Group Supervisor, Finance and Operations Group; SOM

Description

Do you thrive on leading high‑performing, mission‑driven teams?

Are you passionate about advancing excellence in program management, financial stewardship, and technical operations that enable groundbreaking space exploration?

If so, we're looking for someone like you to join our team at APL as the Group Supervisor for Finance and Operations (SOM) within the Space Exploration Sector (SES).

In this key leadership role, you will oversee a talented team of technical and administrative professionals who support APL's Civil Space Flight, National Security Space, and Space Formulation Mission Areas. Your leadership will ensure the integrity and success of program and project management practices that underpin APL's contributions to NASA, DoW, and other space missions.

• Lead and develop a group of approximately 40 technical and business professionals across project control, scheduling, earned value management, cost engineering, pricing, financial analysis, and reporting functions.
• Oversee and improve the consistent implementation of project management and control processes across more than 200 active technical projects in the Space Exploration Sector.
• Guide and strengthen management practices in performance management, cost estimating, forecasting, and earned value analysis for spacecraft and instrument development programs.
• Deliver actionable insights through timely, reliable management information and innovative analytical tools that support decision‑making across programs and mission areas.
• Partner with SES leadership to enhance program execution, resource management, and financial performance, while ensuring compliance with APL, NASA, and DoW standards.
• Direct financial management activities, including internal investment process with APL's Investment Strategy Team (IST), forecasting and reporting of funding, expenditures, indirect rates, staffing projections, capital investments, and internal budgets.
• Participate in Laboratory‑wide initiatives to refine and implement policies for program management, business operations, and sponsor compliance.
• Foster collaboration across mission areas, ensuring transparent communication and alignment between project teams, business operations, and sector leadership.

You meet our minimum qualifications for the job if you...

• Hold a Bachelor's degree in a relevant field (e.g., engineering, business, finance, or related discipline).
• Have 10 or more years of experience in program management and/or project controls; experience supporting space flight programs is preferred.
• Possess at least 7 years of supervisory or leadership experience managing both technical and administrative staff.
• Demonstrate in-depth knowledge of Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR), Cost Accounting Standards (CAS), and government contracting principles.
• Have experience with indirect rate management, staff forecasting, and program life‑cycle processes.
• Exhibit strong analytical, organizational, and leadership skills, including the ability to analyze complex program data and develop actionable insights.
• Communicate effectively in both written and verbal forms, with excellent customer relations and interpersonal skills.
• Hold an active Secret clearance and can ultimately obtain a Top Secret clearance. If selected, you will be subject to a government security clearance investigation and must meet the requirements for access to classified information. Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship.

• Hold a Master's degree in business administration, engineering management, or a related field.
• Have direct experience with government contracting and subcontracting.
• Bring familiarity with NASA and DoW program management practices.
• Demonstrate a record of implementing innovative business processes that improve performance, efficiency, and compliance.

You'll join a collaborative community dedicated to technical excellence, operational precision, and advancing APL's mission in space science and exploration. You'll help shape how APL manages some of the most complex and inspiring programs in the nation — while mentoring the next generation of…