Business and Operations Manager

Are you an experienced program or project leader who enjoys helping complex space missions succeed? Do you excel at identifying programmatic risks, improving mission execution, and building organizations that enable successful program delivery? Are you passionate about partnering with Program Managers to strengthen cost, schedule, and execution performance while leading a high-performing business operations organization? If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team. The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is seeking an exceptional Business & Operations Manager (BOM) to lead the Civil Space Flight Mission Area’s Program Performance & Business Operations Group. The Civil Space Flight Mission Area develops, implements, and operates many of APL’s most complex and technically challenging spaceflight missions for NASA and other U.S. Government sponsors. Successful mission execution requires disciplined program management, effective business operations, and independent programmatic insight that helps identify and mitigate risks before they impact mission success. The Business & Operations Manager is a senior member of the Mission Area Leadership Team and serves as the Group Supervisor for the Program Performance & Business Operations Group. Reporting directly to the Mission Area Executive, the BOM has a dual role: Provide independent programmatic oversight of the Mission Area’s operating mission portfolio to improve execution, strengthen program performance, and serve as a trusted resource to Program Managers. Lead the Mission Area’s Business & Program Operations organization, ensuring the Mission Area has the business processes, organizational capabilities, planning and control functions, and operational insight necessary to successfully execute its mission portfolio. Working closely with the Mission Area Executive, Deputy Mission Area Executive, Program Area Manager, Program Managers, and the Space Exploration Sector Finance & Administration Group (SOM), the BOM strengthens both individual mission execution and Mission Area operational performance. Responsibilities Programmatic Oversight & Mission Execution Serve as an independent advisor to Mission Area leadership and Program Managers by assessing the overall health and execution of the Mission Area’s operating mission portfolio. Responsibilities include: Assess programmatic health across the Mission Area portfolio, including cost, schedule, staffing, technical execution, risk, and organizational performance. Partner with Program Managers to identify execution risks, evaluate recovery strategies, and improve overall program performance. Review program cost estimates, integrated master schedules, staffing plans, reserves, and execution strategies to assess realism and identify potential issues. Assist Program Managers in tailoring sponsor program management requirements, reporting requirements, planning approaches, and management processes to improve efficiency while maintaining sponsor expectations. Identify cross-program trends, lessons learned, and best practices that improve consistency and execution across the Mission Area. Provide objective assessments and recommendations to the Mission Area Executive and Leadership Team regarding portfolio health, implementation readiness, and emerging programmatic risks. Business & Program Operations Leadership Lead the Program Performance & Operations Group and provide strategic direction for the Mission Area’s business and operational functions. Responsibilities include: Recruit, mentor, coach, develop, and evaluate Business & Program Operations staff. Foster employee engagement, workforce development, succession planning, and organizational capability growth. Lead Mission Area business operations, including Program Planning & Control governance, workforce planning, portfolio analytics, organizational performance metrics, administrative operations, and Mission Area business processes. Develop Mission Area standards, tools, governance, and best practices that improve operational consistency and support successful mission execution. Ensure the Business & Program Operations organization provides responsive, high-quality support to Program Managers and Mission Area leadership. Integration with Sector Business Operations Serve as the primary Mission Area interface with the Space Exploration Sector Finance & Administration Group (SOM). Responsibilities include: Partner with SOM leadership to ensure effective integration of sector business operations with Mission Area priorities. Coordinate Mission Area business priorities related to financial management, scheduling, planning, Earned Value Management (EVM), workforce planning, and reporting. Collaborate with SOM to identify trends, improve business processes, resolve cross-organizational issues, and strengthen program execution. Ensure Mission Area leadership receives timely, objective assessments of portfolio performance based on data provided through Mission Area and SOM business operations. Complement, rather than duplicate, the program-level financial management, scheduling, planning, and Earned Value Management support provided by SOM. Mission Transition & Organizational Readiness Support successful transition of new missions into implementation by: Serving as the primary Civil Space Flight interface with the Space Formulation Mission Area on implementation planning and organizational readiness. Ensuring Program Managers participate in proposal and formulation activities to incorporate implementation perspectives, execution experience, and programmatic realism into mission planning. Assessing organizational impacts associated with prospective missions, including workforce requirements, resource implications, implementation complexity, and execution readiness. Supporting long-range workforce and organizational planning to ensure the Mission Area is prepared for future mission opportunities. Qualifications You meet our minimum qualifications if you... Possess a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Finance, Management, or a related discipline or equivalent combination of education and experience. Have ten (10) or more years of progressively responsible experience supporting the management and execution of complex engineering, aerospace, or spaceflight programs as a Program Manager, Project Manager, Deputy Project Manager, Deputy Project Manager for Resources (DPM-R), Business Manager, Financial Manager, Program Planning & Control Manager, or equivalent leadership role. Have demonstrated leadership experience supervising people or leading multidisciplinary organizations. Have demonstrated experience assessing program performance, including cost, schedule, risk, staffing, and execution. Have experience partnering directly with Program Managers to improve program execution and solve complex programmatic challenges. Possess outstanding communication, analytical, collaboration, and problem-solving skills. Have the ability to obtain a Secret level security clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship. You’ll go above and beyond our minimum qualifications if you... Have fifteen (15) or more years supporting NASA or other complex government flight programs. Have previous experience as a Group Supervisor or equivalent line manager. Have experience implementing or operating spaceflight missions. Have experience tailoring sponsor program management requirements, reporting approaches, or business processes to improve execution. Have experience working with financial management, scheduling, Program Planning & Control, or Earned Value Management organizations supporting large aerospace programs. Hold an advanced degree in Business, Engineering, Finance, or a related discipline. Hold a current Secret or Top Secret security clearance. About Us Why Work at APL? The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates. At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Minimum Rate $116,200 Annually Maximum Rate $312,700 Annually #J-18808-Ljbffr Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab