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Hanwha Defense USA, Inc.

Chief of Staff - Shipbuilding

arlington, VA

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About this opportunity

Hanwha Defense USA, Inc. lists this Chief of Staff - Shipbuilding opportunity in arlington, Virginia. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.

Job description

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Chief of Staff - Shipbuilding

Arlington, VA, US

3 days ago Requisition ID: 1207

Salary Range: $200,000.00 To $300,000.00 Annually

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Chief of Staff serves as the senior executive advisor and operational coordinator to President, US Shipbuilding, ensuring strategic priorities are delivered, cross‑functional initiatives are managed, and communication flows efficiently between the executive team, staff, and stakeholders. As a U.S-based defense company with the strength of a world-class shipbuilding global parent, we are seeking a high performing professional, capable of significantly contributing to HDUSA’s high‑paced transition to a premier US shipbuilder. The ideal candidate is an experienced shipbuilding affiliated professional with strong organizational, collaboration and problem‑solving skills. A self-starter with the ability to operationalize and achieve commander’s intent is a must.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Serve as the integrator for President level decisions: triage what requires his decision, what can be delegated, what can be resolved at the staff level, and route accordingly.

Collaborate with internal functional teams (business development, industrial expansion, engineering, supply chain, contracts, program management, IT, and finance) to deliver cross-functional operational success.

Serve as the business unit’s lead for all headquarters’ internal products.

Support the team’s growth strategy deployment by utilizing world-class organizational skills.

Monitor and assess U.S. federal shipbuilding spending trends, acquisition strategies, and other activities relevant to the maritime industrial base.

Design, install, and run the front-office operating rhythm across the US shipbuilding team spanning multiple locations — setting the agenda for staff meetings, business reviews, quarterly board meetings, and semiannual strategy sessions.

Own the tasker and action-item process end to end for high-priority initiatives — capture commitments, assign owners and due dates, drive them to closure, and surface risks before they become issues.

Deconflict priorities and competing demands among direct reports, and intervene where roles, decision rights, or escalation paths become unclear.

Foster and maintain trusted relationships with staffs of key government decision-makers — PAE Maritime, PAE Undersea, OPNAV, ASN(RD&A), MARAD, and the U.S. Coast Guard — as well as primes, first-tier suppliers, and industry associations, to position the company as a credible, capable, and trusted partner.

QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE

20 years of relevant experience in U.S. defense business development, DOW acquisition, or shipbuilding government / industry roles

Significant experience with international business and cross-cultural deliverables

A “self-starter” who has outstanding communication and organizational skills

Prior military or civilian DOW service strongly preferred; experience working with or within DOW, USCG or acquisition communities is a plus

Must be able to obtain a SECRET level Security Clearance

Experience with financial analysis and support of merger & acquisition / corporate development efforts preferred

EDUCATION

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Defense Acquisition, or related fields.

Advanced Degree (MBA, MS, or equivalent) or DAWIA/Defense Acquisition certification preferred

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS

Expertise in the U.S. defense acquisition system and ability to navigate complex program requirements

Working understanding of shipyard operations — production sequencing, capacity constraints, skilled trades workforce dynamics — sufficient to translate between yard execution realities and headquarters or customer expectations

Ability to operate with delegated authority across peers and senior direct reports without formal line authority, and to do so with judgment and discretion

Strong bias toward closure: comfortable owning ambiguous problems, driving them to resolution, and handing them off cleanly

Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to brief senior leaders across internal and external stakeholders

Fast learner who can quickly adapt in a high-pressure maritime and defense market

Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and common business operations platforms (CRM, project and portfolio management, business intelligence tools)

PHYSICAL DEMANDS / WORK ENVIRONMENT

Normal amount of sitting or standing, average mobility to move around an office environment, able to conduct normal amount of work at a computer. Vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. Ability to travel domestically (20%) and occasionally international (10%) required.

Hanwha Defense USA is committed to pay transparency and equitable compensation practices. The salary range listed for this position represents a good faith estimate of the base pay we reasonably expect to offer for the position at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on relevant skills/experience, education and certifications, market conditions, geographic location and internal pay equity. In addition to base salary, employees may be eligible for discretionary annual bonuses, benefits, and other forms of compensation as part of Hanwha Defense USA's total rewards package.

Hanwha Defense USA is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, disability, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

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Worksite address

arlington, VA, 22201, US

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