Chief of Staff in Mobile, AL at Austal

REPORTS TO:  President

SUPERVISES:  N/A

DUTIES / RESPONSIBILITIES: The Chief of Staff (CoS) serves as a strategic advisor directly supporting the President of Austal USA, LLC and ensures the efficient execution of business priorities, streamlines communications, and enhances cross-functional coordination to drive the shipyard’s strategic initiatives and operational excellence.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Strategic Planning & Execution: Assist the President in facilitating the implementation and monitoring the progress of strategic initiatives to achieve business goals. Stay up-to-date on shipbuilding trends, legislation, and current events to inform the organization's efforts. 
• Operational Efficiency: Support the optimization of workflows and process improvements to enhance overall efficiency.  Monitor progress on strategic goals, identify potential roadblocks, and propose actionable solutions to achieve targets.   For review by the President and Senior Leadership Team, drafting policies, practices, and procedures to align with transformation activities.
• Executive Communications: Act as a liaison between the President and internal/external stakeholders, ensuring clear and consistent messaging.  In coordination with the Business Development, Programs, Human Resources, and other key stakeholders, cultivate relationships with partner organizations and thought leaders. Assesses regular inquiries from outside stakeholders or other levels of management directed at the Senior Leadership Team and liaises with the appropriate personnel, to make certain issues are addressed properly and with jurisdiction.
• Project Management: Lead special projects, ensuring alignment with company priorities, timely execution, and successful outcomes.  Ensure efficient allocation of resources to support programmatic priorities.  Special projects may include event planning on behalf of the President. 
• Stakeholder Engagement: Foster collaboration between departments, facilitate high-level meetings, and track action items for accountability.
• Performance Monitoring: Develop and analyze key performance metrics to assess the shipyard’s operational health and recommend improvements.
• Risk Management & Problem Solving: Identify potential risks, proactively proposing solutions to enhance decision-making.  Facilitate the implementation of systems and tools to enhance communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing among key business leaders. Participates in regular meeting with the Senior Leadership Team, to evaluate organizational barriers to success and develops courses of action to overcome such issues.
• Board & Executive Reporting: Prepare reports, presentations, and briefing materials for Senior Leadership Team meetings and board meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Engineering, Maritime Studies, or a related field required
• 10 years of experience in strategic planning, operations, or executive leadership support, preferably in the maritime, defense, or manufacturing industries.
• Strong business acumen with a deep understanding of shipyard operations, project management, and financial planning.
• Excellent leadership, decision-making, problem-solving, management, and organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive organizational change and strategic direction.
• High level of discretion and integrity in handling sensitive company information.
• Preferred candidate will have a knowledge of shipbuilding, naval engineering, or defense contracting.
• Experience with Lean, Six Sigma, or other process improvement methodologies a plus.
• Familiarity with regulatory and compliance frameworks within the maritime industry.
• Proficiency in project management tools and enterprise software solutions.

ADDITIONAL GUIDELINES:

• The ability to obtain and maintain a DoD clearance may be required if deemed necessary in the scope of your position responsibilities.

• Candidates must meet the following employment eligibility guidelines to be considered for employment with Austal USA:

• 18 years of age or older at time of application
• Able to provide proof of US Person Status
• No felony convictions of Theft/Deception or Violent crimes within seven years from disposition date
• No felony convictions of Drug crimes within three years from disposition date
• Willing to submit to a drug screen
• Willing to submit to a background check

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee may encounter while performing the essential functions of this job.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may be exposed to humid conditions, bright flashing lights, moving mechanical parts, high precarious places, outside weather conditions, and extreme heat.  The employee is occasionally exposed to fumes and/or airborne particles at or below the PEL, toxic or caustic chemicals, and heat and cold.  The noise level in the work environment is usually very loud, + 90 dB.

SAFETY

Must comply with company, federal, state, and local safety and environmental rules and regulations while performing daily job tasks. 

Equal Employment Commitment

Any qualified individual with a disability who is having difficulty in completing an application because of incompatible technology or other disability-related application issues may contact us at the following phone number for assistance: 251-445-1932.

Austal’s commitment to equal employment opportunity applies at all levels of employment, in all job titles, including the executive level, and to all employment actions, including but not limited to decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, training, and promotion.