Deputy Program Director

SAAB is seeking a Deputy Program Director to support leadership of complex manufacturing programs delivering advanced defense and security systems. In this role you will coordinate planning, schedules, budgets, and performance metrics across engineering, production, supply chain, and quality teams to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery. You will track risks and issues, drive process improvements, and support contract, compliance, and customer-reporting requirements. Partnering closely with the Program Director, you'll help shape program strategy, mentor team leads, and foster a culture of safety, collaboration, and continuous learning in a high-tech, mission-driven environment.

Responsibilities

• Support overall leadership of complex manufacturing defense programs from planning through delivery.
• Coordinate schedules, budgets, and resources across engineering, production, supply chain, and quality.
• Monitor program performance, cost, and schedule; implement corrective actions as needed.
• Identify, track, and mitigate program risks and issues; escalate critical items appropriately.
• Support contract, regulatory, and customer-reporting requirements within defense-industry standards.
• Drive process and productivity improvements using data-driven methods and best practices.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders to align requirements, milestones, and outcomes.
• Mentor team leads and foster a culture of safety, innovation, and continuous learning.

Required Skills

• Program management
• Manufacturing operations
• Budgeting and cost control
• Risk management
• Scheduling and resource planning
• Contract and vendor management
• Defense/aerospace industry knowledge
• Data and performance analytics
• Process improvement (Lean/Six Sigma)
• Stakeholder and customer management