Orbis is seeking a dynamic Program Manager to lead an international program in the Middle East region. This is a senior leadership role responsible for the end-to-end management of a complex technology-enabled defense program supporting a partner nation's Ministry of Defense. The Program Manager owns implementation, program outcomes, client engagement and relationship management, growth strategy, delivery scope, and budget accountability for a $20M+ engagement with a cross-functional team of 20-40 U.S. persons and local national staff. The program is contracted for 12 months, and Orbis is looking to extend it for another 3- 5 years, and the Program Manager will be incentivized for contract renewal year to year.
MANAGE
Own program delivery, team performance, and financial accountability.
- Program Delivery: Manage all program delivery resources, staff the team, ensure execution of deliverables across integration teams, and maintain sprint cadence and delivery scope alignment with client requirements.
- Team Leadership: Lead and manage a blended team of 20-40 personnel including U.S. persons and local nationals across engineering, operations, logistics, and customer support functions.
- Budget & P&L: Own program-level profit and loss accountability for a $20M+ budget. Oversee all financial planning, expenditure tracking, and travel budgets.
- Client Engagement: Lead client engagements at the senior leadership level. Establish and maintain mechanisms to capture client feedback that shapes subsequent business development, technical development, and investment decisions.
- Compliance: Ensure program practices adhere to all regulatory standards, including ITAR requirements and host nation protocols.
GROW
Drive program growth and expand the firm's footprint in the region.
- Business Development: Partner with the Country Manager to drive program growth, support business development, and identify new opportunities within the Middle East region.
- Capability Alignment: Coordinate with Capabilities Managers to understand the full spectrum of Orbis offerings, including proprietary tools, service offerings, and training, and seek opportunities to drive new business through capability reuse and synergies.
- Relationship Building: Build and sustain relationships with the client and adjacent potential clients at senior levels. Prioritize breadth of connectivity over single points of contact and invest in sustained and emerging relationships.
- Proposals & Pricing: Contribute to program proposals and concept pitches. Participate in the pricing and review process to ensure consistency with firm quality standards and strategic alignment.
CONNECT
Link program insights to firm-wide strategy and capability development.
- Market Intelligence: Monitor international trends with the potential to disrupt key markets. Proactively share insights with the Account Manager, Chief Capabilities Officer, and Capabilities Managers to identify investments that mitigate risk and create opportunity.
- Capability Development: Support internal concept and capability development with operational experience, client insights, and subject matter expertise.
- Cross-Division Support: Support firm-wide strategy implementation and business development efforts across divisions when requested.
EVOLVE
Build the team and culture that sustains program performance.
- Team Development: Actively manage team performance, taking a proactive approach to promote individual contributions to the firm, team, and program.
- Career Growth: Understand individual aspirations and create organizational and professional growth opportunities aligned with contract growth. Foster a culture of ongoing team evolution.
- Mentorship: Act as a teammate and mentor to professionals within the firm. Invest in a culture where people and capabilities grow together.
Experience
- 15+ years in the U.S. military, special operations, or U.S intelligence community
- Deep experience with international and foreign partners and liaisons, particularly in the Middle East
- Operational, analytical, or program management experience winning, supporting and growing government clients
- Proven track record leading teams of 20+ personnel in deployed or forward environments
- Demonstrated management of $20M+ program budgets with sound financial judgment
- Senior-level relationships with international defense programs, special operations, intelligence, or partner government organizations
Required Qualifications
- First-hand experience working as a senior in a USG-based Communications Directorate and a strong understanding of C2 systems, data integration, and technology-enabled defense programs
- Expertise in cultivating and sustaining relationships with senior foreign government and military stakeholders
- Experience with ITAR compliance in international technology transfer contexts
- Strong leadership, decision-making, and communication skills
- Business acumen and experience translating program performance into growth strategy
Desired Qualifications
- Experience managing programs with blended U.S. and local national workforces
- Familiarity with Middle East defense markets, procurement processes, and partner nation cultures
- First-hand experience operating, integrating and/or maintaining air defense systems and radars with C2 systems
- Prior experience with Agile or sprint-based delivery in a technology integration environment
- Experience using CRM platforms such as Microsoft Dynamics365 or Salesforce
- Professional working proficiency in Arabic
Physical Requirements
- Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer
- Routine video conference and/or in-person meetings
- Ability to travel overseas totaling 50-60% of the year, with additional domestic travel as required
Orbis Operations is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Orbis Operations is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace where all employees are valued and respected. We encourage applications from all qualified individuals, including those from underrepresented groups. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Orbis Operations will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities throughout the application and employment process. If you require an accommodation, please contact us at hr@orbisops.com. |
Orbis Operations
Apr 21, 2026