Program Manager, Defense Manufacturing - GM Defense

Description

The company is a defense manufacturing business that builds components and systems for defense primes and government customers. It draws on its parent's engineering, supply chain and manufacturing capabilities to grow its presence in the defense industrial base.

You will lead programs and strategic initiatives from pre-award capture support through contract delivery, working across functions and with customers, partners and company leadership.

The role is hybrid, with the successful candidate expected to report to the Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan at least three times a week or as the business directs, plus periodic travel to customer, partner and other business locations.

Responsibilities

• Turn customer and partner requirements into workable plans, and manage cost, schedule, performance and risk while aligning internal teams to deliver results.
• Lead cross-functional teams through the full program lifecycle, get stakeholders aligned on program goals, set clear accountability, and balance government and company program priorities.
• Support capture and pre-contract work through resource planning, risk assessment, work breakdown structures, CDRL planning, stakeholder engagement and start-of-work preparation.
• Lead execution of contracts the company wins from traditional defense primes, coordinating business units and suppliers to build and deliver selected components and systems, and support design-for-manufacturing reviews using GM manufacturing and supply chain capabilities.
• Direct delivery against contract terms and make sure the team meets approved cost, schedule, technical, quality and performance commitments.
• Convert customer and prime requirements into work breakdown structures, integrated master schedules, milestones, deliverables and clear ownership.
• Build and manage program budgets, track spending against financial targets, explain variances, and put corrective and cost-control actions in place.
• Set meaningful performance measures and key performance indicators, track progress, and give stakeholders and leadership timely reports they can act on.
• Find, assess, communicate and reduce program risks and opportunities through action plans, contingency planning and escalation when needed.
• Act as a trusted contact for government customers, primes, subcontractors, suppliers and internal teams, resolving issues and keeping everyone aligned.
• Prepare and present materials for internal gate reviews, executive updates, customer reviews and government leadership meetings, communicating status, risks and recommendations clearly.
• Make sure program execution follows the relevant quality management systems, contract obligations, company processes and customer requirements.
• Coach and mentor team members, balance workloads fairly, and develop people into a collaborative, high-performing team.
• Represent the company in customer meetings, industry events, program reviews and partner discussions. Protect sensitive company, customer and program information and act in line with company behaviors and values.
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in a technical discipline.
• 8+ years of experience in program management or a closely equivalent field.
• 10+ years of experience in the defense industry, in government contracting or government procurement, whether commercial or U.S. government.
• You must be a U.S. Person: a U.S. citizen, U.S. permanent resident, asylee or refugee.
• U.S. citizenship is required because a federal government contract provision restricts this role to U.S. citizens.
• You must be eligible to obtain a Secret U.S. security clearance after hire.
• A track record of building and leading high-performing cross-functional teams.
• Strong written, verbal and executive-level communication skills.
• Able to handle ambiguity, solve complex problems and make sound decisions with limited supervision.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office and/or Google Workspace.
• Working knowledge of defense manufacturing, engineering, supply chain and/or sustainment, and the ability to link customer requirements to day-to-day operations.
• Able to work independently in a hybrid setting while running a fast, collaborative process with distributed internal and external teams.
• Willing and able to travel as needed for customer, partner, supplier and company engagements.
• Key competencies: connecting requirements, work plans, resources, schedules and decision points into one execution model; setting direction, building trust and motivating teams; understanding budgets, cost drivers and the commercial impact of decisions; anticipating issues, weighing tradeoffs and escalating at the right time; understanding contract obligations and building productive relationships with government and industry; delivering concise, credible messages suited to the audience; understanding defense acquisition and technical context; building quality, documentation and information protection into daily work.
• Preferred: Active Secret U.S. security clearance as of the first day of work.
• Preferred: PMP certification or an equivalent program management credential.
• Preferred: Experience across several defense industry functions, such as portfolio planning, business development, contracting, systems engineering, manufacturing, finance, purchasing and supply chain.
• Preferred: Experience managing or supporting missile programs, with general technical knowledge of their components.

Conditions

Hybrid role: you will report to the Global Technical Center in Warren, Michigan at least three times a week, or as your manager directs.

The role is remote, but if you live within a set mile radius of a company hub, you will be expected to report to that location three times a week or as your manager directs.

Regular travel is required, about 25% to 50% of the time.

Relocation benefits are not available. Any relocation costs fall to the selected candidate.

The company does not provide immigration sponsorship for this role. Do not apply if you will now or later need sponsorship, including employer-filed visas or work authorization requiring a company submission, such as H-1B, OPT, STEM OPT, CPT, TN or J-1.

The role is subject to export control restrictions and requires U.S. Person status.

U.S. citizenship is required under a government contract, and you must be eligible to access Secret-level classified information.

The good faith pay estimate is based on what a successful applicant might earn under applicable state law. The final base salary within the range depends on job-related factors and the candidate's location.

Base salary range: $134,700 - $207,600.

Equal opportunity: the company does not tolerate unlawful discrimination and is committed to inclusion. Selected candidates may need to complete a role-related assessment and/or pre-employment screening before starting.

Benefits

• Incentive bonus potential, paid on company performance, job level and individual performance.
• Health and wellbeing benefits from day one, including medical, dental, vision, a Health Savings Account and Flexible Spending Accounts.
• Retirement savings plan, sickness and accident benefits, and life insurance.
• Paid vacation and holidays, tuition assistance and an employee assistance program.
• Discounts on company vehicles, and eligibility for a company vehicle evaluation program after a satisfactory motor vehicle report review. Participants must buy or lease a qualifying company vehicle every four years unless a limited exception applies.