Program Manager — Strategic Programs

DEPARTMENT: Program Management / Operations CLEARANCE: None required; ITAR access (U.S. citizen) TRAVEL: Up to 25% The Program Manager owns end-to-end execution of strategic naval weapons production programs at Whelan — from program stand‑up and first‑article qualification through full‑rate production and sustaining delivery. This role is the single accountable owner for the program’s cost, schedule, quality, and delivery commitments, and the primary program‑level interface to the customer. This is a cross-functional execution role. The Program Manager builds the program plan, integrated master schedule (IMS), and control gates from contract award to a qualified, repeatable, rate‑capable build, then holds the program to those commitments in steady state. The position requires close daily work with Manufacturing Engineering, Planning, Supply Chain, Quality, Operations, and Finance, and direct engagement with the prime contractor’s program office. The Program Manager is expected to be a highly organized, detail‑oriented, proactive leader who drives accountability, anticipates risk, and keeps program cost, schedule, and delivery status decision‑ready at all times. This position serves as the company’s senior authority for the program and as a primary representative during customer program reviews, defense prime contractor visits, and executive performance reviews. This position reports directly to the VPGM, Whelan, and has the authority and responsibility to *escalate* program cost, schedule, quality, and delivery risk, require corrective action, and work across departmental boundaries to ensure issues are resolved. This is an on‑site role at the Whelan facility.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Program Ownership & Accountability Own overall program performance for the product build — cost, schedule, quality, delivery, and customer satisfaction — as the single point of accountability to Whelan and Ajax Defense leadership. Chair recurring internal program status reviews with Manufacturing Engineering, Planning, Quality, Supply Chain, and Operations; drive open actions to closure with named owners and dates. Hold cross‑functional teams accountable to program commitments without direct authority, and *escalate* promptly when commitments are at risk. Provide executive leadership with clear visibility to program cost, schedule, quality, customer, and supplier risk. Schedule, Baseline & Change Control Develop and maintain the integrated master schedule (IMS) covering program stand‑up, tooling and fixture design and build, first‑article qualification, rate ramp, and sustaining production. Manage critical path, dependencies, and milestone control gates, and keep the IMS accurate, current, and decision‑ready. Manage the program baseline and change control — evaluate scope, schedule, and cost impacts of engineering changes and customer direction, and route changes through internal approval and customer negotiation. Maintain program documentation and configuration control — contract deliverables, drawing and revision status, qualification records, and program files — in an audit‑ready condition. Customer & Program Office Interface Serve as the primary program‑level interface to the customer program office; run formal program reviews and manage the flow of technical direction and schedule changes. Submit contractually required reporting complete and on schedule, with no surprises to the prime. Strengthen customer and defense‑prime confidence through disciplined communication, transparency, preparation, and execution. Support proposals, change orders, and follow‑on and option‑year pricing with build‑to‑package inputs, schedule assumptions, and should‑cost data. Identify and pursue program growth — additional part numbers, rate increases, and adjacent scope on the launcher platform — in coordination with Business Development. Production Transition & Rate Readiness Lead the transition from new‑product introduction to production: first‑article inspection (FAI/AS9102), process qualification, work‑instruction release, and formal handoff to the production organization. Manage program capacity and rate readiness — machine and labor loading, tooling availability, and the capital or headcount required to meet contracted delivery rates. Complete program stand‑up milestones — tooling, first article, and process qualification — on or ahead of the baseline schedule. Meet or exceed on‑time delivery to the contracted build schedule through ramp and sustaining production. Track and report program financial performance including labor and material variance to standard, program margin, and cash and milestone billing status. Drive corrective action on adverse cost and schedule trends before they reach the customer. Hold program cost performance to or better than the approved cost baseline and protect margin against material and labor variance. Supply Chain & Material Management Coordinate program supply chain in partnership with Purchasing — long‑lead material commitments, supplier capacity, and source qualification. Ensure DFARS and specialty‑metals compliance on program buys, and that contractual requirements are properly flowed down to applicable suppliers. Ensure supply chain is positioned to sustain contracted delivery rates through ramp and steady state. Own program risk and opportunity management — maintain the risk register, quantify likelihood and impact, and hold assigned mitigation plans on schedule. Drive resolution of quality escapes, nonconformances, and customer corrective‑action requests affecting program deliverables, working with Quality to close root cause and corrective action on time. Hold first‑pass yield and quality escapes within program targets and close customer corrective actions within required timeframes. Maintain program compliance with applicable AS9100, AS9102, ITAR, DFARS, and government contract requirements in coordination with Quality & Compliance. Qualifications Required Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Manufacturing Technology, Supply Chain, Business, or a related field preferred; equivalent relevant experience considered. 5–10 years of program, project, or production management experience in a manufacturing environment, including ownership of cost, schedule, and delivery commitments. Demonstrated experience standing up a new production program — new‑product introduction, first‑article qualification, tooling and process readiness, and rate ramp. Ability to build and manage an integrated master schedule with critical path, dependencies, and milestone control gates. Working command of program financials — budgets, labor and material variance, margin, and milestone or progress billing. Experience reading and interpreting engineering drawings, specifications, and statements of work. Experience as the customer‑facing program interface, including running formal program reviews with an industrial or OEM customer. Strong written and verbal communication and the ability to hold cross‑functional teams accountable without direct authority. Proficiency with scheduling and reporting tools (MS Project, Smartsheet, or equivalent) and Microsoft Office, including spreadsheets. Willingness and ability to travel up to 25% to customer, prime, supplier, and portfolio facilities. Preferred Experience managing a defense production program as a supplier to a defense prime contractor or Tier 1 supplier. Experience with missile, launcher, weapons‑system, or precision structural hardware programs. Familiarity with the defense industrial base — defense contracts, FAR/DFARS flow‑downs, ITAR, and DoD supply chains in practice. Familiarity with AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality systems, AS9102 first‑article inspection, and PPAP‑style qualification packages. Experience with ERP systems common in job‑shop and machining environments (JobBoss/E2, Epicor, or similar). Experience managing capital projects, tooling builds, or capacity expansion tied to a production ramp. PMP, CAPM, or equivalent program management certification. Physical / Work Environment Combination of office desk work and regular time on the production floor. Occasional lifting up to 25 lbs (sample parts, tooling, fixtures, gauges); heavier material moved with assistance or lift equipment. Frequent computer keyboard, mouse, and phone/video‑conference use. Manufacturing environment with exposure to machine noise, coolant, metal chips, and moving equipment. Close vision for computer and document work; ability to read engineering drawings, routers, and fine measurements or gauges on the production floor. Safety glasses, steel‑toe footwear, and hearing protection as posted when on the production floor. Travel up to 25% to customer, prime, and supplier sites. Ajax Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We consider applicants for all positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status. This position requires access to information subject to U.S. export control regulations (ITAR/EAR); employment is contingent upon verification of U.S. Person status. This job description does not constitute a contract of employment; employment with Ajax Defense is at-will, and this description reflects the general nature and level of work performed rather than an exhaustive list of all duties. #J-18808-Ljbffr Ajax Defense