Director of Program Operations

About Urban Sky

Urban Sky is a venture-backed aerospace startup on a mission to pioneer humanity’s routine, easy access to the stratosphere and the value locked within it. We design, build, operate, and sell stratospheric balloon systems. The data we collect supports a wide range of applications, from real-time wildfire monitoring to urban mapping. Our technology is also employed by government customers including the Department of War (DoW), NASA, and others. Urban Sky sends flight vehicles to the stratosphere on a weekly basis.

Our team consists of engineers, makers, developers, and doers who believe in the power of human potential when passion meets utility within a small, supportive team. At Urban Sky we strive to create a team culture grounded in candor, inclusion, respect and empowerment.

We aim to build the next chapter of stratospheric history in Denver and Texas and are seeking self-starting, open-minded, and hard-working team members.

About the role

The Director of Program Operations is responsible for planning, coordinating, and executing the day-to-day operational activities that enable successful customer demonstrations, military exercises, testing, and operational deployments. This leader serves as the company's operational integrator, ensuring personnel, equipment, logistics, facilities, shipping, security, and mission support activities are synchronized across all departments.

Reporting to the VP for Defense and National Security, this position coordinates with Program Management, Flight Operations, Mission Control, Engineering, Manufacturing, Security, and Business Development. The Director of Program Operations resides within the Mission Integration and Execution (MIX) department of Urban Sky and transforms customer-sponsored work into executable missions while maintaining operational readiness and efficient utilization of company resources.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Planning & Mission Integration

• Support the assigned project leads with operational planning for customer demonstrations, military exercises, internal R&D flight tests, and operational deployments.
• Develop integrated mission execution plans, schedules, and readiness milestones.
• Coordinate cross-functional planning meetings and operational readiness reviews.
• Balance competing priorities across multiple simultaneous programs and events.

Resource Management

• Manage scheduling and allocation of field personnel, mission crews, operators, and support staff.
• Coordinate assignment of specialized equipment and mission kits.
• Maintain visibility of personnel availability, certifications, and readiness.
• Optimize utilization of shared company resources across programs.

Training Program Oversight

• Manage the development and oversight of a company-level training program to develop, track, and sustain internal expertise across all phases of mission integration and execution.
• Manage the development and oversight of a standardized training curriculum for government customers which leverages expertise from the MC and Flight Ops teams and provides metrics for assessing proficiency levels.

Logistics & Deployment

• In coordination with the Urban Sky logistics department, oversee all domestic and international logistic requirements and scheduling in support of operational events.
• Coordinate shipment of balloons, payloads, support equipment, hazardous materials, helium, tools, and ground support equipment.
• Manage transportation and lodging plans for personnel and equipment.
• Coordinate customs documentation, import/export requirements, and freight forwarding when required.
• Ensure equipment arrives on time and mission ready.

Host Nation & Site Coordination

• Coordinate with customer representatives, host nation partners, range personnel, airports, military installations, and local authorities.
• Support site surveys and advance planning activities.
• Coordinate facility access, lodging, transportation, communications, and local support requirements.
• Ensure compliance with local operating requirements and permits.

Mission Readiness

• Support the assigned project leads with the performance of readiness reviews prior to deployment.
• Verify personnel, equipment, logistics, documentation, and support requirements are complete.
• Identify operational risks and coordinate mitigation actions.
• Develop contingency plans for deployment and execution.

Equipment & Asset Management

• Maintain deployment inventories and mission equipment accountability.
• Coordinate maintenance, calibration, repair, and replacement of operational equipment.
• Standardize deployment kits and expeditionary equipment packages.
• Improve readiness through standardized operational processes.

Process Development

• Develop repeatable operational planning processes as the company scales.
• Create standard operating procedures, deployment checklists, readiness metrics, and lessons learned processes.
• Drive continuous improvement across mission execution activities.

Cross-Functional Leadership

The Director of Program Operations routinely coordinates with:

• Program Management
• Flight Operations
• Mission Control
• Engineering
• Manufacturing
• Security
• Supply Chain
• Finance
• Contracts
• Business Development
• Government customers
• International partners

Qualifications

• 10+ years leading complex operational programs, military operations, flight operations, or technical field deployments.
• Experience coordinating multi-disciplinary teams.
• Experience supporting government or defense customers.
• Demonstrated expertise in logistics, operational planning, and mission execution.
• Experience managing concurrent high-tempo operations.
• Strong understanding of risk management and operational planning.
• Ability to travel frequently in support of domestic and international operations.
• Must be U.S. citizen or permanent resident

Nice-to-haves / Preferred Skills

• Military operational planning experience.
• Experience with aviation, UAS, high-altitude systems, aerospace, or defense technology.
• International deployment experience.
• Familiarity with export controls, customs, and hazardous material shipping.
• PMP or equivalent operational planning experience

Urban Sky is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, protected Veteran Status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.