Program Planning & Operations Director

Job Summary

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Lead the development and execution of operational plans, budgets, and schedules.
• Direct and coordinate operational activities to achieve business, financial, customer, and organizational objectives.
• Translate strategic priorities into practical, measurable actions and implementation plans.
• Drive the development and continuous improvement of efficient, integrated operational processes and shared management services.
• Serve as a key liaison among program and project management, technical teams, and administrative service departments.
• Oversee the development and implementation of operating procedures aligned with strategic business and administrative objectives.
• Evaluate cost and service structures, productivity measures, and delivery methods to identify improvement opportunities and achieve performance targets.
• Establish mechanisms to monitor progress, identify risks, and resolve issues in partnership with program managers, project teams, and administrative functions.
• Develop and implement solutions that support budget, schedule, quality, customer, and company objectives.
• Assess complex operational issues, communicate recommendations to all levels of management, and facilitate effective decision-making.
• Determine customer requirements and translate them into organizational plans and priorities.
• Lead the recruitment, retention, and development of management and professional talent needed to meet business objectives.
• Maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information.
• Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, company policies, and other requirements.
• Promote a safe work environment in accordance with established procedures and practices.
• Perform other duties as assigned or required.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration, finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Fifteen or more years of progressively responsible project or program administration experience, including at least nine years managing operations in an engineering or scientific environment.
• Demonstrated expertise in project planning, scheduling, progress monitoring, and performance reporting.
• Extensive experience identifying, analyzing, and resolving complex organizational and operational challenges.
• Experience developing and implementing operational plans, budgets, schedules, processes, and performance measures.
• Strong leadership, communication, presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to interpret, explain, and communicate highly complex operational issues to technical and nontechnical audiences.
• Ability to make sound decisions involving significant organizational, financial, schedule, and resource considerations.
• Ability to work effectively with executives, program managers, technical teams, and shared-services organizations.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, cross-functional environmen