Senior Director, Program Management - USAF and SOCOM Portfolio

Role Description

The Senior Director, Program Management – USAF and SOCOM Portfolio is responsible for leading growth activities and program execution of the USAF and SOCOM Portfolio. This role will create and grow new business opportunities, develop a comprehensive USAF and SOCOM pipeline, and execute the awarded contracts. The Senior Director will manage a team of 4-6 senior Program Managers and will drive the capture, stand-up, and lifecycle management of new programs, ensuring flawless execution, customer satisfaction, and profitable growth.

Responsibilities

• Business Growth & International Strategy
  • Develop and execute a multi-year growth strategy for USAF and SOCOM Programs, aligned with M&S and V2X strategic objectives.
  • Identify, qualify, and shape new business opportunities.
  • Lead capture activities for targeted pursuits, including win strategy, teaming, pricing, and proposal oversight.
  • Develop and manage strategic relationships with USG stakeholders, platform OEMs, and key industry players.
  • Coordinate closely with Business Development, Capture Management, and functional leaders to build a qualified pipeline and drive orders, revenue, and margin growth.
• Program & Portfolio Leadership
  • Lead a $250M portfolio of programs from concept through execution and sustainment, ensuring performance to scope, cost, schedule, quality, and technical requirements.
  • Stand up and mature new program capabilities, including rapid prototyping, production, integration, fielding, and depot-level sustainment.
  • Implement and enforce standardized program management processes, governance, and performance metrics across all assigned programs.
  • Conduct program reviews, risk and opportunity assessments, and corrective action planning to ensure successful program outcomes.
  • Serve as the senior escalation point for program issues and customer concerns, driving timely resolution and continuous improvement.
• Customer & Stakeholder Engagement
  • Serve as a primary senior interface with USAF, SOCOM, Industry Partners, and international partners for USAF and SOCOM Portfolio programs.
  • Maintain regular engagement with customer leadership to understand mission needs, anticipate requirements, and ensure high levels of satisfaction.
  • Represent V2X at trade shows, conferences, and industry forums to promote capabilities and build market presence.
  • Advocate for customer mission priorities within V2X, ensuring solutions are tailored to regional operational environments and threat landscapes.
• Financial & Contractual Management
  • Own P&L performance of assigned international programs and growth initiatives.
  • Partner with Contracts, Finance, Legal, and Supply Chain to structure, negotiate, and manage complex international contracts, subcontracts, and strategic alliances.
  • Establish and manage program baselines; oversee EACs, forecasts, and financial reports in accordance with V2X policies.
  • Identify and implement actions to protect and improve revenue, margin, cash flow, and overall financial performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field.
• Minimum 15 years of progressive experience in defense or national security program management, business development, or operations.
• Demonstrated success in:
  • Growing new business in foreign (non-U.S.) defense or security markets.
  • Establishing and leading new programs from capture through execution and sustainment.
  • Building trusted relationships and effectively engaging at senior levels with government and industry stakeholders.
• Excellent leadership, communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Ability and willingness to travel up to approximately 40–50%, including to austere or high-threat locations as required.
• Ability to obtain and maintain any required security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree (e.g., MBA, MS in Engineering, or related field).
• Prior experience with rapid reaction, agile acquisition, urgent operational requirements (UOR), or quick reaction capability (QRC) programs.
• Background in complex systems integration, mission systems, C5ISR, unmanned systems, or similar defense technology domains.
• Prior military service or direct experience supporting deployed operations or contingency environments.

Key Competencies

• Strategic, entrepreneurial mindset with demonstrated ability to build and scale new businesses.
• Strong program management discipline (cost/schedule control, risk and opportunity management, EVMS or equivalent).
• Cultural agility and the ability to operate effectively across diverse international environments and stakeholder groups.
• Decisive, action-oriented leadership with a bias for execution in fast-paced, ambiguous settings.
• High level of integrity and commitment to compliance, ethics, and mission success.