Head of Programs

Loft Federal is seeking a Head of Programs to lead customer contract execution and build the program management function for Loft Federal.

This role will serve as the senior program execution leader for the Federal business. The Head of Programs willbe responsible fordriving disciplined execution across active customer contracts proposals transitioning into award subcontractor-supported programs internal program reviews customer commitments and cross-functional operating cadence.

The Head of Programs will define and mature the program operating model needed to support a growing U.S. government and national security business. This includes clarifying roles and responsibilitiesestablishingprogram management rhythms improving program controls strengthening customer-facing execution integrating Inc and Federal delivery teams and building the Federal programs team as the business scales.

The person in this seat must be able to directly manage complex program execution today while building the team processes tools and operating cadencerequiredfor a larger federal portfolio tomorrow.

Final title and leveling will bedeterminedbased on the selected candidates experience anddemonstratedoperating levelingranges from Director to Senior Director with potential VP-level consideration for an exceptional candidate with proven business-unit program leadership in government contracting aerospace defense space or national security technology.

The Head of Programs will partner directly with Federal leadership the Loft Orbital Inc VP of Programs Growth Engineering Mission teams Contracts Legal Finance Security Quality Supply Chain and external customers.

Why This Role Matters

Loft Federal is scaling from a small operator-led business unit into a more mature federal operating organization. The business needs stronger customer contract execution clearer program accountability better program controls tighter Inc-Federal integration and a repeatable operating model for delivering complex national security space missions.

Program execution is where strategy becomes customer trust. Spacecraft hosted payloads mission software security requirements subcontractors mission operations revenue timing and federal contract obligations allhave tocome together in a disciplined operating rhythm.

The person in this seat will have direct influence on how Loft Federal delivers current customer commitments scales future programs protects margin builds customer confidence and creates the execution credibilityrequiredto win larger federal work.

What You Will Own

• Lead customer contract execution across Loft Federal programs task orders studies demonstrations hosted payload efforts mission software efforts and other federal customer commitments.

• Establish the Federal program management operating model in partnership with the Loft Orbital Inc VP of Programs.

• Build and run a clear program cadence across internal reviews customer reviews program status risk reviews schedule reviews financial reviews subcontractor reviews and executive operating reviews.

• Own program execution visibility across cost schedule technical performance contract deliverables risks issues decisions staffing subcontractors revenue timing and customer commitments.

• Partner with Program Managers to ensure each program has a clear baseline execution plan schedule budget risk register deliverable tracker stakeholder map and escalation path.

• Serve as the senior escalation point for program execution issues that cut across engineering mission operations finance contracts security quality suppliers and customers.

• Partner with Growth and Capture to ensure proposals are executable properly scoped and connected to real delivery assumptions.

• Support proposal strategy execution planning staffing assumptions BOEs schedules risks customer commitments subcontractor inputs and transition from award into execution.

• Improve proposal-to-execution handoff so contract scope assumptions risks pricing logic deliverables staffing plans and customer expectations carry cleanly into program startup.

• Partner with Finance on program budgets forecasts EACs ETCs burn rates margin visibility laborutilization material needs subcontractor spend accruals invoices and revenue timing.

• Partner with Contracts and Legal on contract execution deliverables modifications funding status periods of performanceflowdowns compliance obligations customer correspondence and closeout.

• Partner with Engineering and Mission teams to manage technical execution dependencies interface control verification test readiness delivery readiness mission readiness and customer acceptance.

• Partner with Security and Quality to ensure program execution accounts for classified work CUI export controls facility needs personnel security mission assurance documentation and customer requirements.

• Coordinate with Supply Chain and subcontract management to ensure critical suppliers are integrated into program schedules budgets deliverables risks and recovery plans.

• Build a program management teamappropriate toLoft Federals growth stage including role definitions hiring priorities leveling development plans and operating expectations.

• Coach and develop Program Managers project coordinators and other execution leaders as the organization scales.

• Define practical program management templates dashboards artifacts reviews and control mechanisms that improve execution without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.

• Identifyprogram risks early and drive corrective action with clear owners dates and escalation paths.

• Provide executive reporting for Federal leadershipCorporateleadership and board-level discussions as needed.

• Help leadership understand where the business is executing well carrying delivery risk overcommitting resources losing margin or needing investment.

Required Qualifications

• U.S. citizenshiprequired.

• Ability to obtain andmaintaina U.S. security clearance.

• 12 years of progressive experience in program management program operations technical program leadership project management engineering program management or related execution roles.

• Experience leading customer-facing programs in government contracting aerospace defense space national security technology complex hardware complex software or similar program-based businesses.

• Experience managing programs against cost schedule technical contractual deliverable staffing risk and customer requirements.

• Experience leading program managers project managers IPT leads technical teams or cross-functional execution teams.

• Strong understanding of program financial control including EACs ETCs burn rates margin analysis labor planning subcontractor spend material costs forecast inputs and revenue timing.

• Working knowledge of federal contract types including T&M FFP cost-plus IDIQ/task order OTA subcontract and other government contracting structures.

• Experience supporting proposals execution planning BOEs schedules risks assumptions resource plans and award-to-execution transition.

• Experienceestablishingor improving program operating cadences program reviews dashboards risk management processes schedule discipline and executive reporting.

• Ability to partner directly with customers general managers engineering leaders finance leaders contracts legal security growth suppliers and executive leadership.

• Strong customer-facing communication skills including the ability to brief program status risks recovery plans tradeoffs and decisions clearly.

• Ability tooperatein a scaling business where systems processes team structures and data are still maturing.

• High ownership sound judgment and willingness to engage directly in the operating details.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in national security space spacecraft hosted payloads satellite systems mission software mission operations RF systems autonomy edge processing ground systems or complex hardware/software integration.

• Experience leading programs for DoD Intelligence Community Space Force AFRL NRO DARPA NASA or other federal customers.

• Experience building or leading a program management function in a growing business unit.

• Experience partnering with a corporate programs organization while building a business-unit-specific execution model.

• Experience managing programs involving spacecraft development payload integration launch ground systems mission operations software delivery or on-orbit operations.

• Experience with classified CUI export-controlled or national security programs.

• Experience with FAR/DFARS DCAA/DCMA expectations CMMC government property security requirements export controls and federal contract compliance environments.

• Experience with integrated master schedules risk registers program controls earned value environments CAM responsibilities customer program reviews and executive operating reviews.

• Experience with ERP planning CRM scheduling and reporting systems such as NetSuite Salesforce Jira Confluence Smartsheet Microsoft ProjectDeltek Costpoint Unanet or similar platforms.

• PMP program management systems engineering contracts finance or relevant advanced certification.

• MBA technical masters degree or relevant advanced degree.

• Active Secret orTop Secretclearance.

Loft Federal is an Equal Employment Opportunity and Affirmative Action Employer. We consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race color age religion sex gender identity or expression sexual orientation marital status national origin ancestry veteran status genetic information disability pregnancy or any other legally protected status.

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