Education Program Director Jobs in Bellingham, WA

Janicki Industries is an innovative, family-owned aerospace company located at the foot of the Cascades. We focus on engineering and manufacturing complex projects for companies in the aerospace, defense, and space industries.

We are looking for a Program Director to join our growing team.

This position is located on-site in Sedro-Woolley, Washington State. 

POSITION DESCRIPTION 

The Program Director is a senior leader responsible for driving the successful planning, execution, and delivery of engineering programs that align with strategic organizational goals. This role oversees cross-functional coordination, manages high-level programmatic activities, and ensures that all initiatives support business objectives and engineering excellence.

The Program Director sets the vision for engineering programs, fosters strong interdepartmental relationships, and serves as a key liaison between executive leadership and technical teams. This individual will play a critical leadership role in steering organizational change, overseeing performance, and enabling operational efficiency across complex, multi-disciplinary projects.

• Lead day-to-day execution of engineering programs, ensuring alignment with strategy and delivery goals
• Build and manage program schedules, resources, and risk plans to support on-time, on-budget delivery
• Coordinate cross-functional teams and ensure clear accountability and progress toward milestones
• Track KPIs, report status, and escalate issues appropriately
• Serve as the primary problem-solver for program risks, conflicts, and execution challenges
• Maintain strong communication across teams, leadership, and external partners
• Oversee program budgets, forecasts, and compliance with quality and governance standards
• Identify areas for process improvement and drive practical solutions
• Support special projects and mentor engineering leads and program staff

QUALIFICATIONS

• Due to our ITAR and EAR regulations, applicants must be a US Citizen or of Legal Permanent Resident Status as defined by 8 U.S.C. 1324b (a) (3).
• This position requires the ability to obtain a U.S. Secret Security Clearance (U.S. Citizenship Required).  Janicki will assist with gaining this access once employed. Special Access Program or other Government Access Requirements are mandatory for this position and requires candidate agreed to enter a Continuous Evaluation program.

EDUCATION/EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree in engineering, Business, or a related field
• 10+ years of progressive experience in program management, engineering leadership, or operations, with at least 5 years in a senior or director-level rol
• Proven experience managing complex, multi-disciplinary programs in a fast-paced, evolving technical environment
• Exceptional organizational, communication, and leadership skills
• Strong business acumen and experience aligning technical programs with broader strategic goals
• Demonstrated ability to influence across all levels of the organization, from engineers to executives
• Adept at navigating organizational dynamics with diplomacy and discretion
• Proven ability to handle confidential and sensitive matters with professionalism
• Experience managing budgets, resource allocation, and performance metrics
• PMP or similar program management certification preferred

DETAILED WAGE INFORMATION 

Salary range for this role is between $125,000 - $185,000, plus discretionary bonus, 401(k) matching, vacation, and health benefits. Employees can also receive additional pay for off shifts. The range provided is Janicki’s estimate of the base compensation for this role. Actual amount offered will be based on job-related and non-discriminatory factors such as experience, location, education, training, skills, and abilities

BENEFITS

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance with employer contribution
• Disability insurance as well as Life/AD&D insurance
• HSA (Health Savings Account) with employer contribution and FSA (Flexible Savings Account)
• 401k with employer matching
• Paid time off and paid holidays (including two floating holidays)
• Education reimbursement program
• Several shift options
• Premium pay for off-shifts 

Not sure that you’ll be the perfect fit for this role? You should still apply! We’ll review your application for other opportunities. We are always on the lookout for talented people!

By applying for this job, you are expressing interest in this position and could be considered for other career opportunities where similar skills and requirements have been identified as a match. Should this match be identified, you may be contacted for this and future openings.

Janicki Industries is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Janicki Industries does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, marital or familial status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, age, retaliation, veteran/military service status, or any other legally protected status.  Janicki is proud to be a military friendly employer.

Applicants or employees wishing to view a copy of Janicki Industries’ Affirmative Action Plan for veterans and individuals with disabilities, or applicants requiring reasonable accommodation to the application/interview process should notify the Human Resources Department at (360) 404-1997.

As a federal government contractor and a recipient of federal funding, Janicki is required to abide by federal drug testing requirements (including preemployment drug testing for cannabis). Additionally, because of Janicki’s work on aerospace products and the high volume of safety sensitive positions, Janicki takes the safety of its employees very seriously and requires that employees pass a preemployment drug test prior to starting employment.