At Saildrone, we sustainably explore, map, and monitor the oceans to understand, protect, and preserve our world. We provide real-time access to critical data from any ocean on earth, 24/7/365, and use proprietary software applications to transform that data into actionable insights and intelligence. Our fleet of uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs), powered by renewable wind and solar power, have a minimal carbon footprint and operate without the need for a crewed support vessel.
Saildrone works with governments, civil agencies, foundations, universities, and private companies around the globe to drive better information about our oceans and seas—from sailing into the eye of a category 4 hurricane to obtain new data about how storms intensify, collecting new CO2 data in hard-to-reach areas, and counting fish biomass to inform sustainable fishery management, to mapping the ocean floor and reducing illegal fishing and drug trafficking. As a result of our work, Saildrone has been included on Fast Company’s annual list of the World’s Most Innovative Companies, earned an Ocean Awards’ Innovation Award, won Best Tech For Good from the Timmy Awards, and was recognized by Andreessen Horowitz’s American Dynamism 50 list of the Top 50 Companies Kickstarting American Renewal. Our first-annual Atlantic hurricane mission with NOAA was included as one of The New York Times’ 21 Things That Happened for the First Time in 2021 and Popular Science's 100 Greatest Innovations of 2021.
We are based in Alameda, CA, with offices in Washington DC and St. Petersburg, FL, and operate our missions worldwide. Saildrone is backed by top-tier investors in the frontier tech and sustainability sectors, including Social Capital, Capricorn, Lux Capital, BOND Capital, and Emerson Collective.
This is an exciting opportunity with a fast-growing team at the cutting-edge intersection of big data services and autonomous hardware. You will be an integral part of a high-performing multi-disciplinary delivering high impact for humanity and future generations.
The Role
The Senior Program Manager (SrPGM) of Marine Domain Awareness (MDA) is responsible for the execution of mission success and overall customer satisfaction, reporting directly to the Head of Program Delivery. Saildrones MDA business unit supports customers requiring intelligence, surveillance, & reconnaissance (ISR), force protection, maritime safety, and ecosystem monitoring. These customers generally expand across government agencies and private enterprise companies. SrPGM will work to align all individual missions, from various customer groups, and schedule and assign to a team of Program Managers, Specialists, and Operational Coordinators. They will work closely with the SrPGM for internal operations to coordinate across all Saildrone business and internal manufacturing and readiness teams. They will translate, integrate, and deconflict priorities from the end customer back to Saildrone to enable efficient and effective mission execution.
The right candidate will have had proven success in delivering programs with government operational context and familiarity with government contracting, requirements development, and operations. Travel will be required to support customer engagements domestically and internationally.
Responsibilities
- Overall responsibility to plan and execute contracted mission success, meeting all customer expectations, understanding their needs, vision, and program goals
- Authorized to manage end-to-end execution of booked missions
- Manage team of Program Managers, Operation Coordinators, and Specialists through the entire mission cycle
- Work directly with account & business devop managers during new customer inquiries and feasibility studies
- Performance evaluation will be based on mission success, customer satisfaction, and mission cost metrics
- Cultivate trust with customers at the operational program ranks
- Coordinate across Saildrone all planning aspects of mission, involving necessary teams (ASQ, Vehicle Operations, Product, & Manufacturing)
- Drive schedule attainment and mission costs
- Single point of leadership representing the mission to the customer
- Provide input and feedback into new sales and BD requests for feasibility & lessons learned
- Drive issue resolution as the voice of customer (VOC), working to ensure mission success
- Responsible to ensure all end-of-mission (EOM) debriefs are completed & scored with focus on external & internal lessons learned
- Comfortably work in a fast-paced environment, willing to work extended hours when necessary
- Performance metrics will be based on customer satisfaction, mission schedule attainment, data quality, and adherence to mission goals and objectives.
Qualifications
- Minimum Bachelor's in Business, Engineering, Management, or Project Management
- Proven track record of managing complex programs across multiple teams from inceptions through completion, in a government or military environment
- High energy, focused tenacity, sense of humor, desire to eliminate ambiguity and focus on transparency
- Intellectually curious, interested in data analysis and results-driven
- 7+ years of experience as Program Manager or equivalent
- PMP Certification (not required, but desired)
- SECRET level USA clearance (not required, but desired)
- Military background or understanding of methods of communications and processes
- 20 to 30% Travel (international and domestic)
Physical Requirements
- Work is performed on a computer and requires ability to operate a keyboard and other peripheral devices. Ability to travel internationally and domestically.
Location: This position is remote friendly with travel expectations to our Washington DC and Alameda, CA offices.
Benefits:
- Medical, dental and vision plans for you and your dependents.
- Short and relaxing ferry ride from the Ferry Building for SF residents
- Enhanced Parental Leave Programs
- Competitive benefits including excellent medical, life insurance, 401k plan
A reasonable estimate of the current salary range is $120,000-$155,000 annually.
