Sr. Program Manager

Senior Program Manager – Charleston, SC

Movement Search and Delivery is working with a leading defense and advanced manufacturing company to identify and evaluate a Senior Program Manager. Defense/Aerospace experience HIGHLY PREFERRED!

About the Role:

This is a highly visible leadership role responsible for the strategic direction and execution of complex, multi-disciplinary manufacturing programs. The Senior Program Manager will drive program performance across engineering, operations, supply chain, finance, and quality while serving as a key interface with customers and senior leadership.

The ideal candidate brings significant program leadership experience within a manufacturing or production environment, with heavy fabrication, welding, defense, shipbuilding, or similar complex manufacturing experience being highly desirable.

What You Will Do:

• Lead the planning, execution, and governance of complex programs from start to finish.


• Own program performance including schedule, budget, financials, risk, resources, and critical path execution.


• Develop and communicate program strategies, roadmaps, milestones, and executive-level updates.


• Serve as a primary point of contact for key customers, suppliers, and internal stakeholders.


• Lead cross-functional teams across engineering, operations, supply chain, finance, and quality.


• Oversee work orders, change requests, customer invoicing, and contract requirements.


• Identify and mitigate program risks while driving improvements in quality, throughput, and profitability.


• Partner closely with manufacturing and fabrication teams to resolve issues and support production.


• Maintain strong program documentation, configuration control, and technical data requirements.


• Mentor and develop junior program management team members.

What You Need to Succeed:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience.


• 10–15 years of progressive program or project management experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership capacity.


• Strong experience within a manufacturing or production environment.


• Heavy plate fabrication, welding, defense, shipbuilding, or related manufacturing experience strongly preferred.


• Strong understanding of program planning, critical path management, resource allocation, risk mitigation, and financial oversight.


• Experience with ERP systems; IFS experience strongly preferred.


• Strong proficiency with MS Project and Excel; SmartSheet and Power BI experience are a plus.


• Proven ability to manage executive-level and customer-facing communications.


• PMP certification preferred.


• Knowledge of welding processes, NDT methods, and AWS codes is a plus.


• Ability to lead multiple complex initiatives in a fast-paced manufacturing environment.