Job Description

About the Opportunity:

This is a unique opportunity to lead and influence major defense initiatives at the heart of the U.S. shipbuilding industry . Our client plays a critical role in delivering complex maritime programs that support national security and naval readiness. The ideal candidate will bring both strategic insight and hands-on expertise to help manage and scale large, multi-year shipbuilding projects involving thousands of components, subcontractors, and stakeholders. Experience in this field is more than an advantage—it’s a mission-aligned calling.

Position Overview:

Our client is seeking accomplished and strategic PMO leaders to join a fast-paced, mission-driven environment that supports the successful delivery of complex, high-visibility programs. These roles are responsible for overseeing large-scale government and defense-related initiatives, with a strong focus on Department of Defense (DoD) contracting .

There are multiple openings at the Director to Senior Vice President level , and these positions are a top hiring priority .

Key Responsibilities:

• Provide executive oversight and leadership across multi-million to billion-dollar government programs
• Drive program execution in alignment with federal contract requirements, program milestones, and customer expectations
• Establish, refine, and enforce PMO standards, governance structures, reporting, and performance tracking
• Oversee risk management, cost control, schedule adherence, and resource planning across large-scale initiatives
• Collaborate cross-functionally with engineering, operations, finance, compliance, and client-facing teams
• Lead and mentor a team of senior program and project managers, ensuring alignment with strategic business objectives
• Build and maintain trusted relationships with high-level stakeholders, including government customers and subcontractors
• Represent the organization during executive-level program reviews, audits, and milestone meetings

Qualifications:

• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in program or portfolio management
• Strong background in DoD contracting and familiarity with DFARS, FAR, Earned Value Management (EVM), and related compliance standards
• Experience managing very large and complex programs , ideally with a total value exceeding $100M
• Prior experience working with or for major government contractors or “big players” in defense (e.g., Lockheed Martin, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, SAIC, Booz Allen, etc.)
• Proven ability to lead teams in a matrixed and highly regulated environment
• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s degree or PMP certification is highly desirable
• U.S. citizenship is required due to the nature of government contracts

Ideal Candidate Profile:

• Strategic and operational leader with deep understanding of government program lifecycles
• Ability to operate with urgency and precision in a mission-critical, high-stakes setting
• Strong communicator and influencer capable of working with internal executives and external agencies

If you’re a senior-level PMO leader seeking to make a strategic impact in national defense, we would love to connect.

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