Manager Business Planning 2

About the Role

Travel: Yes, 10% of the Time · No relocation assistance available Northrop Grumman Mission Systems (NGMS) Sector is seeking a Business Operations Manager 2 to support the Navigation and Cockpit Systems (NACS) Business Unit onsite in Woodland Hills, CA . This role partners closely with the Senior Business Operations Manager and extended leadership team to manage the operational aspects of the business unit, including NCTA and Capital projects, financial planning and analysis, business rhythms, and executive reporting. The successful candidate will be a strategic, execution-focused leader with strong financial acumen, excellent communication skills, and the ability to drive cross-functional collaboration across the business unit.

What You'll Do

Leadership & Site / Business Unit Support

• Partner with the Senior Business Operations Manager to support all day‑to‑day business unit operations and objectives.
• Coordinate and execute monthly business rhythms, including staff meetings, business unit reviews, site visits, team meetings, and strategy sessions.
• Drive collaboration and alignment across functional organizations (engineering, operations, supply chain, finance, quality, HR, etc.) to support NACS objectives and resolve issues.
• Ensure adherence to internal processes, PrOPs, and applicable industry standards in all business operations activities . NCTA / Capital Projects & Business Operations
• Track and drive NCTA and Capital projects to completion on schedule and within budget, escalating risks and issues as appropriate.
• Manage the operational aspects of the NCTA and Capital portfolios, including prioritization, funding alignment, and performance tracking.
• Develop, maintain, and improve standardized processes and tools for planning, tracking, and reporting NCTA and Capital projects.
• Support development of the Annual Operating Plan (AOP) and other financial plans, integrating project performance, affordability targets, and growth objectives. Executive Reporting, Financial Analysis & Decision Support
• Prepare, consolidate, and present status of NCTA and Capital projects to executive leadership, including schedule, budget, and performance to plan.
• Develop and coordinate charts, briefings, and dashboards for Business Unit and Division reviews, tailoring content for executive audiences.
• Perform strategic and financial analyses (e.g., trend analysis, variance analysis, ROI/business case development) to support investment decisions and trade‑offs.
• Integrate disparate information from multiple sources into concise, actionable recommendations for senior leadership. Engagement, Growth & Transformation
• Lead involvement in action planning,, development of action plans, and tracking of progress.
• Support business growth objectives, affordability initiatives, and productivity improvements across the NACS Business Unit.
• Drive collaboration and transformation initiatives, including new tools, dashboards, and process automation.
• Champion continuous improvement, identifying opportunities to streamline business processes and enhance decision quality and speed . Ideal Candidate Skill Sets
• Strong leadership skills and ability to work across different levels of the organization.
• Demonstrated experience influencing and building consensus among cross-functional stakeholders.
• Ability to effectively manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Superior written, verbal, and presentation skills, including experience briefing executive leadership.
• Exceptional analytical, strategic, and critical thinking skills.
• Solid business and financial acumen, including understanding of key drivers of business growth and profitability.
• Hands-on experience developing executive-level briefings and decision-ready recommendations.

Requirements

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree with 8+ years of relevant professional experience, or a Master’s degree with 6+ years of relevant professional experience, in project/program management, business operations, finance, financial planning and analysis, or a related field.
• 2+ years of experience using Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint to perform financial/business analysis and develop reports, presentations, dashboards, and/or executive-level briefings.
• 2+ years of experience conducting strategic planning, financial analysis, budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and/or business performance analysis.
• 2+ years of experience managing projects or business initiatives, including responsibility for schedules, milestones, deliverables, risks, and/or performance tracking.
• 2+ years of experience working with cross-functional teams across two or more functional areas such as Finance, Engineering, Operations, Supply Chain, Program Management, Contracts, or Human Resources.
• 1+ year of formal people-management experience with responsibility for employee performance, development, and/or work assignments.
• U.S. citizenship required.
• Must possess, or have the ability to obtain and maintain, an active U.S. government Secret security clearance.

Preferred Qualifications

• A current/active U.S. government Secret security clearance.
• 3+ years of experience supporting business planning or business operations for a portfolio, business unit, or organization.
• Experience managing NCTA and/or capital project portfolios, including prioritization, funding allocation, trade studies, performance tracking, and/or return-on-investment analysis.
• 3+ years of experience using Microsoft Excel for financial modeling and analysis, including formulas, pivot tables, data analysis, and/or financial models.
• Experience using one or more business intelligence, collaboration, or reporting tools such as Salesforce, SharePoint, Tableau, Power BI, or similar platforms.
• Experience interpreting and presenting financial and operational performance metrics, such as revenue, operating income, cash flow, backlog, affordability, investment performance, and/or other business KPIs.
• Experience developing and presenting executive-level briefings, financial analyses, dashboards, and/or business recommendations to senior leadership.
• Experience leading cross-functional projects or teams in a matrix organization, including coordinating work across multiple functional organizations.

Pay & Benefits

Northrop Grumman provides a comprehensive benefits package and a work environment which encourages your growth and supports the mutual success of our people and our company. Northrop Grumman benefits give you the flexibility and control to choose the benefits that make the most sense for you and your family. Your benefits will include the following: Health Plan, Savings Plan, Paid Time Off and Additional Benefits including Education Assistance, Training and Development, 9/80 Work Schedule (where available), and much more! Primary Level Salary Range: $133,100.00 - $199,700.00 The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business.