Sr. Manager, BD & Program Operations

Sr. Manager, BD & Program Operations

The Senior Manager,
Business Development & Program Operations serves as the operational leader
responsible for customer growth, program execution, and commercial performance
across the business. Reporting to the Director of Business Development &
Programs, this role bridges business development activities and program
management execution to ensure customer satisfaction, profitable growth, and
successful delivery of customer commitments.

The position provides
leadership and oversight to the Program Management organization through direct
management of the Program Management Manager while partnering closely with
Operations, Engineering, Supply Chain, Quality, and Finance to drive business results.

This role is responsible
for supporting new business pursuits, developing customer relationships,
managing commercial performance, overseeing program execution, and ensuring
alignment between customer expectations and operational capabilities.

Who are we?

Founded in 1849, Ducommun is the oldest company in California. Starting as a hardware supply store during the California Gold Rush and eventually assisted in the birth of the aerospace industry in Southern California by providing aircraft aluminum to early aerospace pioneers like Lindbergh, Douglas and Lockheed.

Today Ducommun is a global provider of innovative manufacturing solutions for customers in the aerospace, defense and industrial markets. We specialize in electronic and structural systems, producing complex products and components for commercial aircraft platforms, mission-critical military and space programs, and sophisticated industrial applications.

Our Performance Center in Carson, CA is the Engineered
Products Group site for our Human Machine Interface, Motion Control Device, and
Radio Frequency (RF) product lines.

Job Summary

Business Development &
Customer Growth

• Support the execution of
  business development strategies to achieve revenue growth and market expansion
  objectives.
• Develop and maintain
  strong relationships with existing and prospective customers.
• Identify and evaluate
  new business opportunities within aerospace, defense, and adjacent markets.
• Partner with the
  Director of Business Development & Programs on strategic account planning
  and growth initiatives.
• Support customer visits,
  business reviews, trade shows, and industry networking activities.
• Coordinate and lead
  cross-functional proposal and quotation activities.
• Ensure timely and
  competitive responses to customer RFQs and business opportunities.
• Monitor market trends,
  customer requirements, and competitive activity.

Program Management
Leadership

• Provide leadership and
  direction to the Program Management Manager and Program Management organization.
• Establish program
  management standards, processes, and performance expectations.
• Review program
  performance metrics including schedule adherence, margin performance, delivery
  performance, and customer satisfaction.
• Ensure effective
  communication and coordination across customer programs.
• Escalate and resolve
  program risks and issues impacting customer commitments or business performance.
• Drive accountability for
  program execution and customer deliverables.

Commercial & Operational Leadership

• Serve as a key liaison between customers and internal
  functional teams.
  
• Support contract review, change management, and
  customer negotiations.
• Monitor bookings, backlog, revenue performance, and
  program profitability.
• Collaborate with Operations and Supply Chain teams to
  align customer demand with operational capacity.
• Support forecasting, sales planning, and business
  reporting activities.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives that enhance
  customer experience and operational efficiency.

Leadership & Team
Development

• Coach, mentor, and
  develop the Program Management Manager and broader Program Management team.
• Foster a culture of
  accountability, customer focus, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Support talent
  development, succession planning, and organizational capability building.
• Promote strong
  cross-functional relationships throughout the organization.

Required Experience and Education

• Bachelor's degree in
  business administration, Engineering, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or
  related field required.
• 8+ years of progressive
  experience in business development, program management, account management, or
  commercial operations within manufacturing, aerospace, or defense environments.
• Demonstrated experience
  leading customer-facing programs and cross-functional teams.
• Prior people leadership
  experience required.
• Experience managing
  complex customer relationships and commercial activities.
• Experience with
  aerospace, defense, or highly regulated manufacturing environments strongly
  preferred.
  

Knowledge, Skills, and
Abilities

• Strong business acumen
  and commercial mindset.
• Ability to balance
  customer needs with operational capabilities and business objectives.
• Excellent leadership,
  coaching, and team development skills.
• Strong project and
  program management capabilities.
• Excellent negotiation,
  communication, and presentation skills.
• Ability to influence
  across functions and organizational levels.
• Strong analytical and
  problem-solving abilities.
• Proficiency with ERP
  systems, CRM platforms, and Microsoft Office applications.

Key Performance Indicators

• Revenue growth
• Bookings and backlog
  growth
• Customer satisfaction
  and retention
• On-time delivery
  performance
• Program margin
  performance
• Quote turnaround and win
  rates
• Program execution metrics
• Team engagement and
  development
• Strategic account growth

Travel Requirements: Approximately 20-30%
travel, including customer visits, industry events, supplier meetings, and
business reviews.

Equal Opportunity Employer
Veterans/Disabled

23301 S. Wilmington Ave
Carson, California, 90745
United States