***Candidates must be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time, permanent resident basis. StaffRight Associates and our clients do not provide visa sponsorship for this position.
The Opportunity
StaffRight Associates is partner-tracking an elite defense-manufacturing leader to spearhead high-impact naval defense initiatives within our Project Management Office (PMO). This critical position orchestrates the delivery, technical alignment, and fiscal health of high-priority naval defense components, acting as a vital link between major manufacturing partners and executive stakeholders.
Operating within a private-equity-backed, fast-growing defense environment, you will synchronize heavy manufacturing operations, manage critical program milestones, and drive operational efficiencies to support massive, complex maritime defense vessels. For a strategic leader who thrives on engineering excellence and navigating high-stakes customer relationships, this role offers an exceptional platform to scale operations and influence next-generation defense infrastructure.
What You’ll Do
Orchestrate Strategic Liaisons: Serve as the primary, authoritative conduit between heavy-fabrication production partners, external clients, and internal executive leadership to align operational execution with corporate objectives.
Champion Program Metrics: Synthesize and monitor crucial program benchmarks, delivery timelines, supply chain logistics, potential bottlenecks, and technical deliverables, executing comprehensive status reports for senior management and clients on a rigorous cadence.
Mitigate Operational Risk: Anticipate and diagnose potential interruptions to critical paths, quality metrics, or fiscal frameworks, delivering immediate, proactive resolution strategies directly to the PMO Director.
Maximize Commercial Value: Evaluate engineering change requests and manage out-of-scope work orders meticulously, ensuring precise client invoicing and capturing upselling opportunities to enhance organizational profitability.
Optimize Resource Allocation: Formulate strategic recommendations for scheduling and workforce deployment to guarantee on-time delivery across complex manufacturing workflows.
Govern Technical Integrity: Direct the lifecycle of critical technical data, engineering documentation, and configuration controls to support absolute defense compliance.
Inspire Cross-Functional Teams: Guide and mentor Project Managers across the manufacturing chain, fostering a collaborative, high-velocity culture focused on safety, precision, and customer satisfaction.
What You Bring
Background & Expertise: A minimum of 5 years of accomplished program management leadership within a highly technical manufacturing or production setting, ideally focused on aerospace, defense, or heavy naval fabrication.
Technical & Industry Knowledge: Proven exposure to massive, complex structural assembly environments (heavy plate fabrication and advanced welding methodologies are highly desirable); a background as a former naval officer or submarine technical specialist is exceptional.
Tools & Systems Acumen: Advanced proficiency with modern scheduling and analytics tools, including Microsoft Project, Smartsheet, and PowerBI; foundational experience navigating robust Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems, with a strong preference for IFS.
Fiscal & Leadership Maturity: Demonstated success commanding departmental budgets, managing cost variances, and steering complex organizational goals without relying solely on direct-report authority.
Credentials: A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business Management, Finance, or a related technical discipline. Active PMP, PgMP, or CAPM certifications are highly preferred.
Communication & Resilience: Exceptional communication skills with a track record of briefing executive leadership and managing high-stakes client relationships with poise, clarity, and absolute integrity.
Physical & Environmental Agility: Ability to comfortably navigate an active production plant floor—including walking, climbing, standing, and lifting up to 50 lbs.—while operating safely near industrial equipment and temperature variances.
Compensation & Total Rewards
Core Compensation: Highly competitive base salary ranging from $160,000 to $175,000 annually, aligned with expertise and defense industry standards.
Performance & Equity Incentives: Discretionary performance bonuses and strategic incentive programs tied to operational efficiency, program delivery, and corporate milestones.
Health & Wellness Perks: Superior medical, dental, and vision insurance packages alongside robust behavioral and mental health support networks.
Future Planning: Comprehensive retirement savings platform featuring a competitive company-matching 401(k) program, life insurance options, and continuous corporate learning support.
Work-Life Balance: Generous paid time off (PTO) schedule, structured parental leave programs, and localized travel flexibility across production facilities.
Joining StaffRight Associates
When you partner with StaffRight Associates in your search for your next role, you’re doing more than pursuing a job, you’re aligning yourself with a team of experts committed to placing top-tier talent in truly impactful positions.
We take pride in fostering professional growth and connecting forward-thinking individuals with organizations that value innovation and excellence. We look forward to showcasing your expertise in a way that resonates with our clients and opens the door to meaningful opportunities.
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