Senior Director, Programs - Space & Directed Energy

Job Details

Description

The Senior Director, Programs – Space and Directed Energy is a key leader responsible for ensuring disciplined and accountable program execution across a portfolio of national security and defense programs. This leader will drive performance across cost, schedule, and technical objectives while equipping and developing program managers to operate with excellence in a publicly traded environment.

This role requires a seasoned program leader with deep experience in space and/or directed energy programs, and a demonstrated ability to lead complex efforts across cross-functional teams — including engineering, supply chain, security, IT, mission assurance, and finance — to deliver for customers and shareholders.

In addition to overseeing execution, the Senior Director will be responsible for ensuring program managers are fully trained and proficient in Estimate at Completion (EAC) development working alongside the corporate PMO office and finance to produce financial forecasting consistent with public company expectations and SEC requirements.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide leadership for all programs within the Space and Directed Energy portfolio, ensuring delivery to contractual commitments, customer expectations, and internal performance targets.
• Partner with Program Directors and Program Managers to establish and maintain rigorous program baselines, including Integrated Master Schedules, cost baselines, risk and opportunity plans, and performance measures.
• Lead the implementation of best-in-class program management disciplines, with emphasis on EAC development, monthly program reviews, variance analysis, and accurate forecasting to support public company reporting obligations.
• Serve as leadership escalation point for critical program issues, ensuring timely resolution of cost, schedule, technical, and customer challenges.
• Develop and execute plans to continuously improve program execution maturity across the organization, including training and certifying program managers on financial acumen and EAC rigor.
• Integrate cross-functional teams (engineering, supply chain, security, IT, mission assurance, contracts, finance) to enable seamless program execution and anticipate and resolve systemic issues.
• Actively engage with customers to foster trusted relationships and ensure alignment of program delivery with mission priorities.
• Lead program management input to the proposal and capture strategy process for strategic program pursuits, including competitive positioning, pricing, and risk management.
• Champion a culture of accountability, collaboration, and technical and business excellence across all programs and teams.
• Develop and mentor program leadership talent, building succession depth and reinforcing disciplined program leadership behaviors.
  
  

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, or related field (master’s degree preferred).
• Minimum 20 years of program leadership experience, with extensive background in space, directed energy, or defense programs.
• S. Citizenship and ability to obtain and maintain a security clearance at the TS/SCI level.
• In addition to the above, the below items are required and will be evaluated in the interview process:
• Demonstrated success leading large, complex, multi-disciplinary programs with demanding customer and shareholder requirements.
• Deep understanding of program financial management, including EAC, earned value management, variance analysis, and forecasting in a public company environment.
• Proven ability to develop talent and lead program management teams with focus on business acumen, execution discipline, and customer success.
• Excellent executive communication and collaboration skills, with the ability to drive outcomes across diverse stakeholder groups.
  

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior P&L responsibility or executive-level program oversight.
• PMP or equivalent program management certification.
• Familiarity with agile development and digital engineering approaches for defense programs.
• Experience briefing senior government customers and public company executive leadership.
  
  

Work Environment and Culture

The Senior Director, Programs will join a fast-growing and mission-focused organization that delivers critical capabilities for national security and defense customers. This role offers a unique opportunity to shape a rapidly scaling business, drive enterprise-level program rigor, and develop a next-generation program management team capable of thriving in a public company environment. This leader will play a central role in ensuring the business delivers on its commitments to customers, employees, and shareholders.

Salary Range: $230,000 - $285,000

• BlueHalo, an AV company pay range for this job level is a general guideline only and not a guarantee of compensation or salary. Determination of official compensation or salary relies on several factors including, but not limited to, level of position, job responsibilities, geographic location, scope of relevant work experience, educational background, certifications, contract-specific affordability, organizational requirements, alignment with local internal equity as well as alignment with market data.
• Our compensation package also includes components designed to support employees’ total well-being, which should be considered when evaluating our competitive benefits package. These benefits include health insurance, life insurance, disability, company holiday and paid time off, parental leave, 401(k) company match and contributions, professional development/training reimbursements, and other work/life programs.