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Airbus

Sr. Director Government Programs CLS

Airbus · Grand Prairie, TX

Full-timeOn-sitePosted 14 September 2026
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Job description

Airbus is committed to providing reasonable accommodations as an Equal Opportunity Employer to applicants with disabilities. If you require assistance or an accommodation to complete your application, please contact us at USCareers@airbus.com Notice: Know Your Rights: Workplace Discrimination is Illegal Notice: Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination (English) Aviso: Transparencia en el Pago No Discriminación (Spanish) Job Description: Job Summary: This position is responsible for the Lakota support team at Airbus Helicopters, Inc. which provides material and technical support for Lakota’s delivered by Airbus Helicopters, Inc... The Sr Dir Lakota CLS is reporting to the Head of Lakota Program and the position is based at AHI GP. Travel is required. The Dir Lakota CLS is responsible for the overall parts support and technical support contract performance and profit/loss performance of the fielded Lakota fleet. The Sr. Dir Lakota CLS must be able to achieve results across a multi-national, geographically diverse team. Excellent customer relationship skills and a deep understanding of military aircraft support activity are imperative. Primary Responsibilities: Manage Material Support: 30% Ensure parts support for the Lakota fleet against contractual metrics. Minimize aircraft downtime due to supply and improve flight hours. Handle day to day topics and issues with the US Army Lakota program office. Maintain a close and collaborative relationship with Airbus Helicopters Deutschland to ensure maximum responsiveness to customer needs. Initial provisioning and site stand up Sustainment support for spares and tools Offer support for base contracts and contract modification (configuration changes) Adapt material support to aircraft modifications and configuration changes Over and above material service management Program inventory sustainment and optimization Manage Lakota Overhaul Activity: 30% Prepare for and lead the heavy Lakota engine and MGB overhaul. Ensure all customer delivery commitments are met to ensure aircraft operational availability. Implement resourcing and organizational structure to address the overhaul work Ensure strong coordination/contract management with internal partners (AHI DCR shop, AHD, etc) and external team members (Safran, ZF) Effectively communicate Airbus management approach to the US Army customer, and ensure the Army is poised to meet requirements on its side (for example, core returns) Lead the material ramp up to improve operational availability and minimize impacts on inventory levels. Manage Technical Support: 15% Provide Technical Support as required to meet contract requirements including onsite and back office. Ensure that all customer technical open points and field service requests are expeditiously addressed. Identify contract exclusions Coordinate required corrective maintenance for full CLS aircraft Monitor product reliability and propose product improvements Select parts and tools for provisioning and consignment Report malfunctions, incidents and accidents in accordance with AH and contractual procedures Monitor configuration changes and provide input to material support Identify technical cost saving potentials Manage Personnel: 15% Conducts periodic performance evaluations, Makes recommendation for salary increases (promotion, merit, adjustment), Transfers, hires, and disciplinary actions (terminations). Conducts succession planning; Career planning and development Supports Related Capture Efforts Such as FMS and Extension of the CLS Contract, Etc.: 10% Assigning project to support contracts and foreign military sales Attend meeting and consult as required Provide subject matter expertise Additional Responsibilities: Other duties as assigned Qualified Experience and Training: Education: Required Bachelor’s degree in business, engineering, or related subject, or equivalent experience. Preferred Master’s degree Experience: Required 10 years support, development, or manufacturing of civil or military fixed wing aircraft or helicopters. 5 years managing US DoD prime contracts. Preferred Significant experience with US Army Aviation strongly preferred. Experience in international programs or business environments strongly preferred Licensure/Certifications: Required None Preferred None Travel Required: 50% Domestic and International Citizenship: US Person under ITAR definition (U.S. Citizen, green card holder or person covered under our existing ITAR license) Clearance: Ability to obtain and maintain a Government security clearance Qualified Skills: Knowledge, Skills, Demonstrated Capabilities: Required Demonstrated leadership skills with an emphasis on communication and managing projects within diverse work groups under time and budget pressure. Demonstrated problem solver with ability to collect, analyze and communicate performance metrics. Individual with a strong dedication to achieving goals through teamwork Preferred None Communication Skills: Required: Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written form in English Preferred: None Technical Systems Proficiency: Required: SAP, Microsoft Office Suite Preferred: None Complexity of the Role: Level of Decision Making: Responsible to make programmatic decisions which could improve operations by $30M or could adversely affect by ($50M) annually Personnel decision making to core Lakota team Long Term forecasting decisions which encompass the overall execution of the Lakota fleet Organizational information: Direct Reports: Is this a people manager? yes # of Exempt Reports: 14 # of Non-exempt Reports: 2 Job Dimensions: Responsible for meeting revenue and profitability targets for P&L under management (totaling over $300M) Responsible for developing CAPEX and OPEX for P&L under management Responsible for ensuring a positive and constructive relationship with the US military customer Responsible for ensuring a positive and constructive relationship with AH/AHD counterparts Nature of Contacts: Involved Communication daily with internal and external parties Physical Requirements: Onsite or remote: 75% Onsite when not on travel Vision: able to see and read computer screens and other electronic equipment with screens, able to read documents, reports and engineering drawings. Daily Hearing: able to participate in conversations in person and via teleconference or phone and to hear sounds on the production floor including safety warnings or alarms. Daily Speaking: able to speak in conversations and meetings, deliver information and participate in communications. Daily Equipment Operation (personal computer, telephone, copies, fax machine, and related office equipment and using electronic identification card to enter building floors and internal doors): able to operate most office and personal electronic equipment. Daily Carrying: able to carry documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 10lbs/5kgs. Daily Lifting: able to lift documents, tools, drawings, electronic equipment up to 10lbs/5kgs. Daily Pushing / Pulling: able to push and pull small office furniture and some equipment and tools. Rarely Sitting: able to sit for long periods of time in meetings, working on the computer. Daily Squatting / Kneeling: able to squat or kneel to retrieve or replace items stored on low shelving. Infrequently Standing: able to stand for discussions in offices or on the production floor. Daily Travel: able to travel independently and at short notice. Approximately 5% - 10% Walking (include routine walking such as to a shared printer to retrieve documents): able to walk through office and production areas including uneven surfaces. Daily PPE required: Steel-toed shoes are required for all shop floor visits; appropriate hearing/eye protection may also be required when visiting the shop floor.

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