Director - Launch and Spaceflight Operations

This role is a part of Test & Flight Operations team, providing centralized support to Business Units with the focus on design, build and maintenance of the ground systems, test and launch facilities across multiple locations.

This role is a senior member of our leadership team which reports to the Sr. Director of Mission Operations. This role establishes and implements standards, leads, and deploys common support services to include Launch and Flight Directors in coordination with key customers. You will be the leader of the team tasked with day-of-launch and spaceflight operations execution and assure operational lessons and standard methodologies are institutionalized and shared across programs. The initial focus of this role will be on people and process as we look to mature into a premier launch and spaceflight operations company. This position requires customer focused support of our launch and flight programs, exceptional leadership, a focus on process standardization and consistency, and a strong drive and desire on delivering results. The Director will lead a team that is intentionally independent of the programs in a heavily-matrix structure to ensure appropriate focus on safety and mission success responsibilities.

Responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Lead a small team in the creation, implementation, and enforcement of company-wide standards and processes used to launch and operate our suborbital and orbital launch vehicles, payloads, spacecrafts, orbital habitats, on-orbit, and lunar surface space vehicles
• Lead our pool of Launch and Flight Directors and over see their certification status, make mission assignments, and lead performance
• Find and cultivate new trainees, oversee their development, and ensure that behavior and skills satisfy the established high bar
• Lead personnel including recruiting, annual performance reviews, training, coaching, overseeing work, monitoring labor hours, and mentoring
• Model high standards for team members and maintain a culture that emphasizes safety and operational efficiency
• Constantly engage with internal customers (New Shepard, New Glenn, and Spaceflight operations teams) to identify required services and ensure support is appropriate and timely
• Work collaboratively with the internal Space Flight Operations team responsible for payloads, spacecrafts, orbital habitats, on-orbit, and lunar surface operations
• Work closely with the internal Launch team leading launch day execution for Blue’s sub-orbital and orbital vehicles
• Implement continuous improvements in pursuit of best-in-class operations
• Budget management and accountability with emphasis on planning and meeting commitments
• Develop strategic plans to assure current and future program needs are addressed
• Collaborate with internal teams to build rapport including NS and NG Program Management, Mission Management, and Launch and Mission Operations.
• Work collaboratively with external groups to build rapport and trust including Payload/Spacecraft customers, FAA, U.S. Space Force, and NASA
• Obtain certification as New Shepard Flight Director and New Glenn Launch Director and Spaceflight Operations Flight Director as advised.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Minimum of a B.S. degree in engineering or physics or equivalent combination of education and experience
• Specific and direct experience in launch day management, execution, and safety of personnel, launch vehicle, and ground systems and/or direct experience with payloads, spacecrafts, orbital habitats, on-orbit, and lunar surface operations
• 15+ years of relevant experience as a member of a mature launch or spaceflight operations team performing high consequence operations in space or aviation.
• 10+ years of validated experience leading teams in the principled conduct of dynamic, high consequence operations across large geographic distances
• Experience as a Launch or Flight Director in the industry
• Ability to define and lead an operational culture without significant oversight and direction
• Substantial experience leading, mentoring, and developing teams in a challenging, fast paced environment
• Ability to travel up to 25% of time
• Must be a U.S. citizen or national, U.S. permanent resident (current Green Card holder), or lawfully admitted into the U.S. as a refugee or granted asylum.