Senior Project Manager

Job Title: Senior Project Manager

Team/Department: Program Management

Division: Aerospace Components

Reports to: Head of Program Management FLSA Status: Exempt

Position Summary

The Senior Project Manager (Sr PM) is responsible for the technical, schedule, and cost performance of complex projects in line with contract requirements. The Sr PM leads project teams to achieve objectives by managing projects through their full lifecycle, reporting performance internally and externally, and setting and managing customer expectations.

Essential Functions

• Develops cost and schedule estimates independently, including risk and opportunity assessments, for bids and proposals.
• Ensures customer requirements and specifications are captured, communicated, and achieved throughout the contract lifecycle.
• Creates Integrated Master Schedules and tracks project progress from start to finish.
• Maintains risk and opportunity registers, addressing cost, schedule, and technical issues; develops mitigation and contingency plans as needed.
• Coordinates with resource managers to allocate resources and resolve conflicts to meet key delivery dates.
• Controls project scope through strong change management, including preparation of change proposals for customers.
• Calculates Estimate at Completion (EAC) and Estimate to Completion (ETC), developing mitigation plans for potential cost or schedule growth.
• Performs variance analysis for actual results versus forecasts and operating plans.
• Manages Earned Value Management (EVM) processes, generating key cost and schedule performance indices and contract performance reports.
• Negotiates updates to project plans for cost and schedule changes.
• Documents and shares lessons learned at project completion.
• Integrates supplier tasks into project schedules to prevent delays on key deliverables.
• Oversees operational aspects of complex projects and serves as liaison among project teams, senior leadership, and customers.
• Provides subject matter expertise in project management and guidance to others on complex topics.

Additional Duties

• Performs other duties as assigned. Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
• Advanced use of project management tools and techniques for complex projects.
• Strong understanding of formal project management methodologies (e.g., PMI standards).
• Ability to lead highly complex projects while meeting all technical, cost, and schedule goals.
• Experience managing cost-reimbursable, time & materials, and firm-fixed-price contracts.
• Expert in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and Microsoft Project (dependencies, resource loading, baselining, work types, status updates).
• Skilled in multi-tasking and managing multiple projects simultaneously, including bids, customer projects, and internal R&D initiatives.
• Strong conflict resolution skills regarding technical requirements, scope, resource allocation, and supplier delays.
• Advanced understanding of financial forecasting and cost accounting principles.
• Expert in ERP systems with the ability to create custom reports for efficient project management.
• Excellent communication skills, able to present complex technical, cost, and schedule information clearly to stakeholders.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, IT, Business, or a related field (required).
• Master’s degree in Engineering, IT, Business, or a related field (preferred).
• Project Management Professional (PMP) certification (preferred).
• Minimum seven years of relevant experience; ten years preferred.
• Aerospace or defense industry experience (preferred).
• Combination of education and experience may be considered.
• Must be a U.S. Person.