Director, Programs

The Director of Programs for Tactical Systems is responsible for profit and loss across a portfolio of technical development and/or production programs. This role provides strategic leadership to a multidisciplined team, ensuring on-time and on-budget contract execution while aligning portfolio objectives with corporate goals. The Director fosters team compliance with AEVEX and industry standards through mentorship, training, and team building. Exceptional communication skills are essential to promote alignment with organizational vision, clarify roles and responsibilities, and set clear expectations. Success in this role requires the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment, make sound decisions with incomplete information, remove organizational barriers, and balance customer priorities with financial and technical objectives. The Director also plays a critical role in growing the business by supporting strategic captures, developing customer relationships, and identifying opportunities for portfolio expansion.

Essential Functions

• Lead, mentor, and manage a professional program management team and support personnel across all contracts.
• Ensure program managers and support staff have the training, direction, and qualifications to succeed both personally and professionally.
• Drive execution across multiple programs to achieve financial, schedule, technical, staffing, and customer satisfaction objectives while proactively identifying and mitigating risks before they impact performance
• Conduct monthly Program Management Reviews (PMR) for all programs within the portfolio and provide summary status to senior leadership.
• Develop and maintain deep understanding of contract scope, customer priorities, financial performance, execution risks, and strategic opportunities across the portfolio
• Responsible for oversight, review, and analysis of Annual Operating Plans (AOP) and updated forecasts for each program under their direction.
• Participate in business development efforts including proposal/RFI writing/review, identifying opportunities, participating in the capture process, and pipeline management.
• Ensure compliance with the AEVEX Quality Management System (QMS) and applicable Government standards for all portfolio efforts.
• Forge strong relationships with both internal and external customers to build trust through transparency and open dialogue.
• Partner with Engineering and Business Development to influence the IRaD roadmap, ensuring investments align with customer needs, emerging technologies, and future growth opportunities
• Perform other duties as assigned.
• Regular and reliable attendance on a full time basis [or in accordance with posted schedule].
• Responsible for exhibiting professional behavior with both internal and external business associates that reflects positively on the company and is consistent with the company's policies and practices.
• Embodies AEVEX’s cultural values and aligns daily actions with department goals and company culture.

Qualifications and Competencies

• Security Clearance-Ability to obtain/maintain a Top Secret/SCI DoD clearance, U.S. Citizenship required.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; both written and verbal.
• Demonstrated ability to solve complex technical and business problems while making timely decisions in rapidly changing environments
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to simultaneously manage multiple competing priorities while maintaining focus on execution.
• Demonstrates professionalism and integrity at all times.
• Strong business acumen with experience managing program financial performance, forecasting, profitability, and risk
• Proficient in project schedule planning and analysis
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suites (Excel, PowerPoint, Project, etc.)
• Excellent presentation skills
• Provides strategic direction while remaining actively engaged in solving execution challenges alongside program teams
• Directs and provides expert knowledge in the strategic function of the department.
• Develops short and long-term people and organizational strategy in alignment with AEVEX goals and direction.
• Leads with impact & influence. Establishes credibility, effectively persuades and develops others, and achieves important objectives collaboratively.
• Identifies, recruits, and retains top-notch talent.
• Champions AEVEX’s culture and empowers employees to take responsibility for their jobs and goals.
• Sets performance standards and encourages employee engagement and results through delegation, continuous feedback, goal setting, and performance management.
• Maintains transparent communication. Appropriately communicates organization information through department meetings, one-on-one meetings, and appropriate email, and regular interpersonal communication.
• Ability to develop and mentor/coach others.
• Strong relationship building and negotiation skills.

Education / Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in related field or equivalent training.

Experience

• 10+ years program management experience including 10+ years managing a team
• Experience working with streamlined Acquisitions programs and ability to appropriately tailor processes while maintaining disciplined execution.
• Experience supporting business captures, customer engagements, proposal development, and strategic growth initiatives
• Experience successfully leading customer-funded development or production programs in defense, aerospace, or other highly technical industries.
• Strong background in DoD systems development with emphasis on manned/unmanned aircraft, manned/unmanned maritime vessels, or communication systems.
• DoD program experience is preferred.

Physical Requirements

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties the employee is: Frequently required to sit, and to reach to use computers and other office equipment Note: For the purpose of this summary, occasionally is used to represent up to 1/3 of the time given to the work day, frequently represents 1/3 to 2/3 of the time and constantly represents 2/3 or more of the time.

About AEVEX 

AEVEX, headquartered in Solana Beach, California, supports the U.S. national security mission and partner nation needs around the world by providing full-spectrum aviation, remote sensing, and analysis solutions. The company's capabilities include custom design and engineering; rapid prototyping; sensor integration and sustainment; aircraft modification and certification; flight test instrumentation and support; mission operations service; advanced intelligence data processing, exploitation, and dissemination solutions; and tailored hardware and software mission-system tools. AEVEX uses agile and customized approaches to rapidly define, develop, and deliver specialized solutions for airborne special mission needs for the U.S. Government, partner nations, and commercial businesses. AEVEX has major offices in California, Florida, North Carolina, Ohio, and Virginia.

AEVEX provides a full suite of comprehensive benefits, including a 401(k)-retirement plan, comprehensive Medical, Dental, Vision, Disability and Life insurance group coverage with a portion of the premiums paid by the company, professional development funds, and an Employee Assistance Plan (EAP) with counseling, legal help, child and elder care support, among other benefits for qualified employees.

Recruitment Communication Notice: All official correspondence regarding your application, application status, interviews, or the AEVEX hiring process will come directly from an AEVEX representative using an @aevex.com email address or through Greenhouse, our applicant tracking system. Please use caution with communications claiming to represent AEVEX from other email domains, and always verify the sender before responding or providing personal information.

Equal Employment Opportunity:

AEVEX is an Equal Opportunity employer. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants without regard to race, religious creed, color, sex (including pregnancy, breast feeding and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, sexual orientation, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, military and veteran status, marital status, age, protected medical condition, genetic information, physical disability, mental disability, or any other protected status in accordance with all applicable federal, state and local laws.