Program Manager

Program Manager

The Program Manager serves as the primary customer-facing owner for assigned programs, accountable for proposal execution, contract management, customer satisfaction, and overall program performance. This role leads cross-functional program teams from proposal through execution, ensuring alignment to customer requirements while managing cost, schedule, scope, and risk. The Program Manager maintains full lifecycle ownership, including financial performance, forecasting, and future business growth for assigned customers and programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead proposal efforts for assigned customers, including major proposals and development (C&D) programs.
• Coordinate cross-functional inputs to proposal responses, including technical, management, and cost volumes.
• Develop pricing strategies and submit pricing recommendations for management review and approval.
• Review customer RFQs and provide bid / no-bid recommendations.
• Support and participate in contract negotiations in coordination with Contracts administration.
• Review customer contracts and purchase orders to identify and resolve variances from proposal assumptions.
• Generate and release program work authorizations defining scope, schedule, budget, contractual requirements, and deliverables.
• Maintain ownership of program schedules, budgets, and Estimates to Complete (ETC).
• Exercise profit and loss responsibility for assigned programs, including forecasting future business and margin performance.
• Prepare and present program status and performance reviews to leadership.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for assigned customers, ensuring contractual compliance and customer satisfaction.
• Maintain strong working relationships across Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Contracts, Product Line Management, and Quality.
• Lead portions of daily management routines, including +QDIP, QPSR, R&O, and program reviews.
• Represent Program Management at the site level as assigned.
• Develop and maintain order intake and sales forecasts for assigned programs.
• Analyze Voice of Customer (VOC) inputs to identify growth opportunities and recommend strategies, including IR&D initiatives.
• Partner with Product Line Management (PLM) to support expansion of business with new and existing customers.
• Develop and deliver presentations for internal leadership and external customer engagements.
• Manage complex program portfolios, including high-dollar, high-touch, or multi-customer environments.
• Provide guidance or mentoring to lower-level Program Managers as appropriate.

Qualifications

Bachelor's degree in engineering or business / marketing with technical program experience preferred. Project Engineering experience a plus. Typically 5+ years of experience in the aerospace and / or defense industry.