The Program Operations Manager owns production scheduling and cross-program execution for the West Point facility, and develops the facility’s program management capability. The position maintains the master production schedule, drives open items to closure across all active programs, and delivers the status communication that keeps production, quality, supply chain, engineering, and customers aligned. The incumbent acts on behalf of the Sr. Director of Manufacturing in program execution matters under delegated authority, and supervises and mentors the facility Program Manager.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities
- Own and maintain the master production schedule for the facility, including demand versus capacity analysis, work order sequencing, material availability, and load leveling across concurrent programs.
- Maintain a consolidated execution picture for every active program at the facility, covering schedule position, constraints, risks, and open commitments.
- Own the cross-program open item register. Assign owners and due dates, track aging items, and drive closure. Escalate to the Sr. Director of Manufacturing when items stall or require decisions above the incumbent’s authority.
- Establish and run the facility program review cadence, including agenda, standard status format, and input requirements from area managers and functional owners.
- Supervise, mentor, and develop the facility Program Manager. Establish a structured development plan covering program planning discipline, schedule construction and maintenance, risk identification, customer communication, and contract awareness. Provide direct coaching through live program work rather than periodic review alone.
- Review and coach on customer-facing program status material prior to release, with the objective of building the Program Manager’s independent capability over time.
- Identify schedule and resource conflicts across programs and present the Sr. Director of Manufacturing with analyzed options rather than unresolved problems.
- Produce and distribute program status communications to plant leadership, functional teams, and corporate leadership on a defined schedule.
- Coordinate with function-embedded program managers across ND Defense so that plant execution status reconciles with customer-facing schedule commitments.
- Track program milestones against contract requirements and surface deviations early enough for corrective action.
- Support customer program reviews and internal operations reviews with prepared status material.
- Partner with area managers and the Maintenance Manager on capacity commitments, downtime planning, and schedule feasibility.
- Establish and document program management practices, templates, and standards for the facility.
- Recommend improvements to scheduling systems, ERP utilization, and program reporting practices.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Delegated Authority
This position acts on behalf of the Sr. Director of Manufacturing in program execution matters. The incumbent sets the facility program status reporting format and submission deadlines, directs schedule changes within approved capacity and program commitments, and holds functional owners accountable to committed dates and deliverables. Matters affecting customer commitments, contract deliverables, or resource allocation are escalated to the Sr. Director of Manufacturing for decision.
Supervisory Responsibility
Direct supervision of one (1) Program Manager, including work assignment, performance management, mentoring, and development. Provides functional direction to area managers and functional owners on program status, schedule adherence, and open item closure through authority delegated by the Sr. Director of Manufacturing.
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, supply chain, operations management, or a related field. Degree is required for this position.
- Minimum eight (8) years of combined professional experience with demonstrated depth in both program management and manufacturing operations. Both areas are required; candidates strong in one and light in the other do not meet this requirement.
- Minimum five (5) years managing programs directly, with accountability for cost, schedule, and deliverable commitments, including direct customer interface. Hands-on program management is required; program support or coordination experience alone does not satisfy this requirement.
- Demonstrated manufacturing operations experience in a production environment, including direct involvement in production planning, scheduling, capacity management, and shop floor execution.
- Demonstrated ownership of a master production schedule or equivalent production planning function.
- Demonstrated experience developing or mentoring less experienced program management personnel. Candidates should be prepared to describe specific individuals developed, the development approach used, and the outcome.
- Working proficiency in ERP or MRP systems for production scheduling and material planning.
- Demonstrated ability to hold functional peers and senior personnel accountable to committed dates and deliverables without direct reporting authority.
- Prior supervisory experience.
- Strong written communication skills. A substantial portion of this role’s output is written status material read by executive leadership and customers.
- Must be a U.S. person as defined under ITAR 22 CFR 120.62.
Preferred Qualifications
- Defense or aerospace manufacturing experience, particularly low-volume, high-mix production built to government specification.
- Experience with integrated master schedules, earned value management, or DoD program reporting requirements.
- PMP certification, or APICS CPIM or CSCP certification.
- Experience in a facility performing fabrication, electronics, integration, or vehicle retrofit and upfit work.
- Familiarity with AS9100 or ISO 9001 quality management systems.
- Experience building a program management function or standing up program controls where none previously existed.
Core Competencies
- Follow-through under resistance. Sustains accountability when owners are slow to respond or push back.
- Analytical judgment on schedule, capacity, and resource trade-offs.
- Ability to teach. Has the patience and structure to build capability in others rather than absorb their work.
- Clear communication across both shop floor and executive audiences.
- Sound judgment regarding what to decide independently and what to escalate.
- Composure when multiple programs compete for the same constrained resources.
Work Environment and Physical Requirements
- Plant-based position at the West Point, Mississippi facility. Regular presence on the production floor is required.
- Must be able to move about a manufacturing environment, including production and fabrication areas.
- Must comply with all facility safety requirements and wear required personal protective equipment.
- Occasional travel for customer or corporate program reviews.
