Program Management Manager

About the Role

Leads and develops the Program Management team, ensuring the successful execution of all assigned programs across the Appleton Performance Center. Provides strategic direction, oversight, and accountability for program performance related to cost, quality, delivery, schedule adherence, and customer satisfaction. Partners with Operations, Finance, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Business Development to ensure contractual requirements and business objectives are achieved while driving continuous improvement and developing a high-performing Program Management organization.

Maintains direct responsibility for selected programs and serves as the primary escalation point for critical customer and business issues.

Responsibilities

• Provides direct leadership, coaching, and performance management to Program Managers and Program Management Assistants.
• Ensures appropriate workload balancing and resource allocation across Program Managers and Program Management Assistants.
• Establishes department priorities and allocates resources across programs.
• Develops department goals, KPIs, and functional metrics.
• Partners with Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, Finance, and Business Development to resolve cross-functional issues and remove barriers to program execution.
• Analyzes and reviews all contracts to verify Terms and Conditions, Work Statements, Funding, Performance Periods, Deliverables, and other customer General Conditions.
• Coordinates review of terms and conditions with the DCO Director of Contracts as necessary.
• Develops negotiation strategies and provides leadership and support for customer negotiations as required.
• Provides oversight and management of business unit bookings, backlog, past due receivables, and sales forecasts.
• Manages and maintains business unit booking and sales tracking system that supports the company monthly summary reports.

Requirements

• High School diploma required; Bachelor's degree preferred.
• 7+ years in an aerospace or manufacturing environment required.
• Experience managing programs or portfolios with annual revenues exceeding $25 million preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of supervisory or team leadership experience.
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional teams and manage multiple programs simultaneously.
• Experience developing employees and driving organizational performance preferred.

Skills

• Ability to lead without authority, negotiate, and manage by influence.
• Strong people and time management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to communicate effectively and professionally with customers and across all organizational levels.
• Experience in production control, contracts management, or project management.
• Detail-oriented with a positive, friendly customer service approach.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel).
• Basic understanding of lean and six sigma principles and methodologies.
• Experience with MRP systems is beneficial.
• Team-oriented with a continuous improvement outlook.

Ducommun, founded in 1849, is a global provider of innovative manufacturing solutions for customers in the aerospace, defense, and industrial markets. The Appleton, WI facility specializes in manufacturing state-of-the-art circuit boards for Aerospace, Defense, Industrial, and Medical industries.