General Atomics logo

Program Planning & OPS Manager V

General Atomics

San Diego, CA · HybridFull-time$158–277K/yrSeen todaySeen in employer's feed today

Most applications go out cold — see where you stand first. No sign-up to start.

Watch jobs like this.

Don't just apply. Show up ready.

Olive works from this exact posting.

At a glance

Compensation
$158–277K/yr
Location
San Diego, CAHybrid
Schedule
Full-time
Work Authorization
US work authorization required

Olive lists jobs from US employers, including remote roles you can work from the United States.

Job overview

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems seeks an experienced Program Planning & Operations Director to lead operational planning, budgeting, scheduling, and coordination across complex programs and teams. The role translates business priorities into actionable plans, aligns resources with strategic objectives, and drives operational performance. It partners with program, project, technical, and administrative teams to improve processes and support cost, schedule, quality, customer, and business objectives.

Skills & qualifications

RequiredNice to have

Skills

Project PlanningSchedulingProgress MonitoringPerformance ReportingComplex Problem SolvingOperational PlanningBudgetingProcess DevelopmentPerformance MeasurementLeadershipCommunicationPresentationNegotiationInterpersonal SkillsDecision-MakingCollaboration

Qualifications

Bachelor's or Master's in Business Administration, Finance, or Related Field or Equivalent Experience15+ Years Project or Program Administration Experience9+ Years Operations Management in Engineering or Scientific EnvironmentU.S. Citizenship

Benefits

Relocation Assistance

Full job description

58625BR

Job Summary:

General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI), an affiliate of General Atomics, is a world leader in proven, reliable remotely piloted aircraft and tactical reconnaissance radars, as well as advanced high-resolution surveillance systems.

We are seeking an experienced Program Planning & Operations Director to lead the planning, budgeting, scheduling, and coordination of operational activities across the organization. In this role, you will translate business priorities into actionable plans, align resources to strategic objectives, and drive operational performance across complex programs and teams.

You will partner with program and project managers, technical teams, and administrative functions to address high-priority challenges and develop solutions that support cost, schedule, quality, customer, and business objectives. This position offers the opportunity to influence organizational strategy, improve integrated business processes, and lead through subordinate management. In this role, you will help shape how complex programs are planned and executed, improve the way teams work together, and directly influence the organization’s operational and financial performance. Your leadership will help ensure that resources, processes, and priorities remain aligned with customer needs and strategic business goals

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

  • Lead the development and execution of operational plans, budgets, and schedules.

  • Direct and coordinate operational activities to achieve business, financial, customer, and organizational objectives.

  • Translate strategic priorities into practical, measurable actions and implementation plans.

  • Drive the development and continuous improvement of efficient, integrated operational processes and shared management services.

  • Serve as a key liaison among program and project management, technical teams, and administrative service departments.

  • Oversee the development and implementation of operating procedures aligned with strategic business and administrative objectives.

  • Evaluate cost and service structures, productivity measures, and delivery methods to identify improvement opportunities and achieve performance targets.

  • Establish mechanisms to monitor progress, identify risks, and resolve issues in partnership with program managers, project teams, and administrative functions.

  • Develop and implement solutions that support budget, schedule, quality, customer, and company objectives.

  • Assess complex operational issues, communicate recommendations to all levels of management, and facilitate effective decision-making.

  • Determine customer requirements and translate them into organizational plans and priorities.

  • Lead the recruitment, retention, and development of management and professional talent needed to meet business objectives.

  • Maintain the confidentiality of sensitive information.

  • Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, company policies, and other requirements.

  • Promote a safe work environment in accordance with established procedures and practices.

  • Perform other duties as assigned or required.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

We recognize and appreciate the value and contributions of individuals with diverse backgrounds and experiences and welcome all qualified individuals to apply.

Job Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration, finance, or a related field, or equivalent experience.

  • Fifteen or more years of progressively responsible project or program administration experience, including at least nine years managing operations in an engineering or scientific environment.

  • Demonstrated expertise in project planning, scheduling, progress monitoring, and performance reporting.

  • Extensive experience identifying, analyzing, and resolving complex organizational and operational challenges.

  • Experience developing and implementing operational plans, budgets, schedules, processes, and performance measures.

  • Strong leadership, communication, presentation, negotiation, and interpersonal skills.

  • Ability to interpret, explain, and communicate highly complex operational issues to technical and nontechnical audiences.

  • Ability to make sound decisions involving significant organizational, financial, schedule, and resource considerations.

  • Ability to work effectively with executives, program managers, technical teams, and shared-services organizations.

  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a dynamic, cross-functional environmen

Job Category:

Administrative

Experience Level:

Management

Workstyle:

Hybrid

Full-Time/Part-Time:

Full-Time Salary

Pay Range Low:

158,000

Pay Range High:

276,500

Travel Percentage Required:

0% - 25%

Relocation Assistance Provided?:

Yes

US Citizenship Required?:

Yes

Clearance Required?:

No

General Atomics is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and will consider all qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, gender, pregnancy, sex, sexual orientation, transitioning status, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, genetic information, military and veteran status, marital status, medical condition, mental disability, physical disability, or any other basis protected by local, state, or federal law. In accordance with applicable federal law, General Atomics takes affirmative action to employ and advance the employment of qualified protected veterans and individuals with disabilities. We also prohibit compensation discrimination under all applicable laws. U.S. Citizenship is required for certain positions. To learn more, please review the EEOC’s "Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal" poster.

How this job compares

Set against the 3,933 open Operations Management jobs on Olive Jobs, counted November 3, 2026.

Pay
  • This posting$158–277K/yr
  • California median$113–150K/yr259 salary ranges
  • US median$105–150K/yr2,215 salary ranges

This range's midpoint, $217K, is 61% above the California median midpoint ($135K) — in the top quarter of Operations Management salary ranges in California.

Openings
Olive Jobs lists 329 open Operations Management jobs in California and 3,933 across the US. 2% of them nationwide are listed as remote or flexible.
Hiring the most in California
Experience
This posting asks for at least 15 years of experience — more than three in four Operations Management postings that state a minimum ask for (median 5 years, across 2,931 postings).
Education
843 of the 3,933 open Operations Management jobs (21%) ask for a bachelor's degree or higher.

Counted across the open, public US postings on Olive Jobs on November 3, 2026. Pay medians are the middle values of the low ends and of the high ends of postings that list both ends of a range in the same cadence (a yearly salary or an hourly rate); a range's midpoint is halfway between its ends. Pay and experience figures resting on fewer than 20 postings are left out.

Prepare for this role

You've read the whole posting — now see how you match it.