Director, Enterprise Execution & Strategic Initiatives

Worker Type Regular Job Description Summary The Director, Enterprise Execution & Strategic Initiatives leads the definition, planning, governance, and execution of complex, high-priority enterprise initiatives spanning multiple business functions, organizations, and leadership stakeholders. Operating within the COO organization, this role is accountable for the integrated management of assigned strategic initiatives from initial definition through execution, adoption, and transition to sustained operational ownership. The position translates executive priorities into coordinated execution by establishing clear outcomes, ownership, governance, decision rights, integrated plans, dependencies, and measures of success. The role also helps shape emerging enterprise priorities into executable initiatives and contributes to the continued development of the company’s enterprise execution capability. As the Director, Enterprise Execution & Strategic Initiatives you will either lead execution of the initiative, or establish the first line of accountability for the assigned strategic project manager. You will assist in selecting well qualified project managers that fit each initiatives unique requirements, while also serving in a mentoring capacity. Success in this role requires strong interpersonal judgment and the ability to quickly establish credibility, build trusted relationships, and create alignment across diverse stakeholders and organizational boundaries. The role requires a leader who can navigate ambiguity, competing priorities, and complex organizational dynamics while maintaining accountability and driving action. Position Responsibilities Lead complex, cross-functional enterprise initiatives involving multiple organizations, business functions, technologies, processes, and executive stakeholders. Shape emerging enterprise priorities into executable initiatives by clarifying the business problem, intended outcomes, scope, ownership, stakeholders, governance, dependencies, and execution approach. Translate strategic and executive objectives into integrated plans, milestones, decision points, ownership structures, and measurable success criteria. Maintain accountability for the integrated health and progress of assigned initiatives, ensuring coordinated execution across organizational boundaries. Establish and manage initiative governance, operating cadence, integrated schedules, workstreams, dependencies, risks, issues, decisions, and escalation paths. Create enterprise-level visibility into progress, tradeoffs, resource constraints, dependencies, emerging risks, and decisions requiring leadership action. Provide executive decision support through concise reporting, synthesis of complex information, framing of options and tradeoffs, and clear recommendations. Establish and track measures of success to ensure initiatives remain connected to intended strategic, operational, financial, technology, compliance, adoption, or other business outcomes. Incorporate organizational change, stakeholder engagement, communications, training, adoption, and transition-to-operations considerations into execution planning as appropriate. Partner with functional, technical, and project/program management organizations while maintaining clear accountability between enterprise-level integration and execution owned within individual functions. Identify and drive resolution of cross-functional barriers involving process, ownership, governance, data, technology, or decision-making by clarifying accountability, facilitating stakeholder alignment, and ensuring timely escalation and follow-through. Develop and apply scalable enterprise execution practices, tools, and operating models across areas such as initiative intake, prioritization, governance, planning, reporting, risk and dependency management, and transition to operational ownership. Lead, mentor, coordinate, or manage a small team of program/project management professionals as organizational needs and the enterprise execution capability evolve. Basic Qualifications (Required Skills & Experience) 10+ years of progressively responsible experience leading complex programs, strategic initiatives, operations, technology-enabled transformation, or other cross-functional business efforts. Demonstrated experience leading initiatives spanning multiple functions, organizations, or stakeholder groups and working effectively with senior leaders, business owners, technical teams, and operational organizations. Proven ability to translate broad strategic, operational, regulatory, or executive objectives into structured plans, governance, measurable outcomes, and coordinated execution. Demonstrated experience with program governance, integrated planning, executive reporting, risk and issue management, dependency management, decision tracking, and escalation. Strong record of leading through influence in matrixed environments and driving resolution across organizational boundaries. Strong executive communication, facilitation, and decision-support skills, including the ability to synthesize complex information into clear recommendations, priorities, risks, and actions. Demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary teams, including experience managing, mentoring, coordinating, or directing professionals across diverse functional areas. Strong judgment and problem-solving skills, with the ability to balance strategic objectives with detailed execution and operate effectively in ambiguous and evolving environments. Other Qualifications & Desired Competencies Experience leading enterprise transformation, strategic execution, operational improvement, technology modernization, compliance, or other high-visibility cross-functional initiatives. Experience developing or maturing governance structures, operating models, management processes, or organizational capabilities. Experience working across multiple enterprise functions such as operations, engineering, information technology, cybersecurity, finance, supply chain, compliance, business development, or shared services. Experience working in regulated, government, aerospace and defense, technology, healthcare, or professional services environments. Formal training or certification in project/program management, change management, process improvement, agile delivery, or related disciplines is beneficial but not required. Physical Demands Ability to work in an office environment (Constant) Required to sit and stand for long periods; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to operate a computer and telephone keyboard (Frequent) Clearance Level No Clearance The salary range for this role is: $170,500 - $272,750 AeroVironment considers several factors when extending an offer, including but not limited to, the location, the role and associated responsibilities, a candidate’s work experience, education/training, and key skills. ITAR Requirement: This position requires access to information that is subject to compliance with the International Traffic Arms Regulations (“ITAR”) and/or the Export Administration Regulations (“EAR”). In order to comply with the requirements of the ITAR and/or the EAR, applicants must qualify as a U.S. person under the ITAR and the EAR, or a person to be approved for an export license by the governing agency whose technology comes under its jurisdiction. Please understand that any job offer that requires approval of an export license will be conditional on AeroVironment’s determination that it will be able to obtain an export license in a time frame consistent with AeroVironment’s business requirements. A “U.S. person” according to the ITAR definition is a U.S. citizen, U.S. lawful permanent resident (green card holder), or protected individual such as a refugee or asylee. See 22 CFR § 120.15. Some positions will require current U.S. Citizenship due to contract requirements. Benefits : AV offers an excellent benefits package including medical, dental vision, 401K with company matching, a 9/80 work schedule and a paid holiday shutdown. For more information about our company benefit offerings please visit: . We also encourage you to review our company website at to learn more about us. Principals only need apply. NO agencies please. About AV: AV isn’t for everyone. We hire the curious, the relentless, the mission-obsessed. The best of the best. We don’t just build defense technology—we redefine what’s possible. As the premier autonomous systems company in the U.S., AV delivers breakthrough capabilities across air, land, sea, space, and cyber. From AI-powered drones and loitering munitions to integrated autonomy and space resilience, our technologies shape the future of warfare and protect those who serve. Founded by legendary innovator Dr. Paul MacCready, AV has spent over 50 years pushing the boundaries of what unmanned systems can do. Our heritage includes seven platforms in the Smithsonian—but we’re not building history, we’re building what’s next. If you're ready to build technology that matters—with speed, scale, and purpose—there’s no better place to do it than AV. We are proud to be an EEO/AA Equal Opportunity Employer, including disability/veterans. AeroVironment, Inc. is an Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) employer and welcomes all qualified applicants. Qualified applicants will receive fair and impartial consideration without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, genetic data, sexual orientation, gender identity or other legally protected status. ITAR U.S. Citizenship required