Operations Lead

Join a Company Where You Can Make a Real Impact - and Own a Piece of the Future

Are you energized by the idea of helping a company grow smarter, serve our customers better, and connect more deeply? Do you thrive in an environment where your ideas matter, your voice is heard, and your work drives real results? If so, we'd love to meet you.

We're a mid-sized, employee-owned company on a mission to create meaningful value for both our employees and our customers. That means we're not just looking for someone to fill a seat - we're looking for someone who wants to build, innovate, and evolve with us.

Our company primarily serves the Navy and other Department of Defense clients, offering a dynamic environment where your expertise will make a difference.

About the Role

AVIAN is seeking a Operations Lead to support our Patuxent River, MD customer at The Persistent Maritime Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office (PMA-262). The Operations Lead must be able to fill in for the Operations Officer when out of the office. The Operations Lead is an in-person, in-office, limited telework position, who will support the Operations Officer, the Program Manager and Deputy Program Manager with all facets of the Program Office operations.

Responsibilities

The Operations Lead is responsible and accountable to the Operations Team, the Program Manager and the Deputy Program Manager for day-to-day operations, providing business management support to the Program Office. The Operations Lead will manage and support all IPT activities as requested from the IPTLs to effectively achieve program technical, cost, and schedule objectives; advise and participate in the development and coordination of all required program documentation and briefings; and ensure all program requirements and milestones are communicated and coordinated with program leadership. Duties and responsibilities include:

Analyze needs and synthesize requirements information necessary for development of specific objectives for program initiatives and planning. Assure that initial and long-range program objectives comply with requirements of the Department of Defense, Department of the Navy, PEO(U&W) and NAVAIR.
• Serve as central point of contact within the Program Office for all tasks, actions, briefs, efforts etc. that are internal to the PMA and/or external within the PEO, CPRG, ASN(RDA), OPNAV, SECNAV, DoD, Congress or the media, or apply to the program office as a whole.
• Ensure suspense dates are established and tracked.
• Maintain the day to day program operating integrity across the program IPT's.
• Utilize digital tools to the maximum extent.
• Integrate all planning with the overall program team effort and that of any other participating organizations and agencies when necessary.
• Coordinate and gather inputs for weekly Executive Leadership Team (ELT), bi-weekly Program Executive Office meetings and participate in Program Management Reviews (PMRs). Prepare, coordinate, and post evaluation of meetings, conferences and technical reviews to include briefs, issue sheets, white papers, quad charts, and trade studies.
• Establish program office guides and procedures, and apply the tools and techniques of process identification and continuous process improvement in addressing program office issues and problems.
• Recommend developmental and training needs.
• Prepare and update Program Office correspondence and documentation at the appropriate level to include routing, distribution, retrieval, research, and maintenance.
• Attend meetings to include: Required Calendar Syncs with Ops / EA and Leadership as well as weekly Operations Meetings at the appropriate frequencies.
• Serve as backup for Access Control for conference room scheduling and assist Executive Assistant (EA) with updates and maintenance of PM/DPM calendars.
• Schedule SVTCs/Tandberg/VOIP/STE calls and spaces. Verify attendees for classified meetings using Defense Information System for Security (DISS).
• Coordinate and ensure successful execution of All Hands meetings including date/time and meeting venue.
• Ensure Briefing materials are coordinated and socialized throughout the program office to ensure all content is acquired and finalized prior to disseminating to all hands.
• Assist with the review and processing of SF 2570 forms for Public / Technical Release utilizing NAWCAD Security Storefront website for security and Public Affairs Office (PAO) approval.
• Work with Facility/Security Specialist to update distribution lists as new members arrive to or depart from the program office; Check in / out process.
• Coordinate, draft, and submit Navy End-Of-Tour (EOT) Awards for all Military members.

• REQUIRED EDUCATION: MA/MS degree. Allowable substitution: a BS or BA degree and an additional two (2) years of experience; or an AS or AA degree plus an additional four (4) years of work experience.
• REQUIRED EXPERIENCE: over (10) years of experience. NAVAIR specific experience preferred.
• Familiarity with Enterprise Task Management Software Solution(ETMS2) is a plus.
• Should be very familiar with Microsoft Teams and FlankSpeed SharePoint Online (SPO).
• Must be familiar with NDAWS, OPNAV Form 1650, award citation requirements.
• Must be able to obtain and maintain a Department of Defense security clearance.
• Due to the sensitivity of customer-related requirements, U.S. Citizenship is required.
• Salary range: $95,000 - $115,000 (The offered rate will be based on the selected candidate's knowledge, skills, abilities, and/or experience and in consideration of internal parity.)

About being a part of Team AVIAN

As an employee-owner, you'll be a catalyst for progress - helping us find new opportunities with current or new customers, company efficiencies, streamline processes, and bring people and ideas together in smarter ways. Whether it's helping us optimize workflows, enhancing the employee experience, or delivering more impactful solutions to our customers, your inputs will have reach and relevance across the organization.

Taking care of each other is a cornerstone of our AVIAN philosophy. Being part of the AVIAN team means being part of a team that takes pride in being expansive in our community because our impact doesn't stop in the workplace. We actively engage in community initiatives, empowering our employees to make a meaningful difference.

You'll Succeed Here If You...

• See opportunities where others see routine
• Are curious, collaborative, and passionate about making things better
• Enjoy connecting dots across teams, tools, and tasks
• Believe in doing the right thing the right way - even when no one's watching
• Play an active role in our growth, using your ideas and initiative to shape how we work, serve, and succeed together
• Embrace a "one team" mindset knowing we are stronger together through trust, transparency and teamwork.
• Understand the power of ownership - and are excited to be part of an employee-owned culture

Why Join Us?

• Employee Ownership: We're not just building a company - we're building a legacy. As an employee-owner, you'll share in our success and have a direct stake in our future.
• Real Growth: We're expanding, evolving, and exploring new ways to serve. Your contributions will shape our direction and help us grow stronger.
• Purpose-Driven Work: Every improvement you help make is one that adds value - not just for us, but for the people and missions we support.
• Culture of Collaboration: We're big enough to take on meaningful challenges, but small enough that everyone still knows your name.
• Comprehensive Benefits Package: Designed to support your health, financial security, and overall well-being, our health and wellness benefits include medical, dental, and vision coverage, along with telemedicine services and a TRICARE supplement for veterans.
• Flexible Leave Benefits: we prioritize a balanced, supportive environment that allows you to thrive both personally and professionally and offer flexible and paid time off, 11 paid holidays, paid sick leave, maternity and bonding leave, and military training leave.

AVIAN is a service-based organization. As an equal opportunity employer, our policy of business is to seek the most qualified candidate for each talent opportunity without regard to race, creed, color, sex, age, religious belief, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sexual preference, physical or mental handicap, lawful political affiliation or veteran's status.