Senior Program Manager

About the role

Manage and direct the daily execution of contract requirements to assure that cost, schedules and performance goals are met. Lead all meetings and the integrated product team (kick-off through project close). Provide interface, communication and coordination with internal and external customers on matters pertaining to existing contracts and bid and proposal activities. This position will be part of modems and amplifiers organization of Comtech for either government and commercial customers programs and will report into the Director of Program Management for the division.

Responsibilities

• Manage and direct the daily execution of contract requirements to assure that cost, schedules and performance goals are met
• Lead all meetings and the integrated product team (kick-off through project close)
• Provide interface, communication and coordination with internal and external customers on matters pertaining to existing contracts and bid and proposal activities
• Participate as a team member or leader on bid and proposal activities. Insure that the requirements of the request for proposal are met in the preparation and documentation of bids and proposals
• Actively seek new business opportunities in coordination with Business Development
• Represent management at program reviews, meetings, seminars, etc.
• Prepare for and participate in contract/subcontract negotiations
• Develop and implement plans and schedules to execute contracts/subcontracts
• Allocate and control contract budgets for labor, material, travel and purchased services
• Report program status to senior management on a monthly basis
• Formally identify, assess, monitor and mitigate risk throughout the program life cycle
• Obtain management approval prior to making decisions that will cause deterioration of established program, cost and schedule objectives
• Develop and implement corrective action plans when deviations from budgets and/or schedules are evident
• Seek senior management assistance in resolving schedule and budget problems as they arise
• Perform variance analyses of schedule and cost on a formal and informal basis and present them to senior management (i.e. earned value management system)
• Serve as the primary interface with the customer on all matters involving contract execution
• Cook up and resolve areas of conflict
• Manage Internal Research and Development projects that may be independent or part of a co-development with customer funded R&D projects
• Assure a timely closeout of completed programs to ensure that all obligations are satisfied, and program documentation is properly recorded
• Understand and develop leading verses lagging indicators
• Develop and execute program corrective action strategies
• Develop and understand principles of program planning (i.e. developing a Bill of Materials and Basis of Estimate)
• Understand lean and process improvement principles (i.e. Lean Six Sigma)
• Understand cash flow management principles
• Support, communicate, reinforce and defend the mission, values and culture of the organization

Qualifications

• Knowledge of program management tools and procedures
• Solid leadership and management skills, particularly “influence management” and “conflict resolution”
• Experience throughout the program lifecycle from development through sustainment to include: proposal development, requirements decomposition, generation of system and subsystem statements of work and subcontracts, risk management, and continuous improvement efforts including implementation for cost reduction and performance improvement efforts
• Experience with earned value cost accounting and reporting; experience with metrics for assessing and reporting program progress, productivity and variance analysis
• Experience in finance, contracting, export regulations, engineering, logistics, manufacturing and supply chain management
• Demonstrated success in managing manpower planning, project reviews, scheduling and budget control
• Successful track record in managing complex aerospace/defense programs as a prime or sub-contractor to a domestic or foreign military organization
• Excellent leadership and oral and written communication skills
• Must have a portfolio of programs in which financial objectives (profit, cash flow, revenue, bookings) were achieved

Skills

• Experienced use of project management tools (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Project, Teams. Etc.)
• Ability to acquire and maintain DoD clearance if required
• Excellent customer interface skills
• Solid problem solving skills
• Excellent presentation skills

About Comtech

This position requires compliance with Comtech’s Drug-Free Workplace Program. Candidates must successfully complete a pre-employment drug screening as a condition of hire. Employees may be subject to random, reasonable suspicion, and post-incident testing. Illegal drug use — including marijuana, regardless of state law — is disqualifying under federal adjudicative guidelines and DoD DFARS requirements.