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At Parsons, you can imagine a career where you thrive, work with exceptional people, and be yourself. Guided by our leadership vision of valuing people, embracing agility, and fostering growth, we cultivate an innovative culture that empowers you to achieve your full potential. Unleash your talent and redefine what’s possible.

 

Job Description:

The Vice President, Defense Industrial (Industrial Base) leads our global portfolio focused on the U.S. and allied defense industrial base, including Army Ammunition Plants (AAPs)/Government-owned, Contractor-operated (GOCO) facilities, munitions and energetics facilities, open burn (OB)/open detonation (OD) replacement projects, and other industrial modernization and process plant assets. This role is responsible for shaping our presence in this critical market, driving profitable growth, and delivering high-consequence projects in close coordination with ES-wide service lines and functional departments.

What You'll Be Doing

Market Leadership & Strategy

• Define and lead the strategy for the Defense Industrial market, spanning government-owned and contractor-operated facilities, munitions plants, and other defense manufacturing infrastructure.
• Anticipate industrial base modernization needs, capacity expansions, and policy-driven investments (e.g., OIB/DIB initiatives).
• Identify priority segments (munitions/energetics, propellants, explosives, specialty materials, sustainment facilities) and align offerings accordingly.
• Develop deep relationships with key customers (e.g., Army, Navy, Air Force, OSD, major primes) involved in industrial base programs.

Business Development & Growth

• Own growth objectives for the Defense Industrial market, including new wins, recompetes, and expansion into adjacent industrial sectors.
• Lead and oversee strategic capture efforts for major modernization and replacement programs, including OB/OD replacement.
• Shape pursuit strategies, teaming, pricing, and value propositions to emphasize safety, throughput, and lifecycle performance.
• Coordinate with other sectors (e.g., manufacturing, logistics, cyber) to offer integrated industrial base solutions.

P&L and Portfolio Management

• Own P&L for the Defense Industrial portfolio, ensuring strong financial performance and disciplined risk management.
• Balance the portfolio across planning/design, PM/CM, and construction/D-B work to optimize returns.
• Manage exposure associated with high-hazard facilities (energetics, explosives) including safety, environmental, and regulatory risks.
• Drive proactive portfolio reviews to identify underperforming work, rationalize low-margin activities, and prioritize high-value programs.

Delivery Excellence (in Partnership with Service Lines)

• Set performance expectations tailored to industrial facilities (e.g., safety, reliability, throughput, maintainability).
• Work with PDE, PM/CM, and Construction & D-B service line leaders to field integrated, multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ensure application of ES-wide standards while incorporating specialized industrial and process safety requirements.
• Sponsor key high-risk or high-visibility projects and help resolve complex technical or stakeholder issues.

Talent & Culture

• Build and develop a leadership team that understands industrial base operations, process facilities, and high-hazard environments.
• Partner with service line leaders to ensure access to specialized skills (process engineers, safety specialists, industrial PMs).
• Foster a culture of safety, rigor, and continuous improvement consistent with high-hazard industrial environments.
• Support talent development and succession planning for future leaders in the industrial base market.

What Required Skills You'll Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (chemical, mechanical, industrial, civil), Construction Management, or related field.
• 15+ years of experience with industrial facilities in defense or related sectors (munitions, energetics, process plants, or heavy manufacturing).
• 7+ years in senior leadership roles with direct P&L responsibility.
• Demonstrated experience leading complex modernization or greenfield industrial projects, ideally for DoD or major primes.
• Strong understanding of process safety, environmental regulations, and high-hazard facility operations.
• Ability to lead in a matrix environment and work effectively with cross-functional service line teams.
• Residing in the Northern Virginia, DC, Maryland area to support our customers and facilities or willingness to travel up to 50% to project sites.

What Desired Skills You'll Bring:

• Advanced degree (MBA, MS in Engineering, etc.) or equivalent experience.
• Experience with AAPs/GOCOs, OB/OD replacement, and industrial base modernization programs.
• Active or prior security clearance, or ability to obtain one.
• Strong network with defense industrial base stakeholders and OEMs/primes.

Security Clearance Requirement:

None

This position is part of our Federal Solutions team.

The Federal Solutions segment delivers resources to our US government customers that ensure the success of missions around the globe. Our intelligent employees drive the state of the art as they provide services and solutions in the areas of defense, security, intelligence, infrastructure, and environmental. We promote a culture of excellence and close-knit teams that take pride in delivering, protecting, and sustaining our nation's most critical assets, from Earth to cyberspace. Throughout the company, our people are anticipating what’s next to deliver the solutions our customers need now.

Salary Range: $200,600.00 - $383,500.00

This position is eligible for incentive compensation.

We value our employees and want our employees to take care of their overall wellbeing, which is why we offer best-in-class benefits such as medical, dental, vision, paid time off, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), 401(k), life insurance, flexible work schedules, and holidays to fit your busy lifestyle!

This position will be posted for a minimum of 3 days and will continue to be posted for an average of 30 days until a qualified applicant is selected or the position has been cancelled.

Parsons is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, veteran status or any other protected status.

We truly invest and care about our employee’s wellbeing and provide endless growth opportunities as the sky is the limit, so aim for the stars! Imagine next and join the Parsons quest—APPLY TODAY!

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