Senior Program Manager

Keel•Hollywood, SC

12d

About The Position

Keel is a company formed by bringing together three industry leaders with experience in steel fabrication, shipbuilding, aerospace, and defense manufacturing. It builds ships, defense systems, aerospace components, and heavy steel structures for critical missions. The Senior Program Manager provides strategic leadership and oversight across complex, multidisciplinary programs to achieve strong functional, technical, and financial performance. The role drives cross-organizational alignment, optimizes program execution, and ensures successful delivery of projects that support company goals and customer commitments. It leads program planning, execution, and governance; manages performance measures and executive reporting; develops program strategies and plans; and serves as a key contact for customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders. The position also leads cross-functional teams, oversees work orders and financial processes, manages risks and technical documentation, partners with manufacturing and fabrication teams, and mentors junior program staff. Travel between facilities may be required as needed.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Finance, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
10–15 years of progressive program management or project management experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership or supervisory capacity.
Experience in manufacturing or production environments.
Deep understanding of program and project management principles, including planning, critical path management, resource allocation, risk mitigation, and financial oversight.
Proficiency with ERP systems.
High proficiency in MS Project, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
Demonstrated ability to manage customer-facing communications and executive-level reporting.
Strong organizational skills and exceptional attention to detail, with the ability to manage multiple complex initiatives in a fast-paced environment.
Strong leadership capability and a track record of delivering programs on time and to high-quality standards.
Ability to travel between facilities as needed.
May be required to stand, walk, sit, reach, pull, push, climb or balance, stoop, or kneel regularly; may lift or carry up to 50 pounds. Weights exceeding 50 pounds require mechanical means to maneuver.

Nice To Haves

Advanced degree.
PMP certification.
Experience in heavy plate fabrication or welding-related industries.
IFS experience.
SmartSheet and Power BI experience.
Knowledge of welding processes, NDT methods, and AWS codes.

Responsibilities

Lead end-to-end planning, execution, and governance of assigned programs, aligning them with organizational objectives, budgets, and timelines.
Own program performance metrics and provide executive-level reporting on schedules, financials, risks, dependencies, resource needs, and critical paths.
Develop, maintain, and communicate program strategies, roadmaps, and plans; ensure consistent documentation, clear decision-making, and timely issue escalation.
Serve as the primary point of contact for key customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders, managing communication, expectations, and relationships.
Lead cross-functional teams spanning engineering, operations, supply chain, finance, and quality.
Oversee development and approval of work orders, change requests, and customer invoicing in compliance with financial controls and contract requirements.
Identify, analyze, and mitigate program risks, while pursuing opportunities to improve quality, throughput, and profitability.
Guide creation of program documentation, executive presentations, and updates for internal and external reviews.
Ensure effective management of technical data, configuration control, and program documentation requirements.
Partner with manufacturing and fabrication partners and internal leadership to resolve issues, support production needs, and meet program objectives.
Mentor and support junior program staff in project management tools, processes, and best practices.
Perform other related duties as assigned.