Sr. Program Manager

Job Title: Sr. Program Manager

Reports To: Director, R&T Programs

Schedule:

We offer a flexible 9/80 work schedule, providing an extra day off every other week to support both productivity and work‑life balance.

Job Purpose:

The Senior Program Manager provides strategic, high‑level leadership to key development and production programs that are essential to the growth and long‑term success of AEC. This role oversees a team of Program Managers across sites within Research & Technology and ensures effective communication, coordination, and alignment between customers, internal functional groups, and executive leadership. The Senior Program Manager is responsible for program direction, customer relationship strategy, roadmap development, program performance, and organizational readiness required to execute complex aerospace technology programs. This position requires strong industry knowledge, advanced leadership capability, and the ability to navigate undefined or evolving program environments.

Job Responsibilities:

In performing their respective tasks and duties, all employees are expected to adhere to Albany’s current values: Albany Wins Together, Count on Each Other, Own Your Actions, Care About Each Other, and Share Your Enthusiasm. Safety must always come first; we never compromise on safety for the sake of achieving another objective. Employees are also responsible for the health and safety of themselves and each other. 

• Supervise and develop a team of Program Managers, including setting annual objectives, tracking progress, conducting periodic performance reviews, and providing ongoing leadership, coaching, and coordination across sites.
• Serve as a key participant in pre‑award strategy development and proposal activities. Support the creation of proposals, business plans, and statements of work. Translate customer requirements into clear product and service specifications and aligned budgets.
• Act as the primary program interface with customers, ensuring expectations remain aligned with contractual obligations and internal capabilities. Lead coordination and direction of program review sessions with the customer and internal teams.
• Direct all phases of customer programs from inception through completion. Responsible for delivering assigned programs on schedule, within budget, and in accordance with technical and contractual requirements. Coordinate with functional managers to ensure timely resource allocation and strong cross‑functional alignment.
• Lead the development and maintenance of the master project plan and program roadmap. Drive achievement of key milestones and schedules. Influence line functions and customers to deliver required outputs to meet program commitments.
• Manage escalations involving capacity constraints, resource conflicts, or schedule risks. Issue timely escalations to senior leadership when required to maintain program momentum.
• Ensure program scope, obligations, and changes are clearly defined and communicated to the program team. Lead management of scope changes to maintain program margins and overall business performance.
• Lead the creation of monthly financial close reporting tools for development programs. Ensure accuracy of remaining cost forecasts, compliance with internal audit standards, and alignment with customer budget frameworks.
• Drive new business development and program extension activities within assigned customers and technology areas.

Nothing in this document restricts management's right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Supervisory Responsibility: Yes

Qualifications/Characteristics:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience. MBA preferred.
• Minimum 5 years of program management experience, including work in aerospace, engineered products, new product introduction, operational leadership, or project engineering/program leadership requiring significant development and engineering integration.
• Strong program management skills with emphasis on quality, cost, schedule, and risk mitigation. Ability to manage both big‑picture program strategy and detailed execution elements.
• Financial and business acumen, including understanding cost drivers, revenue recognition, capital requirements, and development accounting practices.
• Ability to build and maintain strategic customer relationships, manage difficult customer situations, and represent company competence and confidence.
• Strong communication skills, including the ability to simplify complex issues and present cohesive, structured content to internal and external stakeholders.
• Demonstrated customer communication experience across multiple levels and functions.
• Technical background with complex aerospace deliverables. Experience with composites or advanced textiles preferred.
• Ability to obtain a Secret clearance to support assigned programs.

Working Conditions:

Office environment with moderate noise levels and comfortable temperatures. Regular movement between office and production areas is required for meetings, reviews, and trainings.

Physical requirements:

Occasionally positions self to move office items over 10 lbs.
Frequently moves throughout production and office areas.
Able to remain in a stationary position up to 75% of the time.
Frequently operates a computer, enters data, and verifies information.