Director of Programs I

Join Northrop Grumman's Defense Systems sector as the SiAW Program Director in our Advanced Programs Operating Unit, located in the heart of Northridge, CA. This pivotal role offers you the chance to lead a talented team in shaping the future of defense technology and contributing to our nation's security.
As the SiAW Program Director, you will take the reins of the Phase 2 Development Program, forging the product roadmap and driving the execution of an advanced capability Air-to-Ground tactical missile. Your leadership will be instrumental in propelling our growth trajectory as we expand our capabilities of cutting-edge tactical missiles for the Department of Defense and our allied partners.
You'll report directly to the Operating Unit Director and play a key role in steering our ambitious strategic plan, underpinned by significant technology and capital investments. Your focus will be on engineering and execution excellence, ensuring that our projects not only meet but exceed cost, schedule, and performance metrics.
In this role, you will lead the crucial development phase of the program, potential upgrades to the missile, critical platform integration activities, shaping the next technology insertion opportunities, and transition to production initiatives. You'll oversee all execution activities-from proposals and program planning to testing and integration-making a tangible impact in the defense sector.
If you're ready to inspire innovation, drive growth, and lead a passionate team at the forefront of advanced weapon systems, we want to hear from you!
Successful candidates in this role will:

Provide profit and loss leadership across multiple diverse development efforts

Lead a diverse team of functional and program direct reports in developing and executing the vision and business strategy to achieve and exceed growth and overall financial metrics

Develop trusted partnerships with key customers.

Demonstrate a sense of urgency, ownership of tasks, and accountability.

Provide leadership to resolve complex technical challenges.

Develop strategies to add and retain current and future key talent.

Excel at organization and navigating ambiguity to drive clarity and inform and unite others.

Recognize the importance of culture both at an individual and organizational level and with demonstrated commitment to and success in individual employee and broader organizational development.

Partner effectively across organizational lines to achieve goals and objectives; preferably with specific appreciation for the interactions across various sites, engineering disciplines, processes, and roles and responsibilities on complex DoD programs.

Coordinate with the broader NG organization to identify & leverage existing resources, tools, and practices.

Effectively communicate progress to customers, senior leadership and companywide audiences

Participates in the negotiation of contracts and contract change management

Conduct thorough risk & opportunity management practices including identification, mitigation & realization.

Coordinate the preparation of proposals, capture plans, proposal work statements and specifications, operating budgets and financial terms/conditions of contract

Adherence to all internal processes, policies, and applicable industry standards

Ensuring program team understands & adheres to contract scope, and manages change through control board activities

Be able to obtain additional program access

Oversight of contract and contractor research and development execution activities related to the lifecycle of the SiAW program

Coordination with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment of discretionary activities to grow "this franchise program"

Basic Qualifications:

Bachelor's degree and 15 years of experience OR a Master's degree and 13 years of experience supporting U.S. Government contracts and customers and/or project management in other industries.

10 years of experience leading the performance of tasks on schedule and at or under cost with use of program management tools such as Earned Value Management System (EVMS), Integrated Master Plan (IMP), Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), Risk and Opportunity Management, Scope Board or similar business process.

10 years of experience leading high performing teams and cross-functional teams including: Engineering, Contracts, Business Management and/or Manufacturing/Operations.

Experience managing programs as the Prime Contractor for missiles or aircraft

Demonstrated execution capability for firm fixed price development contract type

Ability to manage revenue, profit and cash performance of programs.

Ability to make good decisions and exercise appropriate judgment that balances customer and Northrop Grumman needs.

Experience managing suppliers to include development of robust Supplier Statement of Work (SSOW) and assessing metrics such as Purchase Requisition (PR) to Purchase Order (PO) conversions.

Strong formal and informal communication skills with all levels of internal and external management.

Active Secret clearance or above is required prior to start date with the ability to obtain program access after start. U.S. citizenship is required, as only U.S. citizens are eligible for a security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications:

Active Top Secret / SCI clearance

Demonstrated ability to adapt to changing environments, while maintaining consistently high customer relations, service, and engagement.

Demonstrated success creating and maintaining strong executive level relationships with suppliers, customers, government representatives, primes and internal peers

Familiarity with Long Range Planning development in conjunction with customer requirements

Experience leading proposal efforts to include large value through corporate level gating processes

Experience with contract negotiations and executions with varying contract types (IDIQ, OTA) and government acquisition process for Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD), Major Capability Acquisition (MCA) and Middle Tier Acquisition (MTA).

Experience with missile whole life considerations including system safety and logistics

Experience in the transition from development to production of advanced aerospace systems

Experience with Air Force acquisition processes; preferred experience with prime contract activities with AFLCMC and/or AFLCMC/EB

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Salary Range: $217,300.00 - $325,900.00The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions.Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates.Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.