About this opportunity
Applied Composites lists this Director, Program Management opportunity in los alamitos, California. Review the employer’s description below for duties, qualifications and application requirements.
Job description
Director, Program ManagementApplied Composites (AC) is seeking a Director, Program Management to lead the Program Management function for a business or group of businesses and provide strategic and operational leadership across the assigned program portfolio. This role oversees multiple programs from program award through production, delivery, and closeout, ensuring alignment with customer commitments and AC's business objectives.The Director is accountable for program execution, schedule, cost, labor performance, gross margin, customer satisfaction, and contractual performance. This role establishes program management standards, drives key performance indicators (KPIs), and provides leadership and accountability across the Program Management organization.A critical responsibility is ensuring program performance remains aligned with the original bid assumptions, including labor hours and gross profit margin. The Director will monitor Bid Hours vs. Actual/Forecast Hours and Bid Gross Margin vs. Forecast/Actual Gross Margin, identify gaps early, and establish and drive corrective action plans to close performance gaps before program completion.The Director partners closely with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Finance, Sales, and other functions to ensure successful program execution and serves as a senior-level interface with customers and executive leadership.About ACCome and join the Applied Composites team. We are a leading provider of complex composite components, assemblies, engineering and tooling to the aerospace, defense and space system markets. Our employees are treated with respect and given the support, knowledge, and resources they need to thrive. If you are looking for a company that values and develops its employees while offering engaging work, Applied Composites may be the place for you.Job AccountabilitiesProgram Portfolio LeadershipLead the Program Management function across the assigned business or group of businesses.Provide strategic oversight of the entire program portfolio from program award through delivery and closeout.Ensure programs achieve customer and business objectives for scope, schedule, cost, quality, technical performance, and financial performance.Establish program priorities and ensure appropriate resources are aligned to business and customer requirements.Develop, implement, and continuously improve program management policies, processes, tools, and best practices.Establish effective program governance, review cadence, reporting, and escalation processes.Lead recovery actions for programs at risk of missing customer, schedule, cost, or financial commitments.Program Financial PerformanceDrive accountability for program financial performance in partnership with Finance and functional leadership.Monitor revenue, labor hours, material costs, subcontract costs, gross profit, gross margin, and cash conversion across the program portfolio.Establish and maintain disciplined management of Bid Hours vs. Actual and Forecast Hours.Ensure Program Managers identify unfavorable labor-hour trends early and take corrective action.Maintain program gross margins as close as possible to approved bid gross margins.Identify financial and labor-hour gaps and establish documented recovery plans.Ensure recovery actions are implemented early enough to close gaps before program completion.Partner with Finance to improve program forecasting accuracy and financial visibility.Identify opportunities to prevent gross-margin leakage and improve program profitability.Schedule & Contract PerformanceEnsure programs achieve contractual delivery dates and customer milestones.Develop and maintain integrated program schedules and milestone plans.Monitor program performance against contractual requirements and internal commitments.Identify schedule risks and establish timely recovery plans.Drive opportunities to pull in customer deliveries ahead of contractual commitments when appropriate.Ensure effective transition of new programs from award through production and delivery.Ensure changes to scope, schedule, technical requirements, or customer commitments are appropriately managed.Customer & Business ManagementDevelop and maintain strong relationships with key customers and strategic accounts.Serve as a senior-level escalation point for customer issues and program performance.Ensure proactive communication with customers regarding program status, risks, opportunities, and recovery actions.Lead customer program reviews and executive-level business reviews as required.Partner with customers to resolve issues, manage scope changes, and establish recovery plans.Support Sales and Business Development activities related to existing and new customer opportunities.Identify opportunities for follow-on business and growth within existing programs and customer relationships.Oversee the development of business cases, ROI analyses, opportunity plans, and product/program road maps as appropriate.KPI & Performance ManagementEstablish and drive Program Management KPIs aligned with AC site and business objectives.Monitor and report performance against key metrics including:On-time program startOn-time contractual deliverySchedule performance and accelerationBid Hours vs. Actual/Forecast HoursBid Gross Margin vs. Actual/Forecast Gross MarginRevenue and bookingsCash conversion and unbilled milestonesCustomer satisfactionProgram risks and recovery actionsProvide executive leadership with accurate, timely, and actionable program performance reporting.Establish corrective-action plans for KPI gaps and ensure accountability for closure.Drive a culture of early identification, escalation, and resolution of program issues.Cross-Functional LeadershipPartner with Operations, Engineering, Quality, Supply Chain, Planning, Finance, Sales, and other functions to ensure successful program execution.Ensure programs are appropriately resourced with qualified personnel and required technical and manufacturing capabilities.Align program requirements with site capacity, labor, equipment, and resource plans.Establish clear ownership and accountability for cross-functional program deliverables.Remove organizational barriers and drive timely resolution of execution issues.Risk & Opportunity ManagementLead identification, assessment, mitigation, and monitoring of risks across the program portfolio.Manage commercial, technical, schedule, financial, resource, supply chain, and customer risks.Establish proactive mitigation and contingency plans.Lead program recovery efforts when performance deviates from plan.Identify opportunities to improve profitability, reduce risk, accelerate delivery, and improve customer value.Ensure significant risks and opportunities are escalated to executive leadership in a timely manner.Program Management OrganizationLead, coach, develop, and retain a high-performing Program Management organization.Establish clear expectations, accountability, and performance standards for Program Managers.Assign Program Managers based on program complexity, customer requirements, and business priorities.Manage staff selection, performance management, development, succession planning, and training.Develop Program Managers' capabilities in financial management, customer leadership, risk management, and program execution.Build a culture of accountability, transparency, ownership, and continuous improvement.Continuous ImprovementEstablish and continuously improve Program Management processes, tools, systems, and best practices.Drive lessons learned and ensure improvements are incorporated into future programs.Improve forecasting accuracy, program visibility, financial discipline, and execution predictability.Promote data-driven decision-making and effective use of program management systems.Establish a consistent cadence for portfolio reviews, program reviews, customer reviews, and executive reporting.Other ResponsibilitiesPerforms other responsibilities as assigned.Job SpecificationsEducationEducation: Post-secondary degree in Engineering, Business, Operations, Manufacturing, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and work experience that will allow successful performance of job expectations.ExperienceYears' Experience: 10–15+ years of relevant experience, including significant experience leading complex aerospace, defense, space, composites, or advanced manufacturing programs.Preferred experience includes:Leading multiple complex customer programs or a significant program portfolioManaging program financial performance and profitabilityManaging Bid Hours vs. Actual/Forecast HoursManaging gross margin and cost performanceIntegrated program planning and schedulingCustomer and contract managementRisk and recovery management <
Worksite address
los alamitos, CA, 90720, US
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