Senior Director, Operations

SES Space & Defense is a trusted partner ensuring mission success for our customers by blanketing the globe with multi orbit end to end satellite and technology solutions which provide reliable, secure, and high bandwidth connectivity. We strive to be the only solution when success is critical, and we will take care of our employees because we recognize they are our competitive advantage.The SES S&D Team, along with our customers and partners, will achieve success through integrity, honor, and commitment.

Position Title: Senior Director, Operations

Role Summary

The Senior Director, Operations is a senior leadership role responsible for managing the strategy, execution, and quality of the Company's satellite and terrestrial services to drive customer satisfaction and achieve our business goals. The Senior Director will lead multiple teams handling global network operations, service implementation, engineering support, systems management, field services, logistics, facilities, and trade compliance. The key duties of this role include leading and mentoring the Operations team, improving processes, managing budgets, defining performance metrics, and acting as a key point of contact for escalated issues. The role requires strong leadership, strategic planning, and communication skills to manage operations, maintain stakeholder relationships, and drive continuous improvement.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and implement strategies, concepts, policies, and procedures for the Operations group to support the Company's business objectives.
• Exhibit superior leadership, collaboration, accountability, and resource utilization to advance the Company's strategic goals.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the Operations team to foster high performance, accountability, and customer focus across all functional groups.
• Oversee execution of all network operations, service delivery, engineering support, systems management, field services, logistics, facilities management, and trade compliance activities relative to scope, schedule, and budget.
• Direct daily operations and maintenance activities. Provide world class 24x7 customer service delivery through the Global Network Operations and Security Center (GNOSC).
• Manage and maintain the Company's gateway and teleport infrastructure and steer implementation of customer services across all contracts.
• Guide the engineering, integration, configuration, testing, training, and delivery of all customer services.
• Establish and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs), metrics, and service-level agreements (SLAs) to measure and report on the performance, reliability, and availability of our satellite and terrestrial services. Identify opportunities to increase customer satisfaction and long-term value.
• Ensure all Operations group activities meet or exceed customer expectations. Act as a point of contact for escalated issues.
• Continuously analyze and improve Operations group processes, implement best practices, and drive efficiency.
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with internal teams, clients, and other stakeholders.
• Manage Operations group resources, ensure compliance with regulations, and oversee daily activities.
• Prepare and present regular performance reports on operational matters to senior leadership.
• Lead, coach, and manage direct reports. Esure each employee receives guidance and professional development to succeed in their performance and career goals.

Required Qualifications

• Must be a US citizenship with an active security clearance (Secret or higher).
• Undergraduate university degree in a relevant technical or business field. Equivalent combination of education and work experience may be considered.
• At least 12 years of experience in leading operations or service delivery functions within the defense, aerospace, or telecommunications fields. Expertise in SATCOM operations or engineering preferred.
• Knowledge of satellite and terrestrial communications solutions, particularly network hubs, modems, and remote terminals.
• Familiarity with commercial SATCOM systems integrators, equipment suppliers, and service providers.
• Strong vision, decision-making, organizational, and oral and written communication skills.
• Proven ability to coach and lead diverse functional teams, while managing projects, schedules, and budgets.

The Ideal Candidate

• A strategic, systems-thinking leader who can align people, process, and technology to deliver mission-critical results.
• Demonstrates exceptional judgment, leadership presence, and customer relationship skills under demanding and dynamic conditions.
• Balances disciplined program execution with forward-looking operational and process transformation.
• A collaborative and decisive leader who develops high-performing teams and fosters a culture of accountability and excellence.
• Passionate about driving continuous improvement, business integration, and measurable operational outcomes.

SES Space & Defense is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, pregnancy, genetic information, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other protected category under applicable federal, state, and local laws. #LI-Hybrid #LI-DR1