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Sr. Director, Programs

Tampa, Florida, United States

The Senior Director of Programs provides leadership and oversight for a portfolio of defense programs, with full accountability for profit and loss (P&L), execution performance, and strategic alignment. This role leads a team of Directors and Program Managers and serves as the primary portfolio authority for program governance, financial performance, and delivery excellence. The Senior Director is responsible for translating corporate strategy and contracts into executable program plans, ensuring performance against contracts and the Annual Operating Plan (AOP), while maintaining disciplined execution through established program management frameworks. This leader ensures programs are appropriately staffed, teams are trained and developed, risks are actively managed, and commitments to customers are met in compliance with contractual and regulatory requirements. Acting as a key interface between customers, executive leadership, and cross-functional partners, the Senior Director of Programs drives operational rigor, financial integrity, and continuous improvement across the portfolio while building a strong leadership bench to support long-term business growth.

Essential Functions

• Provide overall leadership and accountability for a portfolio of defense programs, with full profit and loss (P&L) responsibility, ensuring financial performance meets or exceeds Annual Operating Plan (AOP) commitments.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a team of Directors and Program Managers, establishing clear performance expectations, accountability, and succession planning in alignment with AEVEX goals.
• Ensure programs are executed in compliance with contract requirements, customer expectations, regulatory standards, company policies, and KPIs.
• Conduct monthly Program Management Reviews (PMR) for all programs within the portfolio and provide summary status to senior leadership.
• Align portfolio strategy with corporate and business unit strategic objectives, translating long-term vision into executable program plans.
• Provide strategic and financial input to the Annual Operating Plan (AOP), long-range planning, and investment prioritization processes.
• Drive execution against AOP commitments, including revenue, margin, cash flow, schedule, and customer satisfaction metrics.
• Ensure the portfolio is appropriately staffed, balancing workload, skills, and cost efficiency across programs.
• Establish and sustain a robust talent development and training framework to ensure program teams possess the required technical, leadership, and compliance capabilities.
• Identify, assess, and actively manage program risks and opportunities, implementing mitigation and recovery plans as needed.
• Serve as a senior interface with customers, partners, and internal stakeholders, fostering trust, transparency, and long-term relationships.
• Ensure compliance with the AEVEX Quality Management System (QMS) and applicable Government standards for all portfolio efforts.
• Champion continuous improvement in program management processes, tools, and best practices across the portfolio.
• Collaborate closely with Engineering, Operations, Finance, Supply Chain, Contracts, and Business Development to ensure integrated execution.
• Work with Business Development to support capture, proposal development, and transition activities for new program wins as required.
• 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

• Current Secret DoW clearance with ability to obtain/maintain a Top Secret/SCI DoW clearance, U.S. Citizenship required.
• Demonstrated experience managing large, complex program portfolios with full P&L accountability.
• Proven track record leading and developing senior leaders (Directors, Program Managers, and cross-functional teams).
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, earned value management (EVM), and margin management.
• Deep understanding of government contracting environments, including FAR/DFARS, compliance, and customer oversight.
• Excellent executive-level communication skills, with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization and with external customers.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills; both written and verbal.
• Detail oriented with strong planning, organizational, project management, and analytical skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office suites (Excel, PowerPoint, Project, etc.) Leadership Competencies
• 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.
• Drives strategic change and promotes improvements within the organization.
• 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 set a clear vision, align teams to strategy, and translate long-term objectives into actionable execution plans.
• Demonstrates ownership mindset for P&L, making data-driven decisions that balance growth, profitability, and risk.
• Builds strong leadership benches through coaching, mentoring, and intentional talent development.
• Drives disciplined execution, accountability, and results in complex, matrixed environments.
• Anticipates customer needs and builds trusted relationships that enable long-term partnership and growth.
• Makes timely, well-reasoned decisions under ambiguity, balancing risk, speed, and quality.
• Works effectively across functions and organizations, aligning diverse stakeholders toward common objectives.
• Leads through change with resilience, adaptability, and a continuous improvement mindset.

Education / Certifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business Administration, Program Management, or related field
• Master's Degree preferred. • Program Management Professional (PMP) desired

Experience

• 20+ years of progressively responsible experience in program or portfolio management within the aerospace and defense sector.
• 15+ years of progressive management experience
• Extensive experience working with streamlined acquisitions programs with clear understanding of how to tailor process to ensure efficient execution with discipline
• Extensive experience with the capture process and contribution to proposal content
• Extensive experience executing DoD contracts
• Experience contributing to and executing against Annual Operating Plans (AOPs).

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: Physical Requirements Constantly required to sit, and to reach to use computers and other office equipment Occasionally experience a high level of noise, adverse weather or temperature conditions Frequently required repetitive movements of wrists, hands, and/or fingers 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