Deputy Program Manager
About this role
Description
This is a hands-on Deputy Program Manager role for someone who can bring structure, follow-through, and disciplined communication to active aerospace and defense manufacturing programs. At AMS, programs may involve open orders, incomplete technical data, supplier constraints, quality requirements, and customers who expect delivery anyway. The Deputy Program Manager supports the Program Director by helping convert ambiguity into executable plans, clear action owners, and measurable progress.
This role sits close to daily execution. The Deputy Program Manager helps drive Quality, Schedule, and Cost objectives across assigned programs by coordinating internal teams, suppliers, customers, technical data, schedules, risks, and deliverables. The position is based in Torrance, CA and reports to the Program Director.
Duties & Responsibilities
• Support development and maintenance of program plans incorporating supplier schedules, internal manufacturing activities, logistics timelines, quality requirements, test events, customer inspections, and billing milestones.- Assist with creation, maintenance, and execution of the Integrated Master Schedule (IMS), including task sequencing, dependency tracking, milestone visibility, and schedule risk escalation.
- Coordinate cross-functional program execution with Engineering, Quality, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, Contracts, and customer-facing stakeholders.
- Track open actions, deliverables, risks, issues, and decisions; ensure owners, due dates, and recovery plans are visible and actively managed.
- Support program financial performance by tracking material commitments, labor burn, revenue timing, margin drivers, cash flow impacts, and customer invoicing requirements.
- Monitor supplier and internal production schedules to identify delays, constraints, quantity issues, inspection holds, and other risks to customer delivery.
- Coordinate with vendors and subcontractors to support timely delivery of products in the correct quantities and in compliance with quality and technical requirements.
- Support Technical Data Package (TDP) reviews, build-to-print manufacturing coordination, deviation or waiver processing, and Engineering Change Order (ECO) activity as required.
- Prepare meeting agendas, capture minutes, maintain action registers, and provide clear follow-up communication to internal teams, suppliers, and customers.
- Prepare program status updates, dashboards, and briefing materials for leadership, customers, and project teams.
- Help identify project execution issues and drive resolution by coordinating with team members, stakeholders, and functional leaders.
- Maintain organized program files, checklists, trackers, and repeatable templates to improve program execution discipline and handoff quality.
- Support risk registers for open licensing orders, strategic stocking initiatives, and other assigned program activities.
- Escalate blockers early with clear facts, recommended options, and required decisions.
Requirements
· Microsoft 365 including Outlook, Teams, SharePoint, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint; Adobe Acrobat
· Project management software such as MS Project, Smartsheet, or similar tool
· Outstanding organizational and time-management abilities
· Working knowledge of ERP/MRP systems – preferably Microsoft Dynamics Business Central
· Strong communication and presentation skills, problem-solving abilities, and leadership talent necessary to drive positive outcomes of manufacturing projects
· Foundational understanding of finance/project finance to make informed decisions that affect the financial health of a project
Preferred Capabilities
· Background in continuous improvement process implementation/management
· Knowledge of Quality Assurance or Quality Maintenance System Management
Work Experience and Education
· Bachelor’s degree in engineering, business administration, or related field
· 2+years’ experience in an aerospace manufacturing or engineering environment, with 1+ years in project management
· Must be a U.S. Citizen
Company at a glance
'Proven industry leader and business management innovator in the global business operations management space; improvement expert serving the industrial, financial services, technology, commercial, and healthcare markets.'
...The AMS Group is an operations management and implementation consultancy with offices in Atlanta, GA (USA), Canada, Mexico and Europe. We work with successful companies who seek to further improve their operating and financial performance. We leverage technology solutions with operational implementation skills that drive significant and sustainable financial improvements. We have been in business over 25 years and are committed to delivering exceptional results for our clients.
Our consultants are subject matter leaders in a variety of industries who are experienced, knowledgeable and motivated to help our clients succeed. Our “Needs-Based Opportunity Approach” delivers solutions that are tailored to assist clients in maximizing results and goal attainment while fostering a lasting change in culture.
We focus in on Operational Excellence programs and incorporate both Lean and Six Sigma disciplines. We assist companies in capturing stranded capital within their organizations. We successfully integrate and optimize people resources by providing the tools required to be successful, streamline business processes to improve efficiencies and optimize management systems by putting the right information in the hands of people who drive performance. We deliver on average a 3-7:1 ROI and guarantee a minimum of a 1:1 ROI.
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