Senior Director, Office of Program Management establishes and leads Fortem’s Office of Program Management (OPM), owning the company’s program and project management function. The role is accountable for the health, performance, and continued maturation of management practices across strategic programs and projects, from complex, high-value government and defense programs to discrete customer and internal projects. Reporting to the COO, the Senior Director is the primary interface between the OPM and company leadership, customers, and government counterparts. The position establishes the OPM’s structure, governance, roles, program tiers, and operating rhythm; maintains executive visibility into portfolio cost, schedule, performance, and risk; and develops scalable methodologies and processes. The Senior Director may directly own the most complex or highest-priority programs, leads senior customer and executive engagement, and develops a high-performing PM organization. The role works across company functions to translate customer requirements and strategic objectives into executable plans and measurable outcomes, and supports proposals, program financial visibility, resource planning, and commitment decisions. Domestic and international travel may be required to meet programmatic needs.

Requirements

Progressive program and project leadership, including at least 3–5 years in a senior leadership role overseeing a PM organization, portfolio, or program management function.
Demonstrated experience building or maturing a program management function, office, or operating model from the ground up or through significant transformation.
Deep experience in aerospace, defense, UAS/C-UAS, government contracting, or complex technical product programs.
Proven ability to manage cost, schedule, performance, and risk across a portfolio of concurrent programs and projects of varying scale and complexity.
Strong executive communication, influence, negotiation, conflict-resolution, and decision-support skills.
Demonstrated ability to develop and retain PM talent across multiple levels.
Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, operations, or a related field, or equivalent relevant education, training, and experience.

Nice To Haves

PMP required; PgMP strongly preferred; DAWIA, Agile, Six Sigma, or equivalent advanced credentials are a plus.
Substantial aerospace/defense, DoD/DHS, UAS/C-UAS, weapons/integration, production, deployment, sustainment, or international defense experience.
Experience with DoD, DHS, or other domestic or international government programs, including contract management, government acquisition processes, and proposal development.
Experience with strategic customer relationships, complex contracts, program financials, supplier and partner performance, and recovery efforts; active clearance or ability to obtain one when required.
Experience managing international defense, deployment, or sustainment programs.
Master’s degree in management, engineering, or a related field.

Responsibilities

Establish and lead the Office of Program Management, defining its structure, governance, roles, tiering, and operating rhythm, including accountability distinctions among Project Manager, Program Manager, and Senior Program Manager tiers.
Maintain executive-level visibility across programs and projects; own portfolio-level cost, schedule, performance, and risk; and ensure consistent intake, prioritization, and resource allocation.
Establish and continually improve program management methodologies, intake processes, governance structures, templates, metrics, review cadences, and lessons-learned practices.
Retain direct ownership of complex or high-priority programs as needed; serve as their senior customer and executive interface; and lead major program reviews, recovery discussions, and priority and commitment decisions.
Hire, mentor, and develop a high-performing PM organization, building bench strength and improving planning quality, accountability, risk discipline, customer communication, and executive reporting.
Partner with Engineering, Product, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Finance, Contracts, Business Development, Professional Services, and Customer Success to drive integrated execution.
Translate customer requirements and strategic objectives into executable program structures, integrated schedules, resource plans, decision frameworks, and measurable outcomes.
Provide senior customer interface and executive communication, supporting customer and executive decision-making with clear, actionable program visibility.
Shape executable SOWs, proposals, ROMs, staffing plans, schedules, delivery assumptions, and bid/no-bid or commitment decisions; inform capture strategy from a program execution standpoint and ensure proposed commitments are achievable.
Own portfolio-level budget and forecast visibility, margin awareness, variance analysis, resource demand planning, and recovery actions.
Travel domestically and internationally as needed to meet programmatic requirements.