Program Manager - Defense (Active Secret clearance required)

Security clearance: Active Secret clearance required

About the Opportunity

Our client is seeking an experienced Program Manager to lead complex defense programs from contract award through execution and delivery. This role is responsible for overall program success, including schedule, cost, customer satisfaction, and cross-functional team leadership.

The successful candidate will serve as the primary interface with customers while coordinating engineering, operations, finance, and business functions to ensure contractual commitments are achieved. Relocation assistance is available for qualified candidates.

Position Overview

As a Program Manager, you will oversee all phases of program execution while driving performance against technical, financial, and schedule objectives. You'll build strong customer relationships, manage multidisciplinary teams, identify program risks, and ensure successful execution throughout the entire program lifecycle.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Lead defense programs from contract award through development, production, delivery, and sustainment.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for customers, developing trusted relationships and ensuring program success.
• Develop and manage integrated program plans, schedules, budgets, and resource allocations.
• Coordinate cross-functional engineering, operations, supply chain, contracts, finance, and quality teams.
• Monitor program performance against cost, schedule, technical, and contractual objectives.
• Prepare and communicate program status, financial forecasts, and performance metrics to senior leadership.
• Identify program risks and implement effective mitigation strategies throughout the program lifecycle.
• Develop corrective action plans to address schedule, cost, or technical performance challenges.
• Support business growth initiatives, including proposal development, customer engagement, and capture activities.
• Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the program team.

Required Qualifications

• Active U.S. DoD Secret Security Clearance (or higher) with an investigation completed within the past five years.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Program Management, or a related discipline.
• Master's degree is preferred.
• Minimum of ten (10) years of program management or program leadership experience.
• Demonstrated success managing complex defense, aerospace, or other highly technical programs.
• Experience leading cross-functional teams in matrix organizations.
• Strong financial management experience, including budgeting, forecasting, and program cost control.
• Working knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM), program metrics, variance analysis, and schedule management.
• Excellent communication, leadership, negotiation, and customer relationship management skills.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with one or more of the following is considered highly desirable:

• Defense or aerospace programs
• Government contracts
• Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) development and management
• Risk and opportunity management
• Proposal development and capture support
• Multi-disciplinary engineering organizations
• Program lifecycle management
• Contract execution within a DoD environment