Project Management Specialist (Associate and Mid-Level) (Defense)

Location: Wichita, Kansas, United States. The position requires the ability to obtain a U.S. Secret Security Clearance and Special Program Access, which requires U.S. citizenship. A final U.S. Secret Clearance is required after starting.

Salary: Associate (Level 2) $60,200–$92,300; Mid-Level (Level 3) $76,150–$116,800.

Company

Spirit Defense is hirify.global’ defense business unit and an independent supplier of engineering, rapid prototyping, technologies, and support for the defense and space marketplace.

What you will do

• Manage operational aspects of ongoing aerospace and defense projects and coordinate with program management, planning, project teams, and Operations leadership.
• Review project status and budgets, manage schedules, and prepare status reports.
• Assess production issues and develop resolutions supporting productivity, quality, and customer objectives.
• Develop project-progress monitoring and intervention mechanisms with project managers, line managers, customers, and stakeholders.
• Coordinate cross-functional teams, assess and mitigate risks, and balance multiple projects against plan.
• Support team training, mentoring, development, and new strategies.

Requirements

• Associate Level 2: 2 or more years of experience working in aerospace or defense programs on cross-functional teams.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or a related field.
• Ability to obtain a U.S. Secret Security Clearance and Special Program Access; U.S. citizenship is required by the U.S. Government.
• Experience managing project schedules, costs, risks, technical performance, and quality.
• Experience with change control, requirements management, supplier integration, and qualification.

Nice to have

• Mid-Level 3: 5+ years of related work experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• PMP or other PMI certification.
• Experience tracking individual projects within a larger portfolio and developing schedules appropriate to project scope.
• Technical background and experience integrating large multi-year and small near-term projects.
• Business acumen, including quantifying project implications and coordinating with Finance to track performance to plan.
• Executive-level presentation and communication skills, including oral and written communication.
• Leadership through influence across multiple teams and proven ability to balance multiple projects.
• Familiarity with Smartsheet, SAP, and MES; experience with Root Cause Analysis.
• Knowledge of manufacturing environments, lean processing, and industrial engineering concepts.
• Ability to secure program access approval.

Culture & Benefits

• Union-represented position.
• Drug-free workplace; post-offer applicants and employees may be subject to testing when policy criteria are met.
• Benefits may include health insurance, flexible spending and health savings accounts, retirement savings, life and disability insurance, and paid and unpaid time away from work.
• Eligibility and available programs may vary by geographic location, date of hire, and collective bargaining agreement.
• Eligible employees may receive a $5,000 Kansas Aviation tax credit for up to five years.
• The employer will not sponsor applicants for employment visa status.