Director Program Management

About Oshkosh Defense, an Oshkosh company Oshkosh Defense stands behind those who dedicate their lives to protecting others. As an industry-leading tactical vehicle manufacturer, every day we strive to meet or exceed our customers' ever-changing needs with next generation defense technologies and advanced systems. We operate with unparalleled commitment to those who depend on our products and services worldwide to perform their missions.

The Director of Program Management is a senior leader responsible for overseeing the enterprise-wide project and program delivery function, with full P&L accountability for assigned platforms or business units. This role ensures strategic alignment, customer satisfaction, engineering execution, and commercial success across complex, cross-functional initiatives. The Director sets long-term direction for project governance, leads teams of project and program managers, and serves as a key contributor to corporate transformation and operational excellence.

Define and execute enterprise program strategy and project management vision. Lead strategic transformation efforts, aligning execution with company objectives and market expansion. Identify new market opportunities and guide solution development efforts to support revenue and innovation goals. Represent project management leadership in C-suite and board-level discussions.

Lead the successful delivery of enterprise-level programs, including connected vehicles, electrification, IoT systems, and advanced manufacturing initiatives. Oversee program lifecycle management-from concept and development through production, deployment, and sustainment. Ensure all programs meet schedule, budget, scope, quality, and compliance requirements. Guide project teams and external vendors through resource management, technical execution, and performance tracking. Serve as an escalation point for strategic decisions, resource conflicts, and project governance issues.

Oversee the Project Management Office (PMO), driving standardization of tools, methods, and processes across departments. Establish and lead program portfolio prioritization, resource allocation, and financial forecasting activities. Develop and implement governance frameworks, dashboards, and KPI reporting systems to ensure transparency and execution discipline. Champion continuous improvement across PMO operations using Lean, Six Sigma, and Agile best practices.

Lead cross-functional collaboration between Sales, Engineering, Supply Chain, Manufacturing, and Quality. Build and maintain trusted relationships with external customers and global suppliers. Partner with product management and sales leadership to influence go‑to‑market strategies and secure customer wins. Oversee pricing strategy, SOW development, contract execution, and customer success initiatives.

Hire, develop, and mentor high‑performing project and program management talent. Define team goals, roles, and competencies to support scalable execution and leadership succession. Foster a culture of accountability, customer focus, continuous learning, and cross‑functional collaboration.

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field and ten (10) or more years of relevant experience (equivalent to sixteen (16) years total in education and experience); or an equivalent combination of education and experience that demonstrates the ability to perform the essential functions of the role.
• Five (5) years in senior leadership roles with direct responsibility for enterprise project portfolios or business units.