Program Controls Manager

Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc., is a leading defense technology company focused on unmanned systems, satellite communications, cyber security/warfare, microwave electronics, missile defense, training, and combat systems. Our customers include the U.S. federal government, foreign governments, commercial enterprises, and state and local government agencies. At Kratos, we prioritize affordability as a cornerstone of our technology. We leverage proven, cutting-edge methodologies and technology to minimize costs, streamline schedules, and mitigate risks, ensuring timely delivery of cost-effective solutions to market.

Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems (KUAS), a division of Kratos Defense, is renowned for its expertise in developing, delivering, integrating, and supporting high-performance, cost-effective, jet-powered Unmanned Aerial Systems (Targets and Tactical). As a mid-tier defense contractor, we've demonstrated agility and innovation in providing aircraft to the US military and global allies and partners. Our track record of delivering top-notch jet-powered subscale targets has established us as a go-to defense contractor capable of delivering capabilities at an affordable price.

At KUAS, we prioritize innovation, collaboration, and growth. Our team collaborates to cultivate a supportive and dynamic workplace, fostering creativity and promoting professional development while honoring personal and family lives. Join our team and help shape the future of unmanned technology within the defense industry today!

GENERAL JOB SUMMARY:

The Program Controls Manager is the primary leader for schedule resource management and performance analysis within the company. This position manages a team that develops, validates, and maintains schedules on assigned projects/programs; provides resource management, schedule process/procedure development and maintenance for PMO activities; implements Earned Value Management System (EVMS) to monitor/control programs; assists in the oversight of desktop metric schedules and the development of associated reports; and is a member of the Program Team providing project schedule oversight, analysis and reporting.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Responsible for managing a team of program schedulers and program control analysts.
• Ensures the departmentis conformance to the company quality system in accordance with customer and company requirements.
• Responsible for maintaining a well-trained and cross-trained staff in order to effectively execute all programs.
• Responsible for developing and maintaining accurate and effective program schedules and for delivering performance management information to Program Managers (PMs) in a timely manner.
• Establish procedures for developing and maintaining high quality schedules and performance management information.
• Participates in formulating and administering company policies and developing long-range goals and objectives.
• Assures activities within defined scope are accomplished in accordance with KUAS policies, sound business practices, and are within compliance with applicable regulations and requirements.
• Understands organization objectives, interprets KUAS policy and delegates assignments to subordinates.
• Manages utilization of tools and personnel to obtain maximum efficiency.
• Partners with Human Resources regarding day-to-day management of the Program Controls team to include, employee relations, recruitment, interpretation of policy, performance management, counseling actions, training and development, employee engagement, procedures and business objectives.
• Works closely with the Finance department in the preparation of cost accounting information, resource loaded schedules, EV data, and aggregate resource management information.
• Personally performs program scheduling tasks when required.
• Other duties may be assigned.
• Responsibilities of the Program Controls Team:
  
  
  
  • Supports configuration of Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) and IPT assignment during development. Works to ensure that schedule will meet Responsibility Assignment Matrix requirements for control account summary and detail planning of activities.i
  • Maintains control accounts and task activities to ensure that each meet Statement of Work and Basis of Estimates requirements for resource loading and baseline management.
  • Updates Contract WBS Dictionary when applicable.
  • Develops and maintains Program Master Schedule for post-award activities.
  • Updates and maintains project schedule required fields as defined by company Field Definition table.
  • Maintains and modifies baseline through Baseline Change Review (BCR) process.
  • Performs schedule health metrics to analyze schedule quality, produce metrics, and resolve problems.
  • Develops and maintains Integrated Master Schedules.
  • When required, develop intermediate and supplemental schedules, establish integration into Master Schedule.
  • Responsible for formulas, views, tables and filters function according to configurations in field definition table within schedules.
  • Provides Schedule Analysis Reports: Critical path, Top Level, Resource Management, Milestones, and Slack Trend Reports.
  • Ensures management understanding of network logic, Gantt, pert, milestone lists, and resource information in the schedule.
  • Resource loads work hours/costs in schedules to provide time-phased resource planning and validate alignment within financial system. Responsible for detailed schedule analysis of network logic and critical path to initiate mitigation when planned activities deviate from baseline activities
  • Responsible for monthly status, schedule integration into financial system and CDRL/SDRL submittals with customers on assigned programs.
  • Leads development with Control Account Managers (CAM) to detail task activities for work package breakdown, assign resources, set Performance Measurement Technique (PMT), and accomplishment criteria.
  • Supports establishment and maintenance of Program Management Reserve through baseline change approvals and adjustment of resource assignments.
  • Works with CAM, IPT or Engineering Lead to develop Work Packages in Integrated Management Schedule (IMS), assign PMT and generate Task Authorization forms for distribution.
  • Performs schedule baseline variance analysis, generates reports and resolves anomalies with task owners or CAMs.
  • Develops and provides analysis of EV data. Provides same to PM team.
  • Assists and performs validation as assigned on schedules to meet DCMA-14-point criteria, defined field configurations, CDRL/SDRL and earned value requirements. Provides guidance and instruction to the program team to improve performance.
  • Leads communications with customers, internal and external, on IMS CDRL/SDRL deliveries.
  • Establishes schedule development calendar of events on assigned projects for management of status, report generation, deliveries and IMS archival.
  • Provides technical support of work package breakdown across programs and provides oversight on PMT assignments.
  • Supports Integrated Baseline Reviews (IBR), and Schedule Resource Analysis (SRA) reviews as required.
  • Provides schedule training to department coworkers, functional organizations and program teams.
  
  
  
  

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

Program Controls Manager is responsible for all Program Controls staff and assigns Projects, balances workloads, reviews staff work outputs on a regular, periodic basis, sets goals and reviews performance at annual reviews.

Compensation: $145,000 - $185,000

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILITIES:

Required:

• Ability to maintain sensitive and confidential information as required by government standards.
• Ability to interact effectively with subordinates, peers and supervisors.
• Ability to interact appropriately with the public when necessary.
• Ability to adhere to workplace rules.
• Ability to professionally interface with Customers as required and/or in program management.
• Demonstrated ability to organize and prioritize time and paperwork effectively.
• Must be an energetic team player with excellent communication skills, and a desire to learn new concepts, meetings as a supporting team member.
• Excellent organization, problem-solving, analytical, and troubleshooting skills.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain project schedules that pass DCMA 14-Point Criteria, Di-MGMT-81650 Requirements and DCMA Earned Value Requirements.
• Be able to motivate internal and third-party team members to deliver important information on time in a matrixed environment.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain project schedules using MS Project that pass DCMA 14-Point Criteria, Di-MGMT-81650 Requirements and DCMA Earned Value Requirements
• iAbility to lead and train others in intermediate to advanced Earned Value and scheduling techniques.
• Excellent organization, problem-solving, analytical, and troubleshooting skills.
• Must be energetic, a team player with excellent communication skills, and a desire to learn new concepts and train others in Earned Value and scheduling techniques.
• Ability to effectively utilize MS Project and Excel to write formulas, maintain baseline in resource loaded schedules, and perform data analysis of schedules.

Preferred:

• Expert proficiency with CINCOM and COBRA is highly desirable.
• Advanced formal outside training in Advanced Project Scheduling and Earned Value techniques

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

Required:

• Bacheloris degree in Finance, Business, Mathematics, Engineering or other related discipline.
• 10+ years scheduling experience in a large organization with multiple staff members, preferably with DOD experience.
• Demonstrated strong written and verbal communication skills
• Significant development and production program experience.
• Lead scheduling experience in significant DoD Programs utilizing Earned Value metrics and reporting requirements.
• Supervisory or Managerial experience of multiple direct reporting staff members.
• Significant recent experience interacting with Senior/Executive level management.
• Experience in data analysis that includes reporting and action recommendations.
• May be required to obtain and maintain a U.S. security clearance at the appropriate level (requires U.S. Citizenship).

Preferred:

• Preferred advanced training and education such as PMP, PMI, CAPM certificates or equivalent.
• SME experience in MS Project Enterprise or equivalent project consolidation software.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

• iOffice and or manufacturing environment.Ability to stand and sit for long periods of time
• Ability to perform repetitive motion (keyboarding, 10-key, phones)
• May work extended hours or weekends.
• Primarily office environment: desk, telephone, keyboard/mousing/writing and interface with internal personnel.
• Routine sitting and use of computer/telephone/copier equipment, some walking and reaching, active listening and thinking.
• While performing the duties of this job the employee is regularly required to sit, hold, grasp, type, talk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, stoop, kneel, or crouch.
• May be required to lift up to 50 pounds in accordance with KUAS General Safety Training guidelines.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS:

• ii0-15% May be required between KUAS locations and or vendor sites.

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