Director Program Management Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

The Associate Director, Program Management (General Manager) – Power, Actuation, & Chemical Sensing (PACS) will lead a strategically important defense business within Collins Aerospace’s Thermal, Electronic and Defense Solutions organization. Based onsite in Rockford, Illinois, with oversight of operations in San Dimas, California, the role is responsible for driving overall performance, growth, and execution of a portfolio supporting major U.S. and allied defense programs.

• Own performance for the PACS business, ensuring profitable growth, accurate forecasting, and predictable execution.
• Lead business strategy, long‑range planning, and customer engagement across defense portfolios (THAAD, Abrams, D5, Spearfish).
• Prepare and present program status, risks, strategy, and performance to senior leadership.
• Drive program growth initiatives, including future phases of THAAD MYP, torpedo propulsion, and armored‑vehicle power systems.
• Lead operational transformation, champion Lean and continuous‑improvement practices to eliminate backlog, improve OTD, and increase throughput.
• Ensure production readiness for increasing demand across all major defense programs.
• Optimize use of shared assets and program support for high‑reliability manufacturing.
• Serve as senior site leader for PACS, building and sustaining high‑performing cross‑functional teams and a positive leadership culture.
• Lead cross‑functional IPTs to ensure adherence to cost, schedule, and technical requirements.
• Manage direct engagement with Lockheed Martin, DoW, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, and international defense customers, identifying risks and developing mitigation plans.
• Ensure effective supplier strategy, readiness, and performance for PACS components.
• Lead execution of the MAT‑driven Multi‑Year Procurement (MYP) for THAAD TVA, delivering required production rate increases and executing capital and facilitization investments.

• University degree and a minimum of 12 years of relevant experience, or an advanced degree with a minimum of 10 years of experience.
• Experience leading complex, cross‑functional teams in a manufacturing, aerospace, or defense environment (Program Management, Operations, Engineering).
• Demonstrated ability to deliver results in schedule‑driven, highly regulated programs – including cost, schedule, technical execution, or customer engagement accountability.

• Strong decision‑making skills with the ability to influence across functional organizations.
• P&L ownership and general management experience in a manufacturing environment.
• Experience leading major defense program scale‑ups, accelerations, or MYP execution.
• Operational turnaround experience: backlog recovery, OTD improvement, throughput increases.
• Experience in highly regulated or safety‑critical manufacturing environments.
• Success building and developing high‑performing teams during periods of significant growth.
• Familiarity with shared‑asset manufacturing environments, lean principles, and unionized labor structures.

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• Three weeks of vacation for newly hired employees.
• Generous 401(k) plan with employer matching and a lifetime income strategy option.
• Tuition reimbursement program.
• Student loan repayment program.
• Life insurance and disability coverage.
• Optional coverage including pet insurance, home and auto insurance, additional life, accident, critical illness, group legal, and ID theft protection.
• Parental leave benefits, including adoption assistance.
• Employee assistance plan with up to 10 free counseling sessions.
• Wellness incentives program.
• Virtual doctor visits through Doctor on Demand.
• Child and elder care services through Bright Horizons.

Salary range: $157,200 - $298,800 USD.

RTX is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other applicable state or federal protected class. RTX provides affirmative action in employment for qualified individuals with a disability and protected veterans in compliance with Section503 of the Rehabilitation Act and the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.