Hull Program Manager

Job Description

The Program Manager is responsible for leading the successful execution of complex shipbuilding programs from contract award through delivery. The Program Manager is a high-visibility leadership role responsible, with the Chief Superintendent, for ensuring the scope, schedule, cost, and quality requirements are met in alignment with customer expectations, contractual obligations, and company objectives. The Program Manager serves as the primary customer interface, coordinating across engineering, planning, supply chain, production, quality and program finance to drive program performance in a large, high‑paced shipyard environment.

This position demands a highly proactive leader who has solid business acumen, familiarity with business systems, demonstrated ability to anticipate issues and strong communication skills.

• Lead cross‑functional program teams through the phases of ship construction, testing and delivery.
• Ensure adherence to contractual obligations, program milestones, and technical requirements.
• Proactively identify risks, issues, and opportunities; develop mitigation strategies and corrective actions.
• Work with Chief Superintendent to obtain commitment of resources and to make trade‑offs involving schedule, cost, performance, and total program integration.
• Responsible for all changes to program objectives and/or performance targets.

• Act as primary point of contact with the Navy and other stakeholders. Build strong working relationships with all stakeholders.
• Provide clear, timely, and professional communication on program performance, risks and recovery actions.

• Drive key cost performance indicators (KPIs) to improve return on sales.
• Analyze financial data, identify trends, compare performance and cost drivers (fixed vs. variable).
• Use financial insights to make strategic choices that impact business performance, staffing plans and execution, manage inventory, reduce costs, and return on improvement investments.
• Develop, manage and report on hull budgets including production and support labor, and direct material costs.
• Manage and report on forecasts and earned value metrics.
• Monitor schedule adherence, driving accountability across departments to maintain critical path.
• Ensure cost control measures and resource allocations align with program and company objectives.
• Approve use of Management Reserve (MR) budget.

• Coordinate efforts of diverse team to ensure program success.
• Promote a culture of safety, quality and continuous process improvement across all program activities.
• Work with Navy counterparts to resolve disputes with trial cards, corrective action requests, and/or performance incentives.
• Anticipate problems. Proactively seek out the issues occurring on all other hulls. Put actions in place to address those issues with the least possible impact to your hull/building. Repeat issues from a previous hull should not occur.
• Utilize representatives from all the departments to achieve cost and schedule goals for the ship.
• Continuously identify and eliminate non‑value‑added activities and implement process improvements to enhance productivity and reduce cost. Document and manage these improvements through the Operational Performance Improvement Plan process.
• Make your commitments.
• Execute duties with passion, vigor and integrity.

• Champion BIW Business Operating System principles and productivity enhancements.
• Streamline processes to improve safety, quality, and cost‑efficiency.

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Accounting, Finance, Naval Architecture or related field required. Advanced degree preferred.
• PMP or equivalent certification preferred.

• 5-7 years' progressive experience in shipbuilding, heavy manufacturing, or defense program management required. Proven track record managing complex, large‑scale, multi‑year programs exceeding $100M; 10+ years' experience preferred.
• Deep understanding of shipyard operations, naval architecture, and marine systems…