Program Excellence Director

Northrop Grumman Northrop Grumman · Aerospace · Linthicum Heights, MD +1 · Program Management (P&L)

Northrop Grumman is seeking a Program Excellence Director to lead the Mission Next Program Excellence Organization. This role focuses on strengthening program management discipline and performance across the division by deploying robust processes, tools, coaching, and PM development resources. The director will drive cross-functional collaboration, continuous improvement, and effectiveness in captures and program execution, and will own the quality and outcomes of non-advocate reviews. Key responsibilities include leading and mentoring program managers, forming and leading independent review teams, ensuring continuous improvement in program management practices (execution, financial management, risk/opportunity management, change management), advocating for internal processes and tools (IMS, EVM), stakeholder communication, enforcing program review authority, leading cross-functional efforts, championing continuous improvement, and providing guidance on proposal and contract strategy. Requires a Bachelor's degree, 10+ years of program management experience (3-5 in management), DoD/Government contract experience, expertise in program planning, EVM, risk management, change management, executive briefing, and complex environments, with a Secret security clearance.

What you'd actually do

  1. Lead and mentor program managers, providing guidance, coaching, and fostering their professional development. Coaching/mentor program managers to positively influence program decisions, actions, and performance
  2. Form and lead independent review teams, quickly understanding and providing actionable feedback on a variety of programs.
  3. Ensure continuous improvement in division-wide program management practices, focusing on program execution, financial management, risk & opportunity management, and contract change management. Support Program management Center of Excellence process, tools and training standardization initiatives.
  4. Advocate for the consistent application and education of internal Program Management processes and tools. Lead improvements and increased application in Integrated Master Schedules (IMS), awareness and compliance to Earned Value Management (EVM) methodology, and other key program management tools; effectiveness of risk & opportunity (R&O) management practices across programs to include the identification of R&O, the quantification of R&O and the mitigation / realization of R&O, to include application of common tools across sector programs; ensure return-to-green rigor and adequacy
  5. Provide regular, clear, and impactful presentations to sector, division, and program stakeholders. Drive internal reporting systems and metrics to provide key insights for management decision-making (i.e. IPRS).

Skills

Required

  • Program management
  • Leadership
  • Coaching
  • Mentoring
  • Earned Value Management (EVM)
  • Risk and opportunity management
  • Change management
  • Executive briefing
  • DoD contracts
  • Government contracts

Nice to have

  • P&L management
  • Resource management
  • Subcontractor management
  • Technical baseline management
  • Performance measurement
  • Quality management systems
  • Continuous process improvement
  • Top Secret security clearance

What the JD emphasized

  • Secret security clearance
  • Demonstrated experience supporting Department of Defense or Government contracts
  • Current Secret security clearance