Program Manager, U.S. Army - Flight School Next
About this role
Job DetailsLevel: ExperiencedJob Location: Torrance, CA 90505Position Type: Full TimeSalary Range: $130,000.00 - $150,000.00 SalaryJob Shift: DayRole Title: Program Manager, U.S. Army - Flight School Next
Location: Robinson Helicopter Company Headquarters, Torrance, California.
Reporting To: VP, Business Development
Travel: Up to 33% as required
Range: $130,000-$150,000 (Dependent on Experience and Qualifications)
Position Summary
The Program Manager serves as the overall program lead for Robinson Helicopter Company’s (RHC) execution of the U.S. Army Flight School Next (FSN) program. Based at RHC Headquarters in Torrance, California, this role owns cost, schedule, and performance across the program and serves as the central point of coordination between RHC engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, customer success, and the Flight School Next field team at Fort Rucker, Alabama.
The ideal candidate possesses strong program management discipline, defense contracting experience, and the leadership presence to represent RHC to Army stakeholders, the contracting prime, and internal executive leadership while driving on-time, on-budget delivery of a mission-critical training fleet and sustainment program.
Essential Job Functions
Program Leadership & Execution
Own overall cost, schedule, and technical performance for the RHC Flight School Next program.
Develop and maintain the integrated master schedule, program plans, and performance baselines.
Lead program reviews, milestone gates, and executive status briefings.
Manage program risk, opportunity, and corrective action planning to ensure mission success.
Contract & Financial Management
Manage program budget, financial forecasting, and earned value against the approved baseline.
Ensure compliance with contract requirements, deliverables, and applicable federal regulations.
Coordinate contract modifications, renewals, and option-year exercises with the contracting prime.
Oversee subcontract and supplier performance in support of program objectives.
Stakeholder & Customer Engagement
Serve as the RHC primary program point of contact for the contracting prime and Army stakeholders.
Coordinate closely with the Business Development Director and Flight School Site Manager on field execution.
Represent the program to RHC executive leadership and the Vice President of Business Development.
Build and maintain trusted relationships with military, government, and contractor partners.
Cross-Functional Coordination
Direct and integrate RHC engineering, manufacturing, supply chain, logistics, and customer success teams.
Ensure field, technical, and account support resources are aligned to program requirements.
Drive process improvements that reduce cost of operation and improve customer satisfaction.
Support deployment, fielding, and sustainment activities across all Flight School Next locations.
Documentation & Reporting
Prepare program status reports, executive briefings, and performance dashboards.
Maintain program documentation, records, and configuration management compliance.
Track, monitor, and report on Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) established by RHC.
QualificationsRequired Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business, program management, or related field.
10+ years of program or project management experience, including defense or aerospace programs.
Demonstrated experience managing cost, schedule, and performance on government or DoD contracts.
PMP certification or equivalent program management credential preferred.
Experience with Robinson helicopters or rotary-wing platforms preferred.
Strong leadership, organization, and risk management skills.
Demonstrated strong and effective verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills.
Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Project, ERP Software (e.g. Epicor, SAP, or like software) and Atlassian Jira (or like software).
Ability to work independently and lead within a cross-functional team environment.
Must be able to work onsite at Torrance, California, including hangar and flight line environments at headquarters and Fort Rucker, Alabama. Work hours are assigned by business needs Monday through Friday; occasional weekend work may be required based on operational demand.
U.S. Citizenship required.
Possess current passport.
Company at a glance
Robinson Helicopter Company was founded in 1973 by Frank Robinson, whose
vision was to produce the world’s highest quality, most reliable helicopters in the most efficient, cost effective way possible. Robinson introduced the two-place piston powered R22 in 1979. The affordable, personal-type design quickly made helicopter ownership accessible to a broader audience and changed the face of general aviation. Today, the company’s top sellers are its R44 and R66 helicopters, respectively. To date, Robinson Helicopter Company has produced more than 13,000 helicopters.
Robinson puts great emphasis on research and development, continually making
improvements and offering new technology. Among its latest introductions are a cargo hook for the R66 and an autopilot designed specifically for helicopters.
Robinson manufactures, assembles, inspects, and flight tests all of its helicopters at its Torrance, California factory. To ensure the highest quality and to maximize efficiency, the company manufactures a large percentage of parts in house and
employs a highly skilled workforce. Robinson also offers monthly pilot safety and maintenance courses at the factory that attract a global audience.
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