Product Manager - Planning & Government Programs

About Columbia Helicopters

Columbia Helicopters has been a reliable provider of heavy-lift helicopter services for over 65 years. The company is involved in the creation of new aircraft, worldwide heavy-lift helicopter operations, and maintenance support to ensure readiness for critical missions. If you have a passion for aviation, consider joining the Columbia team.

Role Overview

The Product Manager, Planning & Government Programs, oversees the execution of production planning across Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (MRO) operations, ensuring coordination between schedules, material availability, and contractual commitments. As the subject matter expert (SME) in planning, this role leads efforts to standardize processes, address operational obstacles, and enhance workflow efficiency. Additionally, the position manages compliance and coordination for government programs, ensuring all contractual and regulatory standards are met while collaborating with multiple departments and external partners to ensure timely delivery.

Key Responsibilities

• Act as the main contact point for government MRO programs, liaising with internal teams and external stakeholders.
• Ensure adherence to contract, regulatory, reporting, and performance obligations.
• Collaborate with Account Management to support Foreign Military Sales (FMS) and domestic government clients, incorporating their requirements into production plans.
• Provide expert leadership in production planning across MRO operations, developing schedules, prioritizing work orders, forecasting needs, and planning capacity.
• Coordinate material availability, scheduling, and operational priorities to facilitate efficient workflow.
• Identify and resolve planning bottlenecks, scheduling conflicts, and inefficiencies.
• Standardize production planning processes to improve throughput, on-time delivery, and transparency of work orders.
• Support management of complex, high-priority, or high-risk programs.
• Lead preparation and execution of Product Verification Audits (PVA) to maintain operational readiness and audit success.
• Serve as primary liaison for Boeing communications and program coordination; manage planning and scheduling for Boeing’s CISP program and related subcontract work.
• Work closely with Supply Chain and Operations to ensure material readiness, realistic scheduling, and preemptive risk management.
• Travel as necessary to facilitate program coordination and stakeholder engagement.

Required Qualifications

• At least 7 years of experience in MRO operations, production planning, or aerospace operational roles.
• Strong expertise in production planning and scheduling within MRO workflows and government contract environments.
• Proven experience managing cross-functional collaboration among planning, supply chain, and operations teams.
• Demonstrated experience supporting government or defense projects, preferably Foreign Military Sales.
• Strong ability to identify and overcome workflow and scheduling challenges.
• High sense of accountability and ownership over responsibilities.
• Familiarity with Product Verification Audit (PVA) procedures or similar audit processes.
• Experience partnering with Original Equipment Manufacturers, particularly Boeing.

Why Join Columbia Helicopters?

• Competitive pay and extensive benefits supporting health, financial wellbeing, and work–life balance, including medical, dental, vision, retirement plans with company contributions, paid time off, and wellness programs.
• Commitment to employee growth through training, development programs, internal mobility, and leadership support fostering career advancement.
• A purpose-driven culture where every role is impactful, encouraging employee empowerment, idea-sharing, and contribution to company progress.
• A supportive and inclusive team environment that values collaboration, respect, and collective success.

Equal Opportunity and Compliance

Columbia Helicopters is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The company prohibits discrimination and ensures employees' rights are respected regarding compensation discussions, abiding by 41 CFR 60-1.35(c) guidelines.