What are the responsibilities and job description for the Program Manager - Defense Manufacturing Projects position at OnDeck Solutions?
Program Manager – Defense Manufacturing Projects
Location: Cincinnati, OH or Geneva, OH
Employment Type: Full-Time | Direct Hire | Minimal Travel
About the Opportunity
A leading manufacturer of highly engineered systems used in defense, emergency response, and industrial applications is seeking a Program Manager to oversee contract execution and project delivery for ruggedized, mission-critical products. This is a high-impact role, ideal for someone with a background in defense manufacturing, aerospace programs, or military project leadership.
You’ll lead integrated project teams (IPTs) from kickoff through delivery, managing customer expectations, contract compliance, budgets, and cross-functional execution. The ideal candidate is a technical project manager or program lead who thrives in a fast-paced, build-to-order environment—especially in support of government or military customers.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage end-to-end program execution across engineering, operations, supply chain, and quality
- Serve as the primary customer interface on assigned contracts (DoD or commercial)
- Lead IPT meetings and ensure alignment across departments and schedules
- Own program cost, scope, risk, and timing—apply Earned Value principles where required
- Coordinate all contract deliverables, including design, manufacturing, and logistics milestones
- Drive root cause and corrective action (RCCA) processes to resolve issues and stay on track
- Support bid and proposal efforts for follow-on or new program awards
- Ensure compliance with ITAR, EAR, FAR/DFARS, and internal policy guidelines
- Prepare and present program updates to internal leadership and external customers
- Guide project closeouts and ensure contract requirements are fully met
Qualifications
- U.S. Citizen (required for export-controlled programs & security clearance)
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or equivalent experience
- PMP, DAU Level 3, or military program management training highly preferred
- 3 years of experience leading technical programs in a manufacturing, defense, or aerospace environment
- Comfortable managing multiple projects with shifting priorities and limited resources
- Strong communication and leadership skills across technical and non-technical teams
- Familiarity with contract compliance, customer engagement, and risk mitigation practices
- Experience working with DoD customers, regulated programs, or government contracts a plus
- Must be able to obtain and maintain a Secret Clearance
Why Join
- Work on projects that serve the U.S. military and national security
- Join a company with full design-to-delivery capabilities under one roof
- Small, empowered teams where your leadership makes a visible difference
- Strong benefits package including medical, dental, vision, life, and disability
- 401(k) with company match paid time off career development support
- Opportunity to work on mission-driven projects in a lean, high-performance environment
Salary : $120,000 - $130,000
