Executive Director, Mission Operations

Location

Leesburg, VA | United States

Job description

Iridium is an award-winning and innovative satellite communications company with bragging rights to the only network that offers voice and data connectivity anywhere in the world. For over 20 years, Iridium’s unique network and services have supported critical communications needs for individuals, businesses, and the evolving Internet of Things.

At Iridium, we understand the importance of staying connected and the limitations of traditional communications networks. People across the globe, including first responders, humanitarians, global militaries, scientific researchers, and lone workers, as well as ships, aircraft and remote operations all rely on Iridium to stay connected. We take our responsibility for providing these essential communications very seriously and pride ourselves on offering a reliable lifeline when needed. Likewise, Iridium is committed to providing an exciting and innovative workplace, where employees are challenged to think outside the box and collaborate on new, bold ideas and solutions. Our talented teams are passionate about their work and the impact our company makes around the world. Iridium fosters an empowering and inclusive culture that allows employees to genuinely be their best selves. We are looking for others who want to join this truly unique company that celebrates our employees and provides the opportunity to truly make a difference in the world.

What We’re Looking For:

Iridium is seeking a motivated Executive Director, Mission Operations to join our Technology Development and Operations Team. As a Mission Operations Executive Director, you’ll be responsible for leading and managing the technical aspects of the space and ground segment of the Iridium system. You’ll provide strategy and direction for the Mission Operations department by ensuring that the satellites, teleport network, and ground segment provides the highest availability for Iridium customers. You will also manage and own Iridium’s engineering and operations best practices and processes across the full lifecycle of Iridium’s Space & Ground Segment. You will lead and develop a world class team of both senior and junior technical staff who are accountable for maintaining and enhancing the satellite and global teleport network and optimizing the ongoing performance and behavior of the Iridium network. Responsibilities will also include the oversight of the 24/7 satellite, teleport, ground, and Hosted Payload operations and performing contiuous process improvement to provide the highest level of customer and user satifaction. You will also ensure that the Billing Operations team is providing highly efficent and error free support to the Gateway. You will interface daily with the Gateway operations team to facilitate a unified vision of operations between the Satellite Network Operations Center (SNOC) in Virginia and the Gateway Technical Operations Center (GTOC) in Arizona.

What You’ll Do:

• Foster and develop a highly effective team of satellite and ground operators, engineers, and leaders to effectively manage a network of 80 satellites connecting to a vast, global system of ground terminals through a myriad of ground infrastructure entities at the Satellite Network Operations Center (SNOC)
• Provide the highest level of service to our end user through high quality and efficient operations. This is to be accomplished by continuing to streamline operations to improve return-to-service times and minimize operational errors. You will be expected to exceed L-band, Certus, and SBD availability goals of 99.95%.
• Be responsible for supporting customer Gateway (GW) operations and service availability as well as critical services based out of the SNOC
• Be responsible for supporting the operation of provisioning, mediation, billing, and various supporting applications, with a goal of 99.95% availability on IWS and SPNet provisioning
• Lead team relationships and dynamics and ensure active engagement and communications across all teams within the organization and outside the operations organization
• Provide operational leadership and guidance to all managers on your staff to enhance leadership skills, identify and grow the next line of leaders, and enable them to focus on strategic growth and improvement of the operations
• Drive continuous improvement and make decisions on major corporate-wide strategic initiatives, ensuring requirements are met on an ongoing basis as the network evolves and grows with the goal to maximize the use of operational resources and reduce operational manning where possible
• Establish best practices to ensure high quality work products and designs, and consistently strong network performance
• Engage with customers to better understand their needs, and support existing commitments and new opportunities
• Support new business initiatives that leverage Iridium’s satellite engineering and operations expertise
• Act as a trusted partner for the technology organization with strategic influence to build consensus among all levels of leadership and across multiple teams

What You’ll Need to Succeed:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or Computer Science or equivalent
• 15+ years of experience in satellite or network operations
• 10+ years of experience in space systems, satellites, constellations, and telecommunications
• Previous management experience
• Capable of being a strong motivator and source of direction for your team and exemplifying commitment to your team’s goals
• Excellent leadership qualities and the ability to facilitate collaboration across multiple departments
• Must possess a strategic mindset and be capable of planning objectives for an entire team
• The ability to identify and evaluate challenges and come up with effective solutions
• Able to confidently drive discussions, make decisions, and respond to difficult situations
• Have a strong sense of urgency in driving projects to completion and be motivated to achieve outcomes and results

Things That Would be Great if You Brought to the Table :

• Master of Engineering/Science degree
• Top Secret/SCI clearance

We’ll also need you to:

• Be able to travel domestically and internationally as needed
• Have or have the ability to obtain a Secret Security clearance
• Be a U.S. Citizen

Work Environment:

This position primarily works in the company office or in a home office. The position is largely sedentary with the majority of the position sitting in a chair and working with a computer. The role uses basic office equipment including a phone, video, computer, keyboard, mouse and printer. For meetings in person, this position will need to be able stand, walk within the office and climb stairs on occasion.

Iridium is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or status as a protected veteran. EOE of Minorities/Females/Vets/Disability and other protected categories.

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