Chief of Staff - Shipbuilding

If you are unable to complete this application due to a disability, contact this employer to ask for an accommodation or an alternative application process.

Full Time Arlington, VA, US

Salary Range: $ To $ Annually

Location: Rosslyn, VA (On-site with travel up to 25%, including international)

POSITION OVERVIEW

The Chief of Staff serves as the senior executive advisor and operational coordinator to President, US Shipbuilding, ensuring strategic priorities are delivered, cross-functional initiatives are managed, and communication flows efficiently between the executive team, staff, and stakeholders. As a U.S-based defense company with the strength of a world-class shipbuilding global parent, we are seeking a high performing professional, capable of significantly contributing to HDUSA's high-paced transition to a premier US shipbuilder.

The ideal candidate is an experienced shipbuilding affiliated professional with strong organizational, collaboration and problem-solving skills. A self-starter with the ability to operationalize and achieve commander's intent is a must.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Serve as the integrator for President level decisions: triage what requires his decision, what can be delegated, what can be resolved at the staff level, and route accordingly.
• Collaborate with internal functional teams (business development, industrial expansion, engineering, supply chain, contracts, program management, IT, and finance) to deliver cross-functional operational success.
• Serve as the business unit's lead for all headquarters' internal products.
• Support the team’s growth strategy deployment by utilizing world-class organizational skills.
• Monitor and assess U.S. federal shipbuilding spending trends, acquisition strategies, and other activities relevant to the maritime industrial base.
• Design, install, and run the front-office operating rhythm across the US shipbuilding team spanning multiple locations - setting the agenda for staff meetings, business reviews, quarterly board meetings, and semiannual strategy sessions.
• Own the tasker and action-item process end to end for high-priority initiatives - capture commitments, assign owners and due dates, drive them to closure, and surface risks before they become issues.
• Deconflict priorities and competing demands among direct reports, and intervene where roles, decision rights, or escalation paths become unclear.
• Foster and maintain trusted relationships with staffs of key government decision-makers - PAE Maritime, PAE Undersea, OPNAV, ASN(RD&A), MARAD, and the U.S. Coast Guard - as well as primes, first-tier suppliers, and industry associations, to position the company as a credible, capable, and trusted partner.

QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE

• 20 years of relevant experience in U.S. defense business development, DOW acquisition, or shipbuilding government / industry roles
• Significant experience with international business and cross-cultural deliverables
• A self-starter who has outstanding communication and organizational skills
• Prior military or civilian DOW service strongly preferred; experience working with or within DOW, USCG or acquisition communities is a plus
• Must be able to obtain a SECRET level Security Clearance
• Experience with financial analysis and support of merger & acquisition / corporate development efforts preferred

EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Engineering, Defense Acquisition, or related fields.
• Advanced Degree (MBA, MS, or equivalent) or DAWIA/Defense Acquisition certification preferred

SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE / SKILLS

• Expertise in the U.S. defense acquisition system and ability to navigate complex program requirements
• Working understanding of shipyard operations - production sequencing, capacity…