Role summary
We are seeking a Senior Director, Program Delivery & Governance to lead end-to-end service readiness and execution for strategic telecommunications partner programs. This senior leadership role involves establishing delivery priorities, overseeing governance, and driving successful program execution from planning through launch and operational readiness. You will own the governance framework, manage a team of program managers, and ensure alignment across business, engineering, operations, and external partners. The ideal candidate has strong telecommunications experience, program leadership expertise, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, technical environment. Success requires strategic thinking, executive communication, operational discipline, and stakeholder alignment.
AST SpaceMobile and our global partners are building the first and only space-based cellular broadband network to be accessible by standard smartphones. Called SpaceMobile, this ultra-powerful network is being designed to provide connectivity at 4G/5G speeds everywhere on the planet – on land, at sea and in flight.
Position Overview
We are seeking a Senior Director, Program Delivery & Governance to join our Program Management Office (PMO) and lead end-to-end service readiness and delivery execution across strategic telecommunications partner programs. This role is responsible for establishing delivery priorities, overseeing governance processes, and driving successful program execution from initial planning through commercial launch and operational readiness.
As a senior leader, you will own the governance framework that guides multiple concurrent programs, ensuring alignment across business, engineering, operations, and external partner organizations. You will oversee a team of program managers responsible for executing complex deployment initiatives while maintaining accountability for program outcomes, risk management, executive reporting, and delivery excellence.
The ideal candidate combines strong telecommunications experience, program leadership expertise, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams in a fast-paced, highly technical environment. Success in this role requires strategic thinking, executive communication skills, operational discipline, and the ability to drive alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.
Key Responsibilities
Establish the vision, priorities, and sequencing across multiple telecommunications partner programs
Align delivery plans with commercial commitments, technical readiness milestones, and strategic business objectives
Evaluate competing priorities and drive decisions regarding resource allocation, scheduling, and program execution
Approve program baselines, delivery plans, mitigation strategies, and recovery plans
Own and continuously improve the program governance framework, decision-making processes, review cadence, and accountability structures
Chair lifecycle reviews, readiness assessments, and executive governance meetings
Establish standards for risk management, issue resolution, dependency tracking, escalation procedures, and change control
Ensure functional teams maintain ownership of commitments, milestones, deliverables, and readiness requirements
Hold cross-functional teams accountable for program outcomes and drive corrective action plans when milestones are at risk
Maintain executive-level visibility into program status, risks, dependencies, and key decisions
Lead end-to-end delivery planning and execution across multiple regions and partner programs
Coordinate integrated planning activities involving deployment, activation, integration, testing, launch readiness, and operational handoff
Support partner-facing leadership teams by providing program recommendations, readiness assessments, and delivery status updates
Build, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of program management professionals
Establish clear performance expectations, development plans, and growth opportunities for program management staff
Support workforce planning, resource allocation, and organizational scaling initiatives
Collaborate closely with partnership leaders, technical teams, operational stakeholders, and external partners to ensure program success
Drive structured change control processes and governance reviews for evolving program requirements
Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on delivery excellence, operational efficiency, and process standardization
Sponsor automation, reporting enhancements, and digital tools that improve program visibility and decision-making
Define and monitor key performance indicators related to delivery timelines, launch readiness, stakeholder satisfaction, and operational outcomes Qualifications
Education:
Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, Business Administration, Program Management, or a related field
MBA or Master's degree in Engineering, Telecommunications, Systems Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline preferred Experience:
Minimum 15 years of experience in telecommunications program delivery, network deployment, service delivery, professional services, or large-scale technical program management
Minimum 7 years of leadership experience managing program management, project management, or delivery organizations
Proven track record leading large-scale, multi-stakeholder telecommunications deployment or service launch initiatives
Experience managing strategic programs involving external partners, vendors, and executive-level stakeholders
Experience establishing governance processes, delivery frameworks, and organizational operating models
Experience leading geographically distributed teams and coordinating global program execution Preferred Qualifications:
Experience supporting satellite communications, direct-to-device services, or next-generation telecommunications platforms
Leadership experience with major telecommunications operators, network infrastructure providers, systems integrators, or technology vendors
Experience building or scaling a Program Management Office (PMO) within a high-growth organization
Experience managing international programs across multiple regulatory, operational, and commercial environments
Familiarity with non-terrestrial network concepts and advanced telecommunications architectures
Experience supporting field trials, launch readiness programs, beta deployments, and commercial service activations
PMP, PgMP, SAFe, or other related project and program management certifications Soft Skills:
Strong executive presence and leadership capabilities
Exceptional communication and presentation skills
Proven ability to influence and align cross-functional stakeholders at all organizational levels
Strong strategic planning and decision-making abilities
Excellent stakeholder management and relationship-building skills
Ability to hold teams accountable while fostering collaboration and trust
Strong negotiation, conflict resolution, and problem-solving skills
Ability to manage ambiguity and lead through organizational change
Demonstrated success developing, mentoring, and retaining high-performing teams
Clear and decisive communication, particularly in high-pressure or time-sensitive situations Technology Stack:
Microsoft Project
Smartsheet
Jira
Confluence
Portfolio and program management platforms
Executive reporting and dashboard tools
Business intelligence and data visualization platforms
Workflow automation and collaboration solutions
Delivery analytics and performance reporting systems
Microsoft Office Suite Physical Requirements
Ability to work in a standard office environment and use a computer for extended periods
Ability to participate in executive reviews, program governance meetings, and cross-functional collaboration sessions
Ability to travel approximately 20% as business needs require
Ability to work in operational, technical, and deployment environments as needed
Ability to coordinate activities across multiple time zones and international regions
Ability to review program documentation, readiness reports, risk assessments, and executive-level presentations This job description may not be inclusive to the duties and responsibilities listed. Additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time or the scope of the job may change as needed by business demands.
AST SpaceMobile is an Equal Opportunity, at will Employer; employment is governed on the basis of merit, competence and qualifications and will not be influenced in any manner by race, color, religion, gender, national origin/ethnicity, veteran status, disability status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, mental or physical disability or any other legally protected status.
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