Director Program Planning and Scheduling

The Director of Program Planning and Scheduling provides executive leadership and strategic oversight for the entire scheduling function within the organization. This role involves setting the vision for scheduling practices, ensuring alignment with organizational goals, and managing high-stakes programs. The Director of Program Planning drives innovation in scheduling methodologies, oversees risk management strategies, and collaborates with senior leadership to optimize project outcomes. This role also involves mentoring senior managers and fostering a culture of excellence and continuous improvement across the scheduling teams.

The ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance), Aviation, and Security (IAS) business area is a leader in ISR and aviation, it is a leading prime manned and unmanned aircraft systems integrator for innovative, high-performance ISR and aviation systems. Its end-to-end Command, Control, Computers, Communications and Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities encompass design, integration, test, certification, ground/flight training and complete logistics support. IAS tailors solutions to customer cost, performance, and schedule requirements and designs to consistently exceed expectations - with an unrivaled record of on time and on (or under) budget deliveries.

Responsibilities:

• Provide executive leadership and strategic direction in the preparation, development, and coordination of integrated master plans and schedules for highly complex and strategic programs.
• Oversee the effective tracking and maintenance of project plans and schedules across the enterprise, ensuring comprehensive horizontal and vertical integration and alignment with strategic goals.
• Lead enterprise-level risk analysis efforts to identify, assess, and mitigate significant schedule risks, ensuring robust project execution and adherence to timelines.
• Resolve critical path and network logic conflicts using sophisticated project management techniques, ensuring seamless project progression and alignment with organizational objectives.
• Evaluate schedule compliance at an enterprise level, identifying and addressing underlying reasons for major completion shortfalls through strategic interventions and corrective actions.
• Prepare and present highly detailed and insightful reports and presentations on schedule status to executive stakeholders, providing strategic insights, actionable recommendations, and influencing organizational decisions.
• Foster and enhance collaboration with cross-functional teams to ensure accurate, timely, and comprehensive scheduling data, promoting effective communication and coordination across the organization.
• Champion the development and implementation of advanced scheduling best practices, supporting program management and driving continuous improvement initiatives across the organization.
• Mentor and guide senior scheduling managers and teams on advanced scheduling techniques and best practices, fostering a culture of learning, professional development, and excellence within the organization.
• Actively participate in executive-level strategic planning and decision-making processes, leveraging scheduling expertise to influence and shape organizational strategy and priorities, and ensuring alignment with overall business objectives.
• Provide executive leadership in coordinating, generating, and integrating Schedule Risk Assessments (SRA) across the organization.
• Oversee the analysis of schedule data to inform strategic decision-making.
• Ensure the development and presentation of executive-level reports and insights to leadership and customers, aligning with organizational goals and objectives.

Qualifications You Must Have:

• Bachelor's degree targeting Project Management, Engineering, Business Administration, or a related field
• 15+ years of experience in program planning and scheduling, with at least 8+ years in a leadership role.
• Relevant experience can be considered as a substitute for the required educational qualifications. In the absence of a degree, a minimum of 20 years of related experience is required.
• Higher level relevant degree may substitute for experience.
• Proven senior leadership abilities inclusive of successful change management, mentoring, career development, training, and succession planning.
• Strong capability in holding people accountable and conducting yearly performance reviews.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Project Professional or similar scheduling tools.
• Extensive familiarity with Earned Value Management (EVM) tools.
• Significant experience in developing and maintaining resource-loaded integrated master schedules.
• Expertise in detailed schedule analysis, health assessments, schedule risk assessments, and critical/driving path analysis.
• Ability to provide strategic direction and drive continuous improvement in scheduling processes.
• Proven experience in resolving high-level conflicts and providing mentorship to senior managers and scheduling teams.

Qualifications We Prefer:

• Extensive and senior-level experience with project management tools such as Open Plan Professional, Microsoft Project or similar schedule toolset.
• Expert-level knowledge of Earned Value Management (EVM) principles and systems.
• Certification in Project Management (PMP) or similar advanced credentials.
• Deep and comprehensive understanding of DCMA 14-point & IPMDAR DI_MGMT-81861.
• Thorough understanding of Mil Standard 881 and understanding of Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) development.
• Mastery in the application of Critical Path Analysis and Schedule Risk Analysis.
• Expert proficiency in Schedule Performance and Health Metric Analysis.
• Extensive knowledge of engineering design and life cycle concepts.
• Proven ability to assemble and build highly complex Integrated Master Schedules (IMS).
• Advanced understanding of Event versus Product based schedules.
• Expert proficiency in Integrated Master Plan (IMP) and Integrated Master Schedule (IMS) development.
• Extensive experience in the development and maintenance of resource-loaded integrated master schedules, including detailed schedule analysis, rolling wave planning, health assessments, schedule risk assessments, and critical/driving path analysis.
• Expertise in the facilitation of resource leveling, validation of remaining work, identification and resolution of critical path conflicts, and analysis of impacts to schedule of any proposed changes.
• Extensive experience in coaching, mentoring, and teaching team members.
  Ability to work across multiple software systems and comprehend complex system relationships.
• Ability to develop and conduct advanced stakeholder learning sessions.
  Comprehensive foundational understanding of Program Management processes.
• Deep knowledge of DoD, government contracting, and/or public auditing policies, standards, and procedures.
• Proven ability to support and lead the development and delivery of key employee training, including new employee onboarding, continuous education curriculum, and certification testing.

Essential Functions:

• Ability to work in an office or hybrid environment.
• Ability to work on a computer for extended periods.
• Strong hand/finger dexterity for computer tasks.
• May require occasional travel for training or meetings.

Estimated Starting Salary Range: $ 192,613.86 - 264,844.06

Compensation varies depending on a wide array of factors, such as candidates' key skills, relevant work experience, and education/training/certifications. The disclosed range estimate may be adjusted for any applicable geographic differential associated with the location at which the position may be filled.

At Sierra Nevada Corporation (SNC) we deliver customer-focused technology and best-of-breed integrations in the aerospace and defense sectors. SNC has been honored as one of the most innovative U.S. companies in space, a Tier One Superior Supplier for the U.S. Air Force, and as one of America's fastest-growing companies. Learn more about SNC

This posting will be open for application for a minimum of 5 days and may be extended based on business needs.

SNC offers annual incentive pay based upon performance that is commensurate with the level of the position.

SNC offers a generous benefit package, including medical, dental, and vision plans, 401(k) with 150% match up to 6%, life insurance, 3 weeks paid time off, tuition reimbursement, and more .

IMPORTANT NOTICE:
This position requires the ability to obtain and maintain a Secret U.S. Security Clearance. U.S. Citizenship status is required as this position needs an active U.S. Security Clearance for employment. Non-U.S. citizens may not be eligible to obtain a security clearance. The Department of Defense Consolidated Adjudications Facility (DoD CAF), a federal government agency, handles the adjudicative aspects of the security clearance eligibility process for industry applicants. Adjudicative factors which affect the outcome of the eligibility determination include, but are not limited to, allegiance to the U.S., foreign influence, foreign preference, criminal conduct, security violations and illegal drug use.
Learn more about the background check process for Security Clearances.

SNC is a global leader in aerospace and national security committed to moving the American Dream forward. We're known and respected for our mission and execution focus, agility, and disruptive and rapid innovation. We provide leading edge technologies and transformative solutions that support our nation's most critical security needs. If you are mission-focused, thrive in collaborative environments, and want to make our country stronger with state-of-the-art technologies that safeguard freedom, join our team!

SNC is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to an environment free of discrimination. Employment decisions are made based on merit without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, national origin, disability, status as a protected veteran or other characteristics protected by law.